Shreveport daily news., 1861-07-16

aCultlOuS W IAc ASSN
Navy.
These measures, whether strictly
LEGAL or not, were ventured upon un-
der what appeared to be a popular de-
rand and a public necessity, trust
ing, as now, that Congress would
readily ratify them. 1t is believed
that nothing has been done beyond
the constitutional competency OF Con-
gress. ,c .,..
it was considered a duty to authorize
the commanding general, in proper
cases, according to his discretion, to
suspend the privilege of the writ OF
ha6eos corpus, or, III other words TO
arrest and detain, without resort to-
ordinary processes and forms OF law,
such individuals as he might deem
dangerous to the public safety. This
suthority has purposely been exer
cised, but very sparingly. -,
If allthe States save one should
assert the power to drive that one
out of the Union, it is presumed the
whole class of seeded politicians
would at once deny the power and
denounce the act as the greatest OUT
rage upon State rights. But suppose
that precisely the same act, instead
of being called driving the one out,
should be called the seeding of the
others from that one; it would be
exactly what the seceders clam TO
do, unless, indeed, they make the
point that the one, because 1t Is a
minority, may rishtfully do what the
others, because they are a MAJORITY
NAV not rightfully do. These poll
ticians are subtle and profound onthe
rights of morities. They are not
partial to that power which made the
Constitution and speaks from the pre-,
amble, callingitself, "W e, the people:
1t may well be quest ioned wheth'
er there is to-day majority OF the
legally qualified voters Of any State
except, perhaps, South Carolina II
favor of disunion. There Is mucA
reason to believe that the Union mel
are in the majority in many, II no
IN eyery other one Of the so-cal!ed Sc
ceded States. The contrary has no
been demonstrated in any one
them. 1t is ventured to atdrm t'li'
of even Virginia and Tennessee TO
the result of an election held III null
tary camps, where the bayonets ar
all on one side of the question vote
upon, can scarcely be considered d
demonstrating popular sentllnen III
At such an election all that larg
class who are at once Tor the oHio
and against coercion would be coe'
ced to vote against the Union.
I. may be affirmed, without extra
vagance. that the free institution
we enjoy have developed the pov
ers and improved the condition
our whole people beyond any eSar
pie in the world. OF this we no
have a striking and impressive ll!u
tratiOn.
So large an army as the Cover
nent has now Oh foot was never b
fore known, without a soldier III
but who had taken his place there
his own free choice. But more tn;
this: there are many single regimen
whose members, one and other, po
sess full practical knowledge OF
the arts, sciences, professions, al
whatever else, whether useful or el
CANT, is known in the world. Al
there is scarcely one from viii
could not be selected President,
Cabinet, "a Congress. and perhaps
Court, abundantly competent to
1oinistv the Government itself.
Nevertheless, the legality and pl
priety of what has been done unc
it are questioned, and the attenti
Of the country has been called to
proposition that one who is sworn
take care that the laws be faithful
executed should not himself viol'
tlCrn