The Portland daily press., 1862-12-20
Saturday Morning. Dec. 20, 1862.
Mr.. Fessenden on Arbitrary Arrests.

ALs OduiSouly fCcotubiOu, tdtttuR upOu tuC
Secretary of War for Information touching the
arrests of certain individuals in Delaware, be-
ing under consideration in the Senate, on the
l1th inst,
Mr.. FESSENDEN addressed the Senate as
follows:
Mr.. President, the debate upon the resolu-
tion has taken quite a wide range, much wider
than, perhaps, would seem to be necessary
from Its apparent object. The Senator from
Kentucky has gone largely into the consider
alton of the acts of the President since he has
been President of the United States. He has
also taken occasion to talk about the recent
Democratic victories. believe he introduced
that portion of the discussion into the Senate
l am one OF those who had hoped that, in the
present state of the country, as little would be
said as possible about political parties Sir, /
believe that the President of the United States
has given the best possible proof that he could
give by his acts, especially his appointments,
that he was disposed, in this great crisis, to
forget that there was such thing as politi-
{ cal party in the country; and yet, sir, that is
dragged into this debate evidently with de-
sign Of getting up political discussion. Sir,
shall not follow in that line; allude to it
simply for the sake of saying that when the
Senator from Kentucky talks about the tri-
umph Of the Democratic party as a moral tri-
umph, am at a loss to understand what he
means. 1t would seem to Inc to be msno-
mer, contradiction in terms, a thing that none
of Ms who have known ANYTHING about the
Democratic marty in its recent eSbibitions of
natriotisn. couli exnect IL 10 Law claim 10 A
moral triumph. was itp NV friend from New
Hamnsbire. in the anecdote that he has told ms
has illustrated what kind of a moral trinmnh
the Democratic party has gained.
Now, sir, with reference to the pending ques-
the debate has taken such wide range that II
is necessary we should follow II to 2 certain
extent with reference 10 the arrests that
have haen made hv tho pras;dont or undar ,ha
diraction of the President--annaren,ir ON
w;Ilinc 10 s.v w;thout lawrrmch h.s haan
said in the country II has been alleged bv
oantleman renrasent;ng tba Domoora,;e 49,,
the Derocrat;c element as n calls i,sali
,honch csr tla or.,d;t ~ ,,an, ,,a,, - aI,;l'
.hs ,sa ~ nan,onr.t ,;, MIGn wy d,.,i. e.
that thew do NOT mite IN the snnslIs,;on as at
nresent used-tbat ali those acts arc en,;reIv
rn;nst;eshla II l. sa;d tI,., ,has arr,,s,s ha1a
hasn mo 40 y;,ho,,t nv rra NJ ar Ias, hasa haan
,,sda 4, r;,la,;o,, ,f ,la Cnnst;t,,,;ar "a ,.a
have hoard Ills crv Of d.naer 10 tba roast;,n1
tion cont;nnalIv a,,d cont;nyo,Sjv sn, e.
- :. y ,ha, a,,, ;,'ano,,sad sn,,,. a." nc nc
results that come to With regard 70 ,ha asn1
s,sr tsIt hv looLnr are',nd apJ 1910, ~ ". Sano Sa
This cry comes from hear a iona ll.,, hui
unon ti,;s subject and when ! loot ~ 500 and
to consider from whom n comeS ,he on.r,ar
from which n comes and the Find NJ nacL ,hot
make n + annrehend inst as much a. frsh shonid
n heard II In the woods nom nact oS woly.
es. What are the newsnaners in the country
from which Won have heard tb;s cry that no
Republic was in daneerp Newsnaners that
have taken occasion to denounce tbis war and
10 express their svmnatbv with the rahail;on
from the becinning and. in every wav that
they. dared 10 do II IN throw obstacles n The
way of its suppression: men who are as well
understood by their neiohbors. Inv those about
them nv those who know them hest ~ he at
heart in sympathy with the rebellion itself as
any other fact is understood that perlans can
not be proyed in a court of justice. Is IL not
SO. sirP The Senator's own observation If he
win look around him. would convince him of
that fact. What should blame the President
for. If were to undertake. To find G,ult with
him at ali In reference to tbis matter Is that
he has not been ouite strong enouph in his ac-
ton with regard 10 political papers. I have
ALWAYS held To the doctrine that If Won strike
At ali. YOU should strike the strong and not
the weak. If there has been failure anv-
where. il has been in not attacking the great
heads Of the disaffection. instead Of the small
Ter part of it. If IL had been INV fortune or
misfortune IN hold the mower 10 strike in sucb
, a case. would not 90 down IN tbe bottom or
even n the center Rnt wouId strika 81 the
ton. and n T fonnd q na,ar uh.tayar ;,s ,a,,r
or in the country that was boldlv ad,;s;n,r ,ho
GENERAL of the army IN seize tho covern9ant
into bis own hand + would taka hat and NOT