Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-01-14
STASD By THE CONSTITUTION.
PATRIOTIC SPEECH OF
HON. LYMAN TRUMBULL,


lowing res, luton, submitted by Mr.. Trum
bull, ON the 10Th ult:
"Resolred. That the Secretary Of State
be directed to inform the Senate whether.
in the loyal States of the Union, any rer-
son or persons have been arrested and i'm
prsoued and are now held in confinement
by orders from him or his department AND
If SO. under what law said arrests have
been made, and said persons imprisoned -
Mr.. Trumbnl-Mr President, am sure
that 10 one who knows anything Of the
views which | entertain. will suppnse TINT
have less zeal for the efficient prosecution
of this war, and the suppression of this
wicked rebellion, than the Senator from
Connecticut. | desire the war to be pros.
ecuted with the utmost yigcr; I wonlG
have our armies active and tigilant
woulc rot waste the eneryies ef this great
nation guarding persons in the loyal States;
bot would strike with the power Of six
hundred thousand men, at the traitors in
arms; and under the military power /
would crush them to death at the earliest
possible moment. But, sir, this resolution
is not 10 check the advance Of our armies.
| have said upon this anor that believe
the Constitution Of the United States con-
fers all the power which is necessary to en-
able the Government to crush the gigantic
rebt lion. Why? Because the COnstitu,
ton conIers on Congress the power to raise
armies to put it down, and when the power
is given to raise armies to put down insur>
rection, the power comes also 10 crush it in
the way that armies are accustomed to act.
Il is with powder and ball that il is 10 be
done and neither your jury trials nor your
huberS corpus facts can interfere with the
army, which, clothed with constitutional
power to crush rebellion. goes forth arm
ed for the purpose of putting it Down in
the very Way that armies subdue their ene-
mics.
But, sir, this is resolution or inquiry,
simply as to the arrest Of persons in the
loyal States. That is all it is. The Sena-
tor from Connecticut tells us there were
persons in his State who were allowed to
go at large when they were giving aid and
comfort 70 the enemy: I am astOnished at
that. ] should have supposed that in the
gOodly State of Connecticut men giving
aid and comfort to the enemy wonld have
been arrested and tried, and if convicted
by a jury would have been hung.
Mr.. DixOn-If the Senator will allow
me, will repeat to him what kind of aid
and comfort those men gave to the enemy.
| stated that they gave aid and comfort to
the enemy be instituting series of meet
ings, falsely called ''peace meetings." in
which they addressed large assemblages Of
the people, and attempted to debanch the
public mind on the question of this war,
claiming that we were the aggressor that
the South was acting in self-deience that
the Administration was making war upon
she South. Now, sir, if the Senator can
inform me how such men can be attacked
by arms, by powder and ball, shall thank
him for the information. ] do not know
how they ccvld be arrested for treason,
do not say they were guilty of open treas
on. They were guilty Of mortal treason ;
and the Secretary of State co the great Joy
of every loyal citizen OF Connecticut, i'm
prsoDed one or more Of those men and put
u stop to the whole proceeding. | thank
him for doing it. | will not ask him sim
gle question as to the provisions Of the law
or the G, institution upon which he hes act
ed.
Mr.. Trumbuli-I did not understand.
NJ President, that there was any insurrec-
/ ton il the State of Connecticut, and sup.
/ pose the army would have no right in the
/ State Of Connecticut to shoot persons OF
tn march there for the purpose Of Staying
ITS peaceable inhabitants. 1t is where the
/ judicial authorities are Uverborne that the
army Is called in to suppress an insurrec-
ton. the Senator assumes that these
persons we're traitors. Who is 10 decide
tnat? lie says he will ak no questions
! WHY. sir, how does he kbnw that, in ppr-
lions OF this country where there is no dis
turbunce and no in~urrcction, the righr
persons viii be arrcstrd? The unc1nsti.
! tutiuualty ct such actin a. this seems I,
be admitted by the Senator VIII, comes t,
the defence of this desputic power. WHY
sir, the powcr-without charge, vithnu
examination, without opportunity tGreplv
at the cnck of the telegraph arrest
man in pgaceahIe pSrtIun of the couutrr
and imnrisun him indefinitely, is the YER
essence Of desputisIn ] thought the Sen
atur from Connecticut was engaged in
war to defend and uphold the Constitution
What, sir, becomes OF constItUtionAl Iiber
tv, what are We fighting for, if this broaC
ground il to be assumed and to he iusiiieC
in this body and any man is to be thanked
for assuming an unconstitutional and un
warranted authority
was willing to vote, and did vote at tb,
extra session OF Congress, to sanction til,
acts of the Executive done through the mil
/
the rehelIion-acts done before Congress
assembled, and for some of which, perhaps
the warrant of law could not be found =
But, Fir, different state of things nov
exists. Congress is convened, and this in
quiry Is directed to the arrests of person
in loyal portions of the country. Wba
are we coming TO, if arrests may be mad
at the within or the caprice of Cabine
Minister? D. you suppose he is invested
with inislibility so as always to decid
Alright? Are you willing to trust the lib.
ertIes OF the citizens os this country in tn,
hands Of any man, to be exercised in ths
way? May not his order send the Senate
from Connecticut or myself to prison p
Why not? Why may not the Cummandin,
General of your army tomorrow say, TAX
the President Of the United States and con
fine him at Fortress Monroe and, if he i
asked why he did it, may he not answer
"iust because i cOuld-because | had tn
power"
Now. sir, am for regulating this thin
By law? That is the object OF my inquiry
If additional legislation is necessary 70
the purpose Of Furnishing persons VIII
sympathize with treason in Connecticut, 0
in any other loyal State of this Union
where the laws can be enforced through III
additional tribunals. say let us give tina
additional legislation, and let US not sane
ton the exercise of such high powers a
these outside Of the law, and, as the Sen;
, tor says, ION the plea of necessity -
, Why, sir. | deny the necessity. The prir
ciple contended Tor would justify riots an
, mobs in furnishing criminals whereve
found, SuFprse q man has committed a
offense apparent to the whole euuntrr
shall the citizens Of the country get togetl
er and execute the man without trial:
imprison him and hrll him prisoner will
, out trial? Is that the way the lawssOf th
country are 10 be administered? Has tt
p Constitution no meaning, and are lave
hare no efficacy? We shall have anareh
, at once if such doctrine is to prevail.