The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-25
h KEOKUK IOWA: THURSDAY DECEMBER Is, 1869

edge that the people think that the cous-
try is in great danger, and must aeknowl-
edge that In times like these, many things
may be done and must be done. which in
ordinary times would not be allowed.
He must acknowledge thnt when the
nation has war upon its hands hike this,
an intcrnccine war with traitors in every
part ef this country, 1t IL not a tme to
stand on triaes aid to exact Ii strict ac-
count, ly resolutions, ef what the Ad-
ninistration are doing and their reasons
Bat be must be satisfied that they are do
ing, what in their judgment, The public
good requires. ! undertake to say that
the Senator is too careful of private rights
who follows every slight infraction Of
them into the Executive chamber in times
like this Whea no man knows what and
who his Deighbor is, and when all must
confess that the country is, or was, trem-
bling on the verge of ruin.
Now, sir, if Lam. right, let US look al
matters little literally Docs anybody
doubt the patriotism Of the President Z?
Does the Senator from Delaware, Mr.
Salisbury ar his colleague. Mr.. Bay
ard or tie Senator from Kentucky, Mr..
Powell undertake to say that in all his
acts he las not been governed by what in
bis own views was for the good of this
country and for the suppression of the re-
beilioa, or that he has willfuHy violated
any private rights, in opposition to bis
own belief that II was absolutely for the
public goodf DO they make that charge T
1 have not understood it to have been
made from any Ioint. We have not heard
anybody. that there has been any
willinl disregard of the rights Of citizen
by the President.
There seems 10 be a little mistake As TO
What the duty of the President really is.
The President does not take an oath to
support the Constitution. He takes an
oath to "protect, preserve and defend the
Constitution" Those arc tie words.
Ordinarily all the other officers Of The
Government take an oath To support the
Constitution. But shalt Lot be put in
to the position os saying fhatthereforc he
has right to violate il. | say no sue!
Il ing. What do say is this. that it is
hi4 paramount duty to preserve, protect
and defend the Constitution, and il an oc-
caslop arises when in order 10 protect,
preserve and defend that great iDstru-
ment, without which the Union dies, he
is compelled in his Judgment 10 violate
the rights OF an individual citizen for a
time, can any one suppose that be epyi''
to hesitate ier single instant In dong
500
! know gentlemen appeal to that clansc
of the Constitution which says no man
shall be deprived Of life and liberty or
property withou, due process Of Law, and
f4hoy infer that when the President ar
rests man without due process of law,
he is depriving him of liberty Granted
but suppose, In his judgment, and tho
| Judgment III all other men, the time ar
rivcs when some Of no individual rights
OF the citizen should be violated FOR /;
time, in sIder to preserve tho is,s Tiinea'
itself, is ii not the duty Of the 7, sIacse
at once to take that s,epy ! thiuk 81
man viii dispute that.
| put the question 10 my honorable
friend from Kentucky, Mr.. Powell) VIII
is one of the most amiable and best ma
tured men in the world, | should judge
what he would do in like case, If ther
was no oiher lsedc in which he could pre-
vent the commission Of a great erac
) which would be deadly, perhaps, TO III
! nation itself, and after time, in whic'
my friend exhibited great skill in fencing
he pretty much said that he would not d
such thing if he was President, woul
not vote for him for President: 70
: have no right, as private man, to d
prive any other man Of liberty. But SUI
, pose you had good reason to believe thi
I one Of your neighbors intended to mu
. der an.ther, nnd there was no way
prevent it, would you not put the stror
! hand upon him without due process
! lawI
Gov. Letchcr Denies Having He
: CorrcSpondenco with Mr.. ReFnaI
q do wood.
y The Richmond Enquirer of the 10
- 4 oov.a,ac a. lattar f~c,a Eovarnnr atch1