The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-01-16


the acts Of the Executive done through
the military power for the purpose Of sup
pressing the rebelion--acts done before
Congress assembled, and for some of
which perhaps the warrant Of law could
not be found. But, sir. different state
OF things now exist. Congress is conven-
ed. and this inquiry is directed to the al :
rests of persons in loyal portions of the
country. What are we coming to if ar
rests may 5e made at the whim or caprice
of Cabinet Minister? Do you suppose
he is invested with infallibility. so as al
ways to decide Alright? Are you willing
to trust the liberties Of the citizens Of the
country in the hands Of any man, to be
exercised in that way? May not his order
send the Senator from Connecticut or my
self to prison? Why not? Why may not
the commanding general of your army to-
morrow say. take the President of the
United States and confine him in Fortress
Monroe and if he asked why he did it.
may ne not answer. Just because / could
because had the power
Now. sir. l am for regulating this thing
by law. That is the object of my inqui-
ry. If additional legislation is necessary
for the purpose of furnishing persons who
sympathize with treason in Connecticut,
or in any other loyal State Of this Union.
where the laws may be enforced through
the judicial tribunals. say let us give that
additional legislation. and let US no, sane.
ton the exercise OF such high powers as
these outside Of the law, and as the Sena-
tor says. 'on the plea of necessity Why.
sir. l deny the necessity. The principle
contended for would justify riots and mobs
wherever found. Suppose a man has
committed an offense apparent to the whole
country shall the citizens of the country
gee together and execute the man without
trial or imprison him and hold him pris-
oner without trial? Is that the way the
laws Of the county are to be admins ter
ed? Has the Constitution no meaning,
and ara laws to have no efficacy We
shall have anarchy at once if such doctrine
is to prevail.
do not know the lacts in regard to ar.
rests which have been made. Ny resolu.
tion does not assume that arrests have
but inquiries whether they have been
made. 1t we are to 60 outside, as the
Senator has done. may say that under
stand arrests have been made, and the
parties arrested, in some instances. have
afterward been discharged without trial.
Does the Senator justify that?
Mr.. DIXON--I d..
Mr.. TRUMBULI.--The Senator then
justifies putting innocent men in prison!
Else why were they discharged? | take
it that was the reason of their discharge.
have heard Of sach cases.
Mr.. DIXON They ought to be dis
charged then.
Mr.. TRUMBULL--They ought to be
discharged, and they ought to be arrested,
too! An innocent man ought to b. arrest
ed. put into prison, and. by and by. dis
charged! Sir. that it is not my idea of
individual or constitutional liberty. am
engaged. and the people whom represent
are engaged in the maintenance of the
constitution and the rights of the citizen
ander it. We are fighting for the govern
ment as our fathers made it. The Con-
stitution is broad enough to put down this
rebellion without any violations of it. l
do not apprehend that the presen, Execu-
tive of the United States will assume des-
potic powers. He is the last man to do it.
know that his whole heart is engaged
IN endeavoring to crush this rebellion and
know that he would be the last man to
overturn the Constitution in doing it. But
sir. we may not always have the same
person at the head Of affairs We may
have man of very different character,
and what We are dong to day will become
a precedeht upon which he will act. Sup.
pose that. when the troubles existed in
Kansas few years ago. the then President
of the United States had thought proper
to arrest the Senator or myself, and send
him to prison without exam nation, with
out opportunity to answer, because, in his
opinion. we were dangerous to the peace of
the country. and the necessity justified it.
What would the Senator have thought of
such action?
ir, | say there can be no such nece,.
sity in the loyal portions OF the country,
where the courts operate; because, il the
laws are not sufficient in such localities TO
secure the arres. OF parties who are en-.
gagged against the government. we certain.
ly have the power TO amend tho laws.
Let the Senator from Connecticut come