The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1862-10-09
Martial Law.

ident on the Goth ult., martial tau ha'
Heen declared over all loyal portions o
NC United States. This is an extreme
teasure, and in ordinary times would
be arbitrary and despotic, and indeed
subversive four Republicaninsttul ions
but surrounded. as the nation is, with
secret and willy enemies, in league with
the desperate, unprincipled and formida.
Bile foe, who breathing threatening and
slaughter has invaded our very hearths
and menaces the destruction Of our Gov
ernment itself; tits in our judgement moi
only proper, but absolutely indispeaSa-
bic. The great and bencfcent writ of
haJeas corpus, it is true, is imperative in
the cases covered by the proclamation,
but it must be borne in mind that. that
invaluable right was adopted from the
English law in furlhOrance, and not
in subyersion TO free institutions. Who
now complains that his liberty is tbrid,
ged, his right to be tiled by a jury of
his couutrymen denied him, and the
constitutional right, to call to his aid
this protential writ of habeas corpus alb.
solutely Withheld. who, we repeat remon'
strates,--the GiirS asdabcHors Of treas
on, and none beside tiicm. The Prcsi.
dent has the constitutional or discretion
al right, to suspend this writ in all ca
ses of INVASION or Instruction and Ger.
tainly such on extensive instruction, as
this one, could never have been thought
possible, in this free country, by our
veneratod fathers who framed our inim-
liable constitution. President Lin.
coin has done right, and an intelligent,
patriotic people will sustain him. For
tunately for the country, our forbearing,
amiable executiveh had his reputation for
honesty too we'll established, ere his elo,
vation to the Presidency 10 justify the
thought that he will ever prostitute his
great powers to the subyerson Of the
liberties his country. Loyal men ev-
cry where not only fear no deprivation
of guaranteed rights, but hail with de-
light this new evidence that. the admin
istration is determined to tircuinvenL the
intrigues Of these hellish traitors, AMI by
a summary trial indict condign and spec,
dy punish rent upon their guilty heads
So far, but one man has been sho. for
his treason, and that was done under mil
itory law by Gen. Butler, but hereafter
let every one, cndeavoring to overthrow
his country, be after trial, instantly shot
The writ is suspondal only in cases of
practicing or attempting to practice, GER
tain offences detrimental to, aud destruc-
tive Of the parpeluity of the established
government. What those offences are,
may be ascert inel from an inspection OF
the procla mston ordering that suspen-
sion. The object. or rather the cause of
this partial suspension, is declared to be,
because "jisIoyai persons are not ade.
quaielYrestrained by the ordinary pro-
cesses Of law from h ndering" &c., "and
from giving all and comfort in various
ways to the insurrection." 1t is no de-
spotic use, Of the vast military power of
tbe government, by the President its
commander in -chiei--lo drag men from
the security aud privocy Of the family
hearth, and, after mock trial, subject
them to the tortues Of the guillotne-
for this vast army is, or doubtless soon
will be, far southwark and engaged in
putting down the armed traitors in front,
While the authorized officers of the gov
eminent will apptohend, the secret enc.
ng IN Tic rear, Of gu; armies. Ana ChG
Pfssideot through these officers will, in
order to insure that these Infamous
wretches, do no. go uuwhippod of JUS
lice," aud in order TOO. tina! they be not
.smpied to indulge IN tasse species ri
crimes, relying upon che hooks and
crooks" and "teChnicOlities of the law"
bring him before a court martial, where
''tricks aud lodges" are unavailng, -
compelling him to stand the searching
blunt, instigations incident to these
courts, and all this, the Presiden, now
'Gpprises him Of and lorowarns him ag
ainst Martial law has been declared
,n,o..I t;n,ns Gin a., Tho raboll;on bano n