The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-01-20

suggestions OF those who believe that wea kenlng
the masters hold on his slaves, weakens the re-
bellion? Let US give little attention TO this
war cry for the Constitution and the Union, ana
see how far it can fairly be pressed into the SER
vice of those who are using 1t as an answer 10
the arguments and suggestions OF such as
think it possible that IA more vigorous treatment
OF slavery might hasten the close Of the war.
One of the first acts OF President Lincoln, af-
ter the bombardment of Fort Sumter, was the
proclamation calling out 5000 troops to sup
press the insurrection in the Southern States
Yet the President had no constitutional author
ty for such an act, and it was denounced as a
high-handed usurpalion by men ana papers who
called themselves loyal, and who claimed to be
anxious to uphold the old Government. The
really disloyal critics, an answer that has al
ways been deemed sufficient by all devoted lovers
of their 6country, VAS that the act was nee
essary to save the Government, and chat in the
face Of that necessity It would be aiding treason
to give such an Interpretation to the constitu
ton as you'd in a moment Of peril prove fatal
to the existence Of the Republic
Shortly after the issue OF the above r-ocla-
nation, military arrests and searches and sci
gan to be made, and some papers that were Civ
ing aid and comfort to the rebels were sup
pressed without the intervention o. the courts
or tie process Of law, and the same necessity of
saving the Republic was urged, and righttully,
as a justification of these acts, excusable and
jnstitiable only on such grounds. The privilege
of the writ OF habeas corpus was sus, ended in
similar cases, at the same time and the Infamous
Judge fancy, and others, who like him sympa-
thizeJ with the rebellion, are not supposed to
have increased their reputation among sincerely
loyal men by their judicial protests against these
iniracton. Of the liberties OF treason.
The Consultation provides that private prop.
erty shall not be taken for public use without
compensation, and it also provides that no per-
son shall be deprived Of life, liberty or prorer.
ty, without due process OF law, and after trial
by jury of his peers. But tie immense army
o. the Potomac is every day using and employ
ing all The property within its lines, both real
and personal, without, excep: in partial
and lnirequcnt instances, any compensa
ton, and without The color of any law ex
cept the law Of necessity Harvest fields have
been tramp'ed under the feet Of our soldiers
cdifces public and private have been given to
the flames the elegant residences Of traitors,
their churches and schooi-houses and other pub
lie buildings have been employed as quarters for
our troops, without leave asked or granted,
their railroads have been used when Yer 1t mas
been possible To do ii, without the trouble Of A
lease or new charter, fruit trees, shade trees
and hundreds Of acres Of ftrest have fallen
under the blows Of Union axes, and the fair and
smiling fields of the husbandman have been
made deso!ation in the track ,f fhc Fedora
tToors-and for all this there has been no law
except that OF necessity. and no answer t. the
Constitutional argument of such directors as
Sallandigham and his small clique, excep. the
usage and necessity Of war. And is there any
bur similar answer to " Constitutional" cay
ling against the armed occupation Of Port
Royal and BEAUFORT, and Tie capture by tbc
Government, under tie Instructions frcm the
treasury Department. of such property as may
be found ny the army in its occupation of that
| portion Of South Carolina ? And mus. not the
same plea be put in as Il defense to the sharr
constitutional! lawyer who objects to Gc::. Hal
lecks method Of making forced leves upon the
property Of traitors in Missouri and condemn.
ing bridge burners by the summary process of a
drumhead court-martial, and shooting them
Is there anything hut the necessities oil the pres
ent war that authorize and justify proceeding,
which have no warrant or authority of law
either State or National, but rest for their e1
ecution upon the strong arm of the military
power, and for their justification upon the ne.
cessities of the cas,'
The Constitution provides that" no new State
shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction
OF any other State But there is west of the
Blue Ridge new State within the jurisdiction
OF the OLD Dominion, which has come into be
ing, has defined its oundaries since the rebel
hon commenced, has Two Representatives in tn,
Inited States Senate, has it's Governor, Lers
latulc, and all the machinery of State IN full
operation, and has been recognized ly the ad
minlstration, as well as by Congress, as AN ex