The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1862-12-17
Arbitrary Arrests.

On the 9th, the Senate of the United States had
prolonged discussion ON the resolution OF MIR.
Salisbury relative to the arbitrary arrests of
citizens Of Delaware. The discussion is rather
remarkable rs shown. diversity of opinion
among prominent Republican senators though
We are glad t. see that Senators Trumbul and
Sherman, coniessedly the ablest men OF the
Senate, are opposed in principle to the practice
of arbitrary arrests:
Here Is the report:
Mr.. UL Bury Of Del called up = reso-
luton relating to the arrest OF certain citizens
ofD..laware.
Mr. WIS N Of Mass, objected.
Mr.. BAYARD of Del urged the adoption
Of the resolution IL. some length.
Mr DOOL TT. f Ut Wis said that he un-
dersto"d that in all these cases Of arrests the
offer OF liberty had been made it he persons
arrested would take the oath ut ale lance.
He would like to have the issue lie over.
Mr.. ga LSBU itl said he referred t. these
two persons because he had never heard any
charge against them. T.cy had been arrested
in loyal State and for no oifcnse whatever.
Pcaceable citizen, in ljel,ware and Maryl nd
had been arrested and d:aygad from their
homes and he thought they had at least the
right to inquire into the matter. There WIS
no disposition to ppose the government ut all
Hale SAID the Senator from Delaware. Bay
ard yesterday ref rreu to II opr division Of
power as being the h 'pc of Il Tree ( vrrnnent
and he (Hal-) was not wlIins To see the zen
ate Interfere with other departments Il any
citizen Of Delaware had been uSrIevcd. the
courts were still open, and ne believed the writ
OF halcas cnpus was not dead yes. He ac-
~,
Ia.ard said there was M such decision ei
the government power. The Judiciary was AL
ways the weakest
The President has asserted tie right to sus.
pend the nrt OF hapeas corpus, and he thought
it proper Tor the Senate to inquire into The
matter.
Wilson. Of NJ ,ss., said. doubtless everybody
regretted the Necessity OF making these arrests
in this country. The President regretted itas
much AS anybody He did not think any loyal
man could charge the President with wau,oniy
violating the rights OF ctizns. For long
time the leading traitors sat here, but 10 ar.
rests were made. When they were commenced
they were necessary, aud the first arrest was
for selling gun caps to tne encmi. He Tor one
thanked the President for making these III
rests
1t Was Il peaceful means of preserving the
gov crum mt, and ne hoped the President and
his aivls - would not shrink from arrcstinS
any man who shows probable cause vi being in
! league with the rebels. There was never a
rebellion where SD much cousd, ration had
be, II shown, aud 20 much humanity for trail.
tors
Salisbury di not doubt there were arrests
made whi,h were j.l,titiable but these mcl'
were ci:lzns OF Delaware, whose loyalty iiau
not b. Ell questioned.
4 - =, a,
greed to by vote oi three yeas and forty hays
Field SAID he should vote against the resoiu.
! ton. lie Was OF the opinion that the President
had the tight to suprmd HE writ + haocas cor
puS. he Kramer, OF the Constitution evident.
! ly provided that the h,peas corpus mi rht be
suspended in time Ut lisur cotton ana INVASION
ana he thought it was clearly an executive act
lie WAS OF the opinion that it any complaint
was to be made it WAS that the Government
had been too icnent to traitors
yard continued Il I some length, saving the
poser t. suspend the writ o. hapeas corpus was
MT an TX cutiye act. II this MAS H,imlttrd and
| the Legislative power had no right to inquire,
then the resident misi mprison men, torture
them or do as he plcaseS with them.
Sherman favored The adoption Of al the, q
| resolutions OF inquiry which were offered in
so vi faith.
He believed the right to suspend the writ OF
labcas corpus was purely legislative power
and it cpu'd only BIZ done by Congress, but since
the Legislation OF the Last Congress the prescu,
has had The power given to them. lie though,
many" these arrests were great mistakes, and
every arrest ought TO be reported to Congress
:ni the reason tor it, Ii th, pO yer was I'M.
limited the government would become "ppres
sive. The people hav. been cx4speratrd ut
these ar csts and discharges, and it was due to
the country and justice that no m.n houId be
arrested Tor light cause. and charges should be
! properly explained, and that Congress has !,
] yeriect right to call tor all information, tina,
| they may go before the people and be able tu
explain agd defend these arrests.
Trumnbull said as he could not see any prac
ticsl bcnrt to he obtained in passing these res
outions, lie was inclined t., vo Z against them
He thought these arrests had been unfortunate
and unloiitic. Judges AMI courts, and com
mentators have held that the power OF suspend
Ing The writ Of habeAs corpus was Il legislative
pn o.. II is not IRON any sympathy with trait
ors, at there Ia great feeling upon this susject
but because it il feared this is exercise o
unnecessary anl arbitr Try power, and i,r woul.
| gay 70 his friend Mr.. Wilson, who sioricd il
these arrests, that there was very great danger
| in them.