The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-02

verdict of jury.
i How comes it to pass that our armie
are down in Dixie, Selling the guns o
rebels, making prisoners Of them, ant
sending them North for safe keeping
shooting them down without court OF
jury, and doing many other things pro
hibited as it would seem BY the express
words of the Constitutions How is il
that men a.e deprived of their liberty
here in the North and sent to prison in
spite of the writ of habeas corpus p
How happened it that the entire Lesisla-
ture of Maryland was arrested, year OF
so ago, and deprived of their law making
| functions ? And under what provision Of
| the Constitution is it that million and a
quarter of men have been levied and
marshaled in arms, and taxes imposed to
clothe, subsist and pay them while in the
service of the Government
All these things are done by virtue of
those important and vital clauses of the
Constitution which confer war powers up
on the Government, and constitute the
President Commandment -Chief Of the
Army and Navy of the United States
May navies be constructed, manned,
and put aAoat upon the ocean; may mil
lion and a quarter, or thrice that number,
If need be, of loyal men, be called into
the field; may forts be battered down,
and towns shclled may serriod hosts Of
armed men engage in deadly conflict, and
drench the earth with tie blood of patri-
OTIS, slain TO uphold the Government and
crush the power of the Rebellion, and
yet, will the people believe that their Go
vernment has no constitutional power to
,onfscate traitors mule, or hberate bis
slave?
The idea is preposterous. Men of CON-
non honesty and common sense patriots
Who are fighting the battles of the coun-
Try, and pouring out their blood, as a ho-
y baptism Of the glorious charter of free
established and bcqucathed
~ our fathers, scout such n notion as
tigmn on the fair fame of their Revolu-
ionary forefalhers, and AT insult TO their
,wn understandings. They know, and
We all know, that the Governments has the
right of self defence, as fully, and for the
,ame reasons that an individual possesses
hat right. Shall we permit any spawn Of
Vallandigham or Mahony Sympathzers to
'tultify and dishonor the wise and patri-
,tic men who formed the Constitution, by
charging them with the stupidity, the
PAINLESS folly, Of Withholding the power
# self defence from the Government or !
,anized by the constitution framed by |
hem ? No Whatever the Govern. |
ncnt may deem proper to be done for self |
and in accordance with the |
Law of Nations, it has power to do, in
he present emergency, by virtue fof its
light of self defence, ana the powers Of
var conferred on Congress end the Pres
dent under the Constitution.
Such were Mr.. Wilson's view of the
constitutional powers of the Government
0 deal with the rebellion, and under that
lew he said he had supported the confs-
alton and liberation bills, Of the last
congress. The confscation of the prop
rty of the enemy. weakens them and
us, financially. 1t takes from
raitors the means which they are using
o overthrow the Government and applies
hem to the purpose of upholding the
Government. 1t takes from them the
nimals which they use for transporting
upplies for their army, and appropriates
hem for similar purpose in our own ar
ny. 1t takes from them the laborers
rho drive their teams and raise food for
heir armies, and sets them at WORK for us.
md on the same principle he sustained
ne Proclamation of emancipation recent
issued by the President. 1t will weaken
he enemy d strengthen us. They have
hree month warning if they wish To re-
ain their slaves; if they fear tho conse-
uenoes Of the liberation, let them lay
own their arms and cease their treason
BILE war against the Government and
ubmit to its rightful authority or take
he consequences.
II they persist in their rebellion they
I'LL be forced to withdraw a large nor