The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-10-01
SPEECH OF MIX. kAssON.
THE SUSPENSION OF THE Writ OF HAgEAs
CORPUS.

CORPUS !.
Not content with volunteering protec
tiop to the property of rebels against ths
conhscation law, aud against the exeseis,
of military authority upon it, this saml
Mahony organization has condemned in
its platform the suspension of the writ oi
habeas corpus, and the arrest of persons in
States where The civil authorities are un-
impeded md my competitor endorses
this resolution also. The Constitution
gives express authority for the suspension
of this writ in times Of invasion or insur-
rec,ion, and the only doubt ever raised
was whether the power to suspend was in
Congress or in the President. Congress
has added its authority to the President,
and no legal question remains. The
charges of unconstitutionali,y and illegal
ity falls to the ground. Let me illus trate
the wisdom OF our fathers in giving this
constitutional power to the Government.
About one year ago, and before the Fall
election in Maryland, the Legislature Of
that State was disloyal. 1t was resolved
by secessionists in secret caucus to pass
an act Of secession at their adjourned
session. Information Of this reached
the President. Its effect would have
been to plunge Maryland into all the hor-
rors Of civil war, deluging her soil with
blood, and endangering the safety of the
Capital itself by tho destruction Of its
Northern communications. Although
there were then no armed enemies In
Mary land, and the 'civil authorities were
unimpeded," the President suspended the
writ, and made what my competitor 3
platform calls an "unlawtul arrest" OF
secession members Of that Legislature.
The result was their detention 80 or 60
days, until the danger was passed the
preservation Of pence in Baltimore and
Maryland the saving Of thousands Of
loyal lives and possibly the preservation
of your National Capital. 1t was an act
dictated by Jacksonian wisdom and cour-
age. know you approve it. The whole
loyal country has approved it. But the
Mahony leaders, determined to find fault
with Mr.. Lincoln's administration, con-
demn it. In time of war q single spy
carrying information through loyal State
may change the fate Of battle and save
or lose your nation, and your glory.
A secret organization may exist in 10y
al States aiming at the very life Of the
Government to resist the collection Of the
revenue, by which alone your army can
be maintained, or to resist the raising Of
troops. by which alone the Union can be
perpetuated, and the country saved. Mus,
you wait until the ruin is wrought out,
before you can interfere? IL it not bet
ter to prevent crime than to allow its com
mission? !? Must the country be ruined
before you can save it, or will you save il
from impending ruin?
THE POSITION OF AR. FINCH.
My competitor opposes the laws and
the exercise of the constitutional powers
above referred to. Still he claims to bs
loyal. He assails the people Of the North
and charges them with the responsibility
of furnishing the occasion Of this rebellion
because Of their opposition TO the fugitive
slave law. It is the law Of Congress
passed BY large majority, and approved