The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-01-29

Auu ~ Vail HOt T6IuUNGus HV u1oslOA AoW
gently it may DO done.
In some of the slave States the law for
bids the slave to leave his home for .
greater distance than six miles, without a
pass from his master, but | never knew
even there that the poor slaves bundle
must be searched before he could start
But here in Iowa it seems white men, and
women too, with the civil law in force)
must not only have their pass from Massa
Stannus, but their bundle of old clothes
must be searched also before they can
leave home, even to visit the Capital Of
the State Shame on such proceedings
Where are We drifting to2
THOS. w. CLAGETT.
REMARKS.
Judge Clagett having "freed his mind,
on this topic, let US present few consid-
erations for him and other loyal and SEN
sible men.
We are not advised of the special rea-
sons for the enforcement At this point and
at this time of the Regulations of the
Treasury Department to prevent the
transmission Of supplies to the enemy
The Administration is doubtless better
advised than the public ia regard to the
matter, and it is but fair to presume it
would not unnecessarily or wsntonly en-
barrass business and annoy loyal citizens.
The Administration may have been mis-
informed, or it may be mistaken in regard
to the danger of leaving the'great ave-
nues Of western trade and commerce en-
tirely free and unobstructed for the in.
gress and egress Of hostile rebels and for
furnishing them all necessary supplies for
subsistence and for carrying on the war
against the Government. But, whatever
may have been the propriety or necessity
Of the course pursued by the Administra-
ton. we should regret to believe with
Judge C!agett that their action in the
premises isin violation of the Constitution
of the United States, in subversion Of the
liberties of the people, and in wanton
usurpation of tyrannical power. With
out any special citation Of legal authori-
ties, slight reference to universal known
facts will tend to shake the Judges con-
fdence in his own position and satisfy the
public that he is entirely wrong.
For eight months past the Government
has been exercising the same authority
and in the same manner through its Gus
tom house officers that is now being sxer-
cised here The custom house officers
Of Boston andSNew York have examined
baggage and freights, have detained ships
from their voyage. have seized goods and
arrested passengers. And during the
summer the same system was extended
to the west. and all along the Ohio river,
from Pittsburg to Cairo, custom house
| officers have been on the alert to enforce
Regulations of the Treasury Department
designed to prevent the transportation OF
supplies from Pennsylvania. Ohio and In
diana for the support of the rebels of the
South. All this has been done for months
in the loyal States under civil officers,
without any declaration of martial law.
Now, we submit that if such proceed
ings were clearly unconstitutional and in
violation of the rights and liberties Of the
people, some lawyer in New England, New
York, or those great States along the Ohio,
would have made the discovery. and not
left it for our ", friend clsgett to announce
to the world.
The Government, the Administration
lis responsible, not John Stannus, who
acts in obedience to instructions, aud if
people are disposed to find fault let them
pitch in to the Government at Washing
ton, and not seek to raise clamor against
a subordinate agent and officer of Gov
ment who simply obeys instructions.
We suspect that people here who have
felt none Of the direct evils of actual
hostilities are dhposed 70 magnify their
| present sufferings, and make martyrs Of
themselves on very slim showing. We
take it that, if martial law prevailed ID
our midst, and persons and property were
seized day and night, at the arbitrary viii
Of the military power, or If we were sub.
jected to the incursions Of hostile foe.
with fire and sword, rapine aud massacr,
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