Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-10-07
LincoInism No. 2.


Two DAYS after Lincoln issued his emancipation
proclamation, he sent forth another of which the
following is an extract
"Whereas 1t has become necessary to call into
service not only volunteers but also portions Of the
militia of the States by draft in order to suppress
the instruction existing in the United States and
disloyal persons are not adequately restrained by
the ordinary processes of the law from hindering
this measure and from giving aid and comfort in
various ways to the instruction Now, therefore,
be it ordered
First-That during the existing instruction, and
as a necessary measure for suppressing the same,
all rebels and insurgents, their aoers and abettoTs
within the United States, and all persons discourag
ing volunteer enlstments resisting militia drafts,
or guilty Of any disoyal practice aording aid and
comfort to the rebels against the authority of the
United States, shall be subject to martial law, and
liable to trial and punishment by courts martial or
military commissions.
Second-That the writ of hd6eas corpus is sus-
pended in respect to all persons arrested, or who
now, or hereafter, during the rebellion shall be,
imprisoned in any fort camp arsenal military prison
or other place of confinement by any military au
thOrty or by the sentence of any ceurt-martial or
military commission" ~
He has thus assumed and practices without the
name, the powers and tyranny of the Military Die
tator-puts a lock upon every mans mouth-closes
the mouth of the public press-exercises censor
ship over every mans thoughts and acts-arrests
him for every act judged to be reasonable by his
sworn pimps and spies-brings him before bloody
court of his own appointment and cuts off his last
hope for liberty by suspendng at will the writ of
ha6eas corpus all over the land If the North sub
mits to this and we fear she is sufficiently enslaved
to do it, her days of civil liberty are numbered
Al
as military necessity" According to his avow-
ed doctrine, there is nothing he cannot do in state
of war commander-in-chief if he consider it nee
essary to be done to the State. This is the plea
of despotism every where and in all ages.
Now here in the South, every man denounces all
these acts tyrannical and devilish and yet there
are those who would have President Davis pursue
the same course. There are not few, who would
sanction tomorrow the assumption of the Military
Dictatorship by President Davis. They advocate
and justify the arrest and imprisonment of citizens
who have heretofore borne a good character, upon
mere suspicion-they would deny their own fellow
citizens against whom they cannot alledge fault,
except difference in political opinion, the right of
trial by jury or the writ of ha6eds corpus They
sanction the most cruel acts upon the part of mill
tary yrants against subordinates and citizens-they
will endorse whatever the authorities may do, how
ever much against law or without law. Many of
them are par excellence State rights men, and yet
! they would surrender every right claimed by the
States to the will of the President unless it came
in direct conflict with their own personal interests
They are for pressing every man into the war ex-
cept themselves and their particular avortes unless
they can secure Office and position. In other words
they are for despotism, provided they and their
friends can be the lieutenants and subordnates Of
the despot.