The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-10-08

/ Senator Douglas On the Suspe nslon Of sh,
| Writ OF Habeas Corpus.
We commend the following extract from tn,
speech Of Senator Douglas, delivered in tn,
House Of Representatives, on the bill to refunt
the fine imposed upon General Jackson by Judg,
Hall, Of New Orleans. for suspending the writ
habeas corpus and declaring martial Law in tba
city, to the careful consideration Of some of ouu
Democratic friends, Who are so much exercised
upon the subject of President Lincoln's recent
proclamation suspending the writ Of habess cor.
Pus. They will find in it good food for thought,
and possibly, good reasons for desisting from
their cavils about the violations of the Cons.itu
ton.
The speech entire may be found in Congress.
sional Globe, of January 10th, 1874:
1.-The necessity and the glorious effect result.
ing from the cause which that necessity prompt.
ed, we're acknowledged BY the whole country,
and he would exens%s hne TIN w4s 'cvrieiS,.;
he Or. d. could not say whether their acts
were legal or illegal He cared not whether Gen.
Jackson violated the constitution or not. He
cared nut whether Gen. Jackson suspended all
civil authority or not.
If his acts sere necessary to the defense of
the country, that necessity was above all Law.
Gen. Jackson hazarded everything; he hazarded
both life and reputation on that step, which might
render him immortal il he saved the country, or
ON the contrary, make him ignominious, aud a
by.vord and reprosch and the man that dared
TO do that deserved the protection and plaudits
of his country. He did not envy the feelings OF
that man who could get up and talk calmly and
cooly, under such circumstances, about rules OF
court and technicalifies of proceeding. when the
city might be in flames, and the utmost barbara.
~ might be committed. What we're rules of
court but nero cobwebs when they heard an en-
envy with his cannon at the doors OF their courts,
and they sa~ the flames encircliDg tho cupols
Talk then about the rules Of court. and the for.
,nalities Of proceedingf The man that would
do this, would fiddle while the capital was barn.
ing. (Senss,ion.) He could not envy any man
the possession of such stoical philosophy Talk
aheut illegalityl Talk about formalities! Why,
there was but one formalty to be observed, and
that Vas the Formally of directing the cannon,
and destroying the enemy, regardless of the
means, whether it be by the seizure Of cotton
bags, or the seizure of persons, if the necessity
Of the case required it. The God Of nature has
conferred this right on men and nations; and,
therefore, let him not be told that il Was uncOn.
stisutonal to use the necessary means. The
The constitution Vas adopted for the protection
of the country, and under that constitution the
nation had the right to exercise all the powers
that we're necessary for the protection of the
country. II martial law was necessary to the
salvation of the country, martial Law was legal
for that purpose. II it was necessary for q
judge. for the preservation Of order, to punish
for . cootempt, he thought it was necessary for
general to exercise control over his cannon, to
imprison traitors, and to arrest spies, and to in
tercept communications with the enemy. II this
vas necessary, this was legal"