Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1862-05-20
Don't let the People see it !

into battle with the Stars x Stripes above
their heads to confuse aud deceive Union
soldiers-rine the changes over and over
again because the Administration have in
some cases "taken the responsibility Of
arrestiug known or supposed Rebels, aud
Of suppressipg seditiouary papers-which
they argue is unconstitutional 10 time Of
PEACE, it is-but these carpers carefully
conceal the other fact that in time of for
eign intervention or domestic insurrection
the Constitution itself provides for WAR
powers ,ha, override ordinary regulations.
"Self defence is the frs, law" of Nations
Is we'll as Of individuals In case OF FIRE,
We may forcibly enter and remove neigh
bors' property, or bow up their Dwellings
With gunpowdcr TO arrest the spread Of the
/ hames-but were there no FIRE, such acts
would be robbery and arson, punished BY
fne, i'm IMPRISONMENT, and death. IFhen the
Natios's life is in dInger-rehen secret
iacendiaries are carrying fire into erery
corner Of the Temple Of Liber,y-ws are
no. a, their mercy. The very Constitution
provides for that danger also. 1t says
bu, every Rebel sympa;hizsr concsals the
fact from his dupes-,hat
/ THE privilege Of habeas corpus shall not
be suspended. except when in cases OF
} REBELLION or invasion, tie pubAe safety
n.Gy require IT.
t TREASON agains, the u. s. shall consist
only in levying War against Them, OK ta
odhering 10 tier Enemies, giring them aid
and comfort"
The punishment of treason, is death.
aSo rogue e'sr fit the halter DRAW
With good opinion o. the las
Now, to err is human, and the innocent
may possibly in some cases have been
sunmarily arrested with the guilty. Yet
90 candid man can doubt the President s
integrity in the performance Of duty, for
be could not wish to make enemies, or 20
aliepate friends Of the L Union-oppsardnces
we're doubtless sgainst all such, and they
have been released as soon as, and vhene-
yer, thought expedient- Ii has been one
Of the most irksome and undesirable por-
tions of Administrative cares
Some Democrats quote that article Of
the Constitution which says
.No person shall be deprived Of life Liberty
or properly without due process Of law
and upon that argue tha, every Rebel who
hs, been shot has been unoonstitatioaaily
killed-"down With Lincoln and bis Abo-
lition, unconstitutional war; They con-
ceal the truth that that protection is only
fer loyal men, in times Of pedee. They
would have our honest, lax-Abiding free
men stand still and be sho, down 10 their
tracks BY Secession ruhans, who could cry
out a. every deadly shot, "Don't you dare
to shoot back isn't Democratic-don't I
you see the Constitution says "no person
shall be deprived of life withou, due pro-
cess Of Law ?'-you must let US do all the
imprisouing, oa;h-breaking, rObbiDg, and
killing, because don't you see ? they are
contrary to your Constitution -
"Old Hickory" Was formerly authority
with old-fashioned Democrats. To save
not . great Nation against traitors, bu, a
small City against an open foreign army
after peace was agreed upon-Geu. Jack
son declared martial law in New Orleans,
in order to put stop to Just such disloyal
Winnings as We hear in our day. After
wards, Congress virtually approved of it
as necessary act, as We believe they have
of the Presidents course-and if Gene
raj, from sober convictions Of duty, can be
shielded under that section of the Cons;i-
ton. certainly the Commander in Chief
performing highes. Executive duties-may
be justified, though traitors complain.
In time Of Peace, the Democracy under
Van Buren, gave epery Post Muster power
to throw out Of the U.S.Mail any periodi.
cal they might choose to call "Abolition."
That, they said, was Constitutional, and
Deuocratic-but all sorony for the Gov
ernment, IN time Of Var, to suppress or
refuse to carry myriad messen-
gers for its own destruction!
The Executive of every Power has to
judge what is necessary for self-defenee in
desperate emergencies.
For thirty years. rhere Slavery rsigns,
i has crushed out al Constitutional rights
Of life, liberty, property, of speech, press,
and public sssemblages-but not word
was uttered BY these sham Democfats in
favor Of an "outrased Constitution" even
in time of Peace. Nor, even now, have
they . word of condemnation for infinitely
worse, notorious, universal "violations of
the Constitution" throughout COttondom
They have no sympathies for Unionis's in
thraldon q. the Souih-all their affections
are drawn ont for Traitor eo-workers in
the Loyal States!
But "much remains unsung" And if
the powers that be had confined Generals
Breckinridge, Buckuer, LOve!l, Lee, Smith,
and Congressmeu Burnett, Green, Polk,
.ll ..k., -, an -bo nynrl n mad /