Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-02-04
TRUE POLICY OF THE WAR
A Patriotic Democrat on the Conduct Of
the Opposition.
SPEECH OF SENATOR WRIGHT.
60 OF INDIANA.

On Tuesday, January 9th, the United
States Senate resumed the consideration
of the bill to provide for the discharge ot
State prisoners and Others, and to author
ize the Judges of the United States
Courts to take bail or recognizances to
secure the trial of the same. The pend
ing question being on the motion of Sen
ator Powell to strike out the third section
of the bill, Senator Wright, of Indiana,
said
Mr. President, the bill under consider.
alton contemplates the release of politi-
cal prisoners under certain circumstances;
and, under the conditions of the Consti-
tuition, it is designed to authorize the
President to suspend the writ of habeas
corpus. Some days since voted 10 lay
the resolution of the Senator from Della
ware Mr.. Salisbury on the table; and ]
did so because, among other reasons, this
bill, if it shall pass to the statute book,
will entirely supersede the necessity for
such resolution and, therefore, It's
further discussion would be not only un-
profitable but actually injurious. The
legislation for great country should be
accomplished in broad and catholic
spirit, and not be tinctured with party
contentious or local jealousies, or even
isolated cases of wrong and oppression
Such cases have their teachings, and they
may prompt Us 10 vigorous maintenance
of our inaIienable liberties, but when
they have effected their purpose they
may be laid aside and the remedy be
pursued by a comprehensive statesman
ship. I prefer, therefore, that the brief
period which is left to US of this feeting
session shall not be sacrificed to individ-
4al cases, but given to legislation on gen.
eral principles, which shall embrace in
their operation the vast era of the repub-
lie and the aggregate of our fellow citi-
zens. = am in favor of the bill now be-
fore the Senate as il came to US from the
committee, that we may hereafter regu-
late, BY a-law which shall not be misun-
derstood, that about which there has
Eeen much ascerbity, aud conflicting
Judgment 1t is scarcely necessary, then,
for me TO say, that ] shall not vote for
the pending amendment, the motion of
my honorable friend from Kentucky,
(Mr. Powell to strike out the third sec
tIon,sl. - -
rHK FOUNDERS OF THE UNION on POLITICAL
zrfHsa r. u -H. ARRESTS
We cannot, if we would, conceal the
tact that much capital has been made by
politicians out of arrests which have been
directed by the President, or Others act
ing under his authority. Men do not
seem to realize the conditioned things in
the country, and the most improper APP
peals are made to the ignorant and un-
suspecting, which alarm their fears on
this subject. In the dark days OF &c,
General Lee wrote to James Bowdoin,
President of the Massachusetts, Council: /:
I" We must save the community in
spite OF the ordinances of the legislature
There are times when we must commit
treason against the laws Of the State for
the salvation of the State. The present
crisis demands this brave, virtuous kind
of treason"
No statesman of this day would be
wiling to use language SO strong as that
which one of Washington's Generals used
in the war of the Revolution but occa-
sions arise when arrests become q neces-
sity which cannot be disregarded without
an impeachment of fidelity to the best
interests of the commonwealth and /
amnot disposed to yield the credit to the
Republican party-of originating policy
as bold as it is necessary, for in the de-
spendent days of our infant struggle for
liberty il Eas justified. Jefferson and
Jackson subsequently demonstrated that
it had their sanction, and it ever has had
theapproval of old fashioned Democracy.
Gen. jackson suspended the liberty of
the press in New Orleans, and he kept
theeentire city and suburbs under martial
law after the British had left the coast
He arrested Judge Hall for issuing a writ
1t haheas corpus in favor OF a French
subject who had been seized by General
Jackson's orders I; and a recent Congress
OF the United States, by Its legislation,
commended that exercise of authority
Firmness and promptitude, fearlessness
in ASSUMING responsibility when his
country was IN an emergency, were among
the prominent traits of his character,
which secured the deep devotion of the
democracy, and the earnest and enthusi-
astie regard which was akin to idolatry.
THOMAS JEFFERsoN's OPINION.
Mr.. Jefferson sustained General VIII
kinson for suspending the habeas corpus
In New Orleans on the occasion of certain
military arrests of persons who were sus-
pected Of completely in Burr's expedition;
thus justifying the setting up of military
authority over the jurisdiction of the
courts in times of public danger. As late
as the Sd of February, 1907, IN letter to
Hovernor Claiborne respecting Burr's con-
spiraey, ne wrote: " 49,
"On great occasions, every good officer
must be ready to risk himself in going
beyond the strict line of law. when the
public preservation requires it. His mo-
tives will be a justification as far as there
is any discretion in his ultra legal pro-
ceedings, and no indulgence of private
Feelings" '.5s,''
call the attention of Senators to this
language, and to the time and circum-
stances under which it was used. That
was not a rebellion of one-third of the
entire REPUBLIC against its government
The straits of the Union were not then
so desperate. On that occasion a mere
handful of men, starting on distant ex-
pedition, were arrested and brought to
trial. Now the conspiracy is more vital,
and the emergency more imperious. In
a letter to Gen. Wilkinson, of the same
date, he says: ,z-..e.I ..-sf-f.. ...-- ..
Your sending here Swartwout and
Bollman, and adding to them Burr, Blen-
nerhasset and Tyler, should.they fall into
your hands, Will be supported by thepub-
lie opinion" 80 .
There is another passage IN this letter
which i 1nav be i1sfified in reading ip