Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-02-28
atlistellann.

rFrom the Portland Daily Times of Feb. 3D.
Senator Nesmith on Military Arrests for
Disloyalty.
We are pleased to give place, in this morn.
ing's issue, to speech Of Senator Nesmith
on Senator Saulsbury's resolution of inquiry
Lconcerning the arrest and Imprisonment OF
! citizens of Deleware, on charges Of disloyal-
ty. Mr.. Nesmith has always been true
Democrat, and cannot be subject to the
charges Of Abolitionism which are made
against all who speak in support of the Ad-
ministration. But his voice is for sustaining
tho Government and more unequivocal and
decided in its tones than that Of many who
have been branded as fanatics and violators
of the Constitution
Mr.. President, as propose to vote for this
resolution and all thosc of similar character
making inquiries OH subjects in regard to
which it is proper that the Senate and tho
country should be informed, it may, perhaps,
be proper that l should give few reasons
why l should do so.
In the first place. according to my under
standing Of tho form aud theory Of cur Gov
ernmenf, I think there is no administrative
act in regard to which the people should not
have information. In my opinion there is no
public act, no administrative act which should
be kept from the people; but in voting that
the causes Of these arrests and the names of
the parties should be laid before the Senate,
l do not give that vote with the intention of
censuring the Administration for the arrests.
Sir, think have as tender regard for
the liberties Of the people as any man. and l
am not entirely ignorant Of the salutary les
sons which are taght by English history, that
the restraint of the liberty Of tho subject had
much to do with deposing the monarch
that it lost Charles his head, and James his
crown, and made him yagrant wandcrcr.
While am not entirely ignorant of those cir
cumstances, and what led to those results, !
believe that tue time has arrived in this coun.
try, under the peculiar circumstances which
now exist, when it is necessary that the pow
or of the Government should be excrted to
arrest certain men in our community who are
doing all they can to stir up strife and treason
among the loyal people. Sir. what is the usc
of your furnishing nien, arms and money to
prosecute war against the South, If you per-
init your own citizens to furnish aid and com.
fort in their power to the enemy, and to give
them all the Information they can obtain
do not know whether these arrests are en-
tircly legal or not. Tho question as to the
suspension Of the writ of habeax corpus pro-
pose to say nothing about; but am in favor
Of supporting tho Government by all legiti.
mate means. The people who sent me here
are Union-loving, law.abidng people. All
their hopes arc bound up with the Constitu.
tion and the Union. am for supporting the
~ l.
not know how much Of the Constitution will
be left when this rebellion is over; do not
know that tho Constitution can possibly sur
vive the rebellion; but am in favor OF put
ting down treason and supporting the Gov
erninent within the bounds of the Cons,itu.
tion, if that is possible; if that is impossible,
am in favor Of doing it any how.
Some persons, doubtless, have been arrested
who ought not to have been The President
has exercised that power at his peril, and it
is our duty to lot tho country know in what
manner he has exercised it. No doubt per-
SONS have been arrested who should not have
been arrested, but know great many who
have run at large who should have been ar
rested. l heard Senators OH this floor, prior
to tho 4th of March, and after tho 4th of
March, 1861, denouncs this Government In
the most defiant terms. Thoy inaugurated
tho rebellion hero, and they said they intend
I'd to carry it through, and they denied upon
your own floor and in your own presence that
they owed any allegiance to this Govern.
ment.
knew young man in this city who came
to me and told me ho was going to join the
rebcl army; that he had recommendations
from Senators in order to procure a commits.
sion in tine rebel army. lie told mo all about
them. think hs ought to be arrested. lido
not know that tho young man could have done
much harm in tho South, for he was as mean
and low.lived a creature as ever knew, and
az worthless a vagabond a. ever threw him
self on the outside Of pint of mean whiskey.
Another individual came here after had
taken my seat upon this floor, man who had
been former resident of Oregon, aud who
was sent ON here for tho purpose of going to
Charleston to make my illustrious predecessor
President of the United States. After tho
breaking up of the Charleston Convention he
neglected to return. When the rebellion
broke out no became an officer in tho rebel
army. 1t seems that by some means he got
leave Of absence, as about half Of our officers
arc getting now, to be absent from lis command,
and he came up here to collect claim which
tho Government Of tho United States owed
him for services rendered in the Indian wars
in Oregon. / was not cognixant Of the fact
Of his having bsen in the rebel army, and he
made tool Of mo to tho extent of going to the
Treasury Department with him, and intro.
ducing lin and identifying him. In order that
he might obtain his claim. lie succeeded in
getting a part Of his claim. and went back