, 1863-06-16

TI1E PRESIDENT On VAL
LAN11Ie1f1A11,
Uc Replies to tho Committee OF New
> York Dem "cratH> who Demand Val-
H. lurlu1yf1Auns8 RclcAHe-

: WAsn1ss7oS, June 14.-The Presidents
reply to the resolutions Of the public meeting
held at Albany, N. T., with regard to arbitrary
arrests By military authority, aud a. tue same
tain the Administration in lawful and consti-
tutional measures to suppress the rebellion,
Is nade public today. 1t Is quite lengthy,
hut the following extract, concerning Vallan-
digham's case, is the result Of the entire argu-
mtnt. Mr. Lincoln In referring to the reso-
lutions, says:
..Tle meeting Indicate their opinion that
military arrests may be constitutional in the
Stutes where rebellion actually exists, but
that eucll arrests are unconstitutional In local
not actually exist They insist that rsuch
ar1esls shall not be made outside Of the lines
If necessary military occupation aud the
scenes Of fnsurrcction. Inasmuch, however,
us the Constitution itself makes no such dis
tinction, am unable to believe that there
Gu ncede that the cl1ss Of arrests complained
Of, can be constitutional only when, in
cases Of rebellion or invasion, the public
safety may require them. and, insist that
in such cases they are constitutional when
well in places to which they my prevent the .
rebellion extending Us In those where it may
be already prevailing; rs well where they
may restrain u,ischieyiuus interference with
the raising and supplying Of armies to sup
pIEt8 kuE IEpc441UA A3 HAC1E GAE 4EtC4k10A
may actually be; as well where they may re-
strain the enticiDg men out Of the army as
where they would prevent mntiny in the
army; nnd equally constitutional at al
places where they will conduce to the public
safety as against the dangers Of rebellion Or
by the meeting. Il Is asserted, In substance,
| that Mr. V. was, by military commander,
| seized aud tried for no other reason than
words addressed to public meeting In criti-
cism Of the course Of the Administration,
and in condemnation Of the military orders Of
| the General. Now, ii there be no mistake
| about this, if this assertion is the truth aud
| the whule truth, if there WAS no other reason
| for the arrest, then conclude thu arrest was
| wrong; hut thu arrest, as I understand, was
Vallanoigham ayows his hostility to the var
| IN the part If the Union, and his arrest was
made because lie was laboring with some et-
| feet 10 prevent tho enlieting of troops, to en-
| cournge desertion from the army, aud to leave
| the rebellion without an adequate military
free to suppress 1t. He was not arrested be-
cause he was 1am1giDg the political prospects
| Of the Administration or the personal Inter.
ests Of The commanding General, but because
| he was endnugering the army, upon the exis-
tence and yiSor Of which the He Of TIC nation
| and this gave the military constitutionaljuris-
dictiou to 10y hands upon him, If Mr. Y.
was not damaging the military power Of the
! country, then his arrest was made on mistake,
fact which I would be glad to correct on re-
spoDsible and satisfactory evidence. l under
stand the meeting adopted resolutions III H.
yor Of the suppression Of the rebellion By
| military force and by armies. Long ex-
pcricnce has shown that armies cannot
he maintained unless desertion shall
be punished by the severe penalty OF
death. The case requires, and the law aud
the Constitution sanction this punishment.
Must shoot asmple-m1nded soldier boy who
deserts, while must not touch hair of .
willy agitator who induces him to desert? ?
This Is none The less injurious when effected
by getting father, OF brother, or friend into
public meeting, and there working upon his
feelings till le is persuaded to write the SOL
dier boy that he Is fighting In bad cause,
| and for weak Administration Of contenp-
tlble Government, too weak to arrest and
punish him if lie shall desert. think that,
in such case, to silence the agitator and
enye the boy is not only constitutional, but,
withal, q great mercy.
| After reviewing the suspension of the ha5e1s
corpus bY Gen, Jackson, the President says
land yet, let me say that, in my own d.
crutiou. / do not know whether I. would have
orflered the arrest Of Vallandighm Wtit1t
; cannot shift the responsibility from mr. saif
I i.o]d TINT, as u general rule, the COM. ,ande
in the field Is the better judge Of the neces.i
: ty IN any particular case Of cour Ae' nm;
r practice g general directory and re. fisnrv noy
er in the matter. Que Of the r. tnlntfnns ~
1,refees the opinion Of tha r,net1nnr thot ~
b1trary a1rests: will have tic cffect To fiy,d
3 and distract those who st.ould he united I
- 5pppressing the rebellion. and / an specit