The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1863-06-24

He o. whose discretionary judgment Mr.. Val
landingham was arrested and tried w. dem
ocrat having no old party affinity "a me
and the Judge who rejected the constitutional
view expressed IN these resolutions, by refusing
10 discharge M Vallaudi CHAM on hdbeas cor
p.s, i = democrat OF better days th'a these,
bavieg received his judicial mantle AZ < hs.ds
o. President Jackson And still more. Of al
those democrats who are nObly exposing their
lives and shedding their blood on the battle
field have learned that many approve the
course taken with Mr.. Nallandighan- while
have not heard OF a single one eondemllng IL
cannot assert that there are none such. Aad
the name Of President Jackson recalls an in
stance Of pertinent history. After the battle
of New Orleans. and while the fact that the
treaty Of peace had been concluded vas well
known ia the city, but before official knowled-e
Of Il had arrived Gen. Jackson still nIintain-
ed martial OF military law. Now, that II could
/ BE- said that the war was over. the c.amor
against martial law which had existed from the
frst grew more furious. Among other things
a Nr Lousillier published a deuunciatory
newspaper article. Gen. Jackson arrested him
A LAWYER by the name Of Morel Procured the
United Sta.es Judge Hall 10 order q writ Of IA
seas corpus 10 relieve Mr. Louaillier. GENERAL
Jackson arrested both the lawyer and the judge
4 Mr.. Hollander ventured 20 say Of some part
Of the matter that il was dirty trek -
Gen. jackson arrested him. When the Officer
undertook 70 serve the writ Of hd5.as corpus
Gen. Jackson took it from him. aud sent hin
away with a copy. Holding the judge IN Gus
todv few DAYS. the General sent him beyond
tue limits Of his encampment. and set him al
liberty. with an order to remain TIL The ratihca
ton Of peace should be- regularly announced
Or until The British should have left the Souf-
ern coast. A day or two more elapsed. ihe rat
idcaiion Of the treaty OF peace was regularly
announced AID the Judge and Others were fuill
liberated A few DAYS more. and the jude
called Gen. Jackson into court and fined him
thousand dollars for having arrested him an'
the others named. The General paid the fine
aud there the matter rested Tor nearly thirty
years. when Congress refunded principal au'
interest The late Senator Douglas. then il
the House Of Representatives. took leadin!
part IN the debates in which the constitution
question was much discussed. / am not pre-
pared to say whom the journals would show L
have voted for the measure.
1t NAV be remarked First that We had th'
same Constitution then a. now; secondly, tina
We then had a case of invasion, aud now W.
have a case Of reb lion; and. thirdly. that %
permanent ght OF the people to public discus
sion. the liberty of speech aud OF the press IN
trial by jury. the law Of evidence and the Ia
bsas corpus. suffered no detrimcnt whatever b.
that conduct Of General Jackson. or its subse
J guent approval 10y the American Congress.
And yet, let me say. that in my own discrt
cfetion. | do not know whether | would hav
ordered the arrest Of Mr.. Vallandigham. Will
cannot shift the responsibility from myself.
hold that. as a general rule the commander j
the field is the better Judge of the necessity i
iqufa or
tee a general directory and revisory power /
the matter.
One OF the resolutions expresses the Opinio
Of the meeting that arbitrary arrests will hav
the effect to divide and distract those VIII
should be united in suppressing the rebellion
aud | am specifically called upon to discharg
Mr. Nalandigham. | regret this a.. at leas
a fair appeal 10 me on the eXpedency Of exeI
csing a constitutional power which think *
i-ts. In response TO such appeal have to say
it gave me pain when | learned that Mr.. Va
landigham had been arrested-that Is, va
panied that there should have seemed to be
necessity for arrestng him-and that il vi
afford me great pleasure to discharge him :
soon as can by any means believe the publ
-afety will not suffer by it, | further say. tia
as the war progresses. il seems to me. Opinio
and action, which were in great confusion a
first. take shape and fall into more regula
channels, so that the necessity for strong dea
ing with them gradually decreases. / hav
every reason TO desire that it should cease a
together and far from the least is my regar
for the opinions and wishes Of those who. lik
the meeting at Albany. declare their purpose Z
sustain the government in every constitutions
aud lawful measure 10 suppress the rebellion
Still, / must continue To do 50 much as ma
seem to be required. by the public safety
A. LINCOLN