The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-07-14

known in the city, but before official knowl-
edge OF II had arrived, Gen. Jackson still
maintained martial or military law. Nov,
that il could be aaid the war was over, the
clamor against martial law, which had sxist-
ed from the fnt grew more furious. Among
other things q Mr., Louaiier published
denunciatjatory newspaper article. General
Jackson arrested him. A lawyer by the name
Of Aorel procured the United States Judge
Hall to order writ OF haJeas corpus to rs.
lievo Mr.. Louailer. Gen. Jackson arrested
both the lawyer aud the judge. A Mr.. Hol-
lander venlured to say Of some part OF the
matter that Git WAS dirty trick" Gen
jackson arrested him. Whom the officer un,
dertook to serve the writ Of habeas corpus,
Gen. jackson took it from, him, and sent him
away with copy. Holding the judge In
custoday q few days, the General sent him
beyond the limits OF bis encampment and set
him at liberty, with an order to remain till
the ratification OF peace should be regularly
announced, or until the Bfitish should have
loft the Southern coast, A day or two more
elapsed, the ratification Of the treaty of peace
was regularly announced and the judge aud
others wore fully liberated. A few days more
and the judge called Gen. Jackson into court
and fined him thousand dollars for having
arrested him and the others named. The
General paid the fine, and there the matter
rested for nearly thirty years, when Congress
refunded principal and interest. The late
Senator Douglas, then in the house Of Repre-
sentatives, took leading part 10 the debates,
in which the constitutional question was much
discussed. Am not prepared to say whom
the journals would show to have voted fol
that measure.
1t may be remarked. First, that we had
the same Constitution then as now; secondly,
that We then had case Of invasion, and now
We have a case CT rebellion; and, thirdly that
the permanent right Of the people to public
discussion, the liberty of speech and Of the
press, the trial by jury, the law of evidence
and the habeas corpus, suffered no detrimen'
whatever by that conduct Of General Jackson
or its subsequent approval by the American
Congress.
And yet, let me say, that in my own dis,
cretion. do not know whether / would have
ordered the arrest of Vallandigham. While
| cannot shift the responsibility from myself,
hold that, as general rule, the commander
in the field is the better Judge Of the pecessi-
ly 10 any particular case. OF course, must
practice a general directory and revisory pow
er in the matter.
One Of the resolutions expressed the opin-
ion Of the meeting that arbitrary arrests will
have the effect to divide and distract those
who should be united 10 suppressing the re-
beion, and 1 am specifically called on to dis
charge Mr.. Valandigham. regard this as
at. least, a fair appeal to me on the expediency
Of exercising Constitutional power which
think exists. In response TO such appeal
have to say, it gave me pain when l learned
that Mr.. Vallandigham had bsen arrested
that is, l was panied that there should have
seemed to be necessity for arresting him
and that it will afford me great pleasure to
discharge him so soon as can, by any m cans
6eiisus the public safety ,piH not suffer By 1t.
further cay that as the war progresses, it ap
pears to me, opinion and action, which were
in great confusion at first, take shape and fal
into more regular channels, so that the neces
sity for strong dealing with them gradually
decreases. have every reason to desire tha
it should cease altogether, and far from the
least is my regard for the opinion and wish
es Of those who, like the meeting at Alban }
declare their purpose to sustain the Govern
meut in every constitutional and lawful meas
ure to suppress the rebellion. Still, l must
continue to do as much as may seem to be re
quired by the public safety.
A. LINCOLN.