The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-16
President Lincoln to the New York Demot
racy'

est consideration of them. This MIR. Lincoln
gave, and has replied to the resolutions in O
very clear and forcible letter on the subject OF
Martial Law and the suspension of the writ of
Habeas Corpus, and though we think it is not
conclusive in the particular case of Nallan-
digham, is yet by far the st ongest argument we
have seen, We give below as much of the
letter at we have space for to-day, and shall give
the rest hereafter.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, ]
June IL, 1868.
GENTLEMEN Your letter of May 10, inclosing
the resolutions of public meeting held at Albany
N. Y, on the 10th ofthe same month, was receiv-
ed several days ago.
The resolutions, as understand them, are re-
solvabe into TWO propositions-frst the expression
of purpose to sustain the cause of the Union, to
secure peace through victory, and to support the
Administration in every constitutional and lawful
measure to suppress the rebellion and secondly,
a declaration of censure upon the Administration
for supposed unconstitutional action, such as the
making OF military arrests. And, from the two
propositions, third is deduced, which is that the
gentlemen composing the meeting are resolved
on doing their part TO maintain our common Gov
ernment and country, despite the folly or wicked
ness, as they may conceive, OF any Admlnlstra
ton. This position is eminently patriotic, and as
such, thank the meeting and congratulate the
nation for it. My own purpose is the same so
l.. ,ue meeting and myself have common OBJ
ect and can have no difference, except in the
choice of means or measure for Fe~..ug that OBJ
ject.
A.l I oloSa thio "a
close it, if there were no apprehension that more
injurious consequences than any merely personal
to myself might follow the censures systematically
cast upon me Tor doing what, in my view of duty,
could not forbear. The resolution promise 10
support me in every cons itutional and lawful
measure to suppress the rebellion and | have
not knowingly employed, nor shall knowingly
employ, any other. But the meeting, by their
resolutions, assert and argue that certain military
arrests, and proceedings following them for which
am ultimately responsible, are unconstitutional.
Think they are not. The resolutions quote from
the Constitution the definition of tre4 son, anu the
limiting safeguards aud guarantees therein prov-
ded for the citzen on trials for treason, and on
his be NO held TO answer for capital or otherwise
infamous crimes and, in criminal prosecutions,
his right to speedy and puohc trial by an i'm
partial Jury. They proceed to resolve " that
these safeguards OF the rights OF the citizen against
the pretenslons OF arbitrary power were indeed
more especially Tor his protection 10 times OF civil
q commouon." And apparently to demonstrate
the proposition, the resolutions proceed "Ihey
were secured substantially to the English people
after years of protracted civil war,a were adopt
ed into our Constitution at the close of the revolu
ton"
Would not the demonstration have been bet.
ter, it 1t could have been truly SAID that these
safeguards had been adopted and applied during
the civil wars ADD during our revolution, instead
OF after one and al The close OF the other l.
too, am devo,edIy for them af,r civil war, and
before civil war, and at all times, !" except when
in cases of rebellion or Invasion, the public safety
+ may require their suspension" The resolutions
y proce TO tell US that the safeguards /" have stood
- the test of seventy.six years OF trial, under oul
republican system, under circumstances VIII ell
show that while they Constitute the foundation o
all free government, they are the elements of the
d, enduring stability # the republic" No one de-
. MES that they have so stood the test up to the
beginning of the present rebellion, il we except
a certain occurrence at New Orleans nor doei
any one question that they will stand the ties
much longer after the rebellion CLOSES. Blu
4 these provisions of the Constitution have no ap
plicaion to the case we have in hand, because
the arrests complained of were not made for tres
son--that Is, not for the treason defined in tn,
Constitution, and upop the c''nviction of which
the punishment is death nor yet we're they mad
a to hold persons TO answer tor any Capital or 9th
erwise infamous crimes (; nor were The proceed
ing, following, 10 any constitutional or legal sense
criminal prosecution" the arrests We ad
on totally different grounds, and HE proc adlug
following accorded with the grounds OF Tie al
rests. Let us consider the real Case with whlc