New Oregon plaindealer. (New Oregon, Iowa) 1859-1866, 1863-03-20


committed murder, assault and bat
terry with intent to kill, manslaughter
, mayhem, wounding by striking or stab
hing with an intent to commit murde,
robbery, arson, burglary, rape, assault
and battery with intent to commit
rape" from the civil jurisdiction of the
courts. Thus any shoulder-strapped
and heartless scamp in the country
may insult the wives or daughters OF
the land, murder the husband, the faith.
er, or brother, to accomplish his infa-
nous purposes, and the court or Judge
that would issue process for the arrest
Of the culprit, like Judge Constable of
Ill.,, in the heabeas corpus cases in
that State, would speedily find him
self under arrest and hurried out Of the
State in custody Of Federal soldiers,
and surrounded by Federal bayonets.
Who is prepared to say that that
section Of the bill was not framed with
an express view to employing some
graceless and derravad person clothed
in U. s. uniform to commit crimes and
murders in certain localities where
such crimes as part,zan feelings would
prompt others to commit, might not he
safe to them, but With this shield mi ght
be to the SOLDIER If there is any good
reason for exempting those who would
commit these crimes from the punish
ment the law of the State where the
crime is committed would mete out to
the culprit, We have yet to learn it.
And here is an additional reason why
every man in the land should be armed
to defend his hoiae, his wife and his
daughters from armed ruffains. They
now have no lawful protection but that
of his own strong arm.
There are in the federal army large
numbers Of negroes and steps are being
taken to increase that number: And
should any Of these for any reason be
passing through any section of our ex
tensive country and commit any of the
crimes here enumerated, they too are
not amcnabie to the civil law being pro-
tected by federal uniform. We counsel
no resistar ce to this or any other Law,
but the use of the courts being deniel |
the people in protecting and preserve
ing their rights from violation, a first
law of nature demands that they provide
for self defence. Read the horrors of
St. Domingo and tell US not that we
are in no danger, or that we shall have
no redress if our homes are invaded by
these ruthless ssvages and barbarians.
Or tell us the manner in which squad
OF burly negroes are to be brought be-
fore military commi 3sion after having
violated the laws Of decency and human
ity, in some isolated section of the
country. Or tell US whether if some ,oe
these .fends should be sent to murder
democrats in some particular locality,
the administration having the appoint
ment of the military commission for
their trial, should they be detected and
presented, whether that commits
sion would not consist of men that
would bring in for their verdict "Served
them right" And as a further shield
ia the criminal in such cases section
18th prohibits the takingof dispositions
by either party, to he read in evidence
upon the trial. Now why is this, un-
less there is in this innovation upon all |
former precedents of our courts some
concealed purpose, or partizan object
for shielding the perpetrators Of crime. |
The great difference that seems to
exist between the "copperheads" and
the ''niggerheads" is, the former wants
peace at once, while the latter at the
end Of about sixty days. 1t is some
what natural that they should wish to
postpone the time, for every days delay
adds two millions and half of dollars
to the puplic debt, every cent of which
will ultimately fall into their hands
still as they refuse peace at once. why
not compromise on thirty days: that
will give them $75,OO0,000 additional