Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-03-18

tnhiouiiceu tne ODJect OF the war TO be,
the defence and maintenance of the su-
premacy of the Constitution and the
preservation of the Union, with all the
dignity, equality and rights of the several
States unimpaired, and. explicitly denied
that 1t was waged in any spirit of op-
precision. or for any purpose off conquest
or subJugation, or purpose of overthrow
ing or interfering with the rights or estab-
hshed institutions of the Southren States.
This clear and emphatic resolution was
accepted and approved by the Democracy,
by the Border States, and by conservative
men generally, and thereupon all the
magnificent resources of the country in
men and money were put ut the disposal
OF the administration, for the prosecution
of the war IN accordance Herewith. and
II has had command of those resources
unopposcd and almost unqucstioned down
TO this hour gst
But the time came when this ground of
:. contest for the supremacy of ilIe Con-
stitution and the preservation of the
Union, became. in the policy of the ad-
miiiisiration, connected with, If not sub
ortiinated TO, another and different object
The tinSel rhetoric of Sumner, the die
ta:Orial utterances of GrecIy, and the
rabid violence of Phillips and Garrison,
became OF more consequence q: WASH
in@ton than the views of the great ma
jority of the people and the pledged faith
of the nation 4 policy of emancipation
was announced, involving enormous ex-
Dsnse, doubling the difficulties of tile
contest. and in fat contradiction of the
solemn declaration upon the object of the
war. Just recited. And this WAS done by
Presidential decrcc-;hc fat OF Il single
man-with u aUt O.itv. and at The u
stance of men who would be aInong the
very last selected 10y the American people
to advise their rulers. ..1
To this, and to all like departures from
the Constitution and from good faith and
sound policy, we are, and must remain,
unaltcrably opposed. | say IKE depar-
turcS. for the pretcncc OF military necessity
upon which emancipation has been an
uounccd, has been extended to ether sub
jpcts besides the ttdt4S OF the negro, as
the debates Of the day abundanty testify.
The seizure of citizens III States untouched
by revolt, and their incarceration lii dis
iant priscns, remote from witnesses who
might testify in their favor, and from
friends who might interccde for them, is
one Of the most prominent of these. and
deserves all the condemnation it Is re-
ceiving from the people.
The Father OF his Country, the anI,i
rerSary of whoss birth you celebrate,
had 10 conception OF doctrine of mill
tarv necessity as a substitute for the Con-
s;itution and laws Of the land: nor OF
Those underlined, unlimited powers, now
asstftrd TO exist in the President as Com
mandcr in-Chiel of the army and navy
of the United States and of the militia of
the States when called into actual service,
nor can we recognize them except as
/ basel,ss pretentiOns, to be put down
with strong public disaPprobation at the
earliest possible moment. Washlngtons
views of military jurisdiction and con-
duct in time OF insurrection, were given
to the army sent by him to quell the
! revolt in Western Pennsylvania in 1894,
| when he admonishcd them, . that every
! officer and soldier will consequently bear
In mind that he comes TO support the
/ laws, and it would be peculiarly unbe-
/ coming in him to be in any way the IN
| tractor Of them that the essential prin-
! cipies OF a free government confine the
province of the-military when called forth
on such occasions, to those TO objects !:
| trst, TO combat and subdue all who may
be found IN arms III opposition TO the
national will and authority ! secondly, TO
aid and support the civil magistrate IN
bringing offenders to justice,-The dis
pensation OF this justice belongs 10 the
civil magistrates, and let il ever be our
pride and our glory to leave the sacred de-
posit there inviolate." |
In the spirit of this admonition. and OF
the constitutional doctrine that I" the
military shall, in all cases, and at all
times, be in strict subordination to the
civil power" we must stand opposed IL
the abuse of the military power in apply
inc it to other purposes than those appoint
ed and regulated by law as the seizure
of private property of non-combatants moi
legally liable to confiscation the seizure
of hordes of negroes, and their support
instruction, transportation, drill and pay.
ment. as allies; the seizure and imprison
ment of northern freemen, without Law
and against it the suppression Of news
papers. or the closing of the mails asalns
, them. and the encroachnent upon th'
State jurisdiction by the appointment o
sHdry police officials to exercise power
- lNr- a VI