The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1863-07-14
THE PRESIDENT ON MILITIA
He '' RY ARRESTS.


The undersigned, officers of public meet
ing held at the city Of Albany ON the 10th
day Of May instant, herewith transmit TO your
excelleucy copy Of the resolutions adopted
at the said meeting, and respectfully request
yorr earnest. consideration of them. They
deem it proper on their own personal respon-
sibility to state that the meeting was one of
the most respectable as to numbers and char
acter, and ono of the most earnest in the sur-
port Of the Union, ever held in this city.
Yours with great regard.
Signed by Erastus Corning, President, Eli
Perry, Vice President, Ia Vice Presidents and
six Secretaries.
Resolutions adopted at the meeting held in
Albany, N. T., on the 10th day Of May,
1858: a'.
Resolved. We demand that the Admins.
traton shall be true to the Constitutions; shall
recognize and maintain the rights of the States
and the liberties Of the citizen; shall every
where, outside Of the lines of military occupa
tion and the scenes Of insurTection, exert all
its power to maintain the supremacy Of the
civil over military law,
Resolved, That in view Of these principles,
We denounce the recent assumption of mill.
tary commander to seize aud try citizen of
Ohio, Clement L. Vallandigham, for no other
reason than words addressed to public meet.
ing, in criticism of the course of the Admins
tatioD, and in condemnation Of the military
orders Of that General. ..
Resolved, That this assumption of power
by military tribunal, If successfully asserted,
not only abrogates the right of the people 10
Assemble and discuss tie affairs Of govern
ment, the liberty Of speech and of the press,
the right Of trial by jury the law Of evidence,
and the privilege Of haJeas corpus, but it
strikes fatal blow at the supremacy of law,
and the authority of the State and Federal
Constitutions. r,... .t.-af,fg II
Resolved, That the Constitution of the
United States-the supreme law Of the land
has defined the crime Of treason against the
United States to consist " only in levying war
against them, or adhearing to their enemies,
giving them aid and comfort;" and has pro-
vided that "no person shall be convicted of
treason, unless on the testimony of two wit
nesses to the Same overt act, or on confession
in open court" And it further provides that
no person shall be held to answer for cap
ital or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a
presentment or indictment of grand jury ex-
cept in cases arising in the land and naval
forces, or in the militia when in actual service
in time Of war or public Danger" and further,
that in all criminal prosecutions the accused
shall enjoy the right Of speedy and public
trial by an impartial jury of the State and dis
trict wherein the crime was committed"
RESOLVED, That these safeguards Of the
rio q Of ha ctii Iha ns;n of
arbitrary power were intended more especially
for his protection in times Of civil commotion.
They were secured substantially to the En-
glish people, after years Of protracted civil
war, and were adopted into our Constitution
at the close of the revolution. They have
stood the test of seventy.si years of trial un-
der our republican system, under circumstances
which show that, while they constitute the
foundation Of all free government, they are
the elements of the enduring stability of the
republic. fm
RESOLVED, That the President, Vice Presi.
dents, and Secretary of this meeting be re-
quested 70 transmit copy Of these resolutions
to biz Excellency the Presileut Of the United
States, with the assurance Of this meeting Of
their hearty and earnest desire to support the
Government in every Constitutional and law.
ful measure 10 suppress the existing rebellion.
MR.. LINooLN's REPLY.
Executive MANSION,
WASHINGTON, June IL, 1868.
Hon. Erastus Corning and others:
GENTLEMEN: Your letter of May 10, en-.
closing tho resolutions Of public meeting
held at Albany New York, on the l6;h Of
The sane month, was received several days
ago.
The resolutions as understand them, are
resolvable into two propositions--frst, the ex.
preston of a purpose to sustain the cause OF
the Union, to secure peace I! ro' victory, and
to support the Administration in every con-
stitutional and lawful measure to suppress the
rebellion and secondly, declaration Of cen
sure upon the Administration for supposed
unconstitutional action, such as the making Of
military arrests. And from the two PROPOSE
tions, third is deduced, which is tba. the
gentlemen composing tho meeting are resolved
ou doing their part to maintain our common
government and country, despite the folly or
wckedness, as they may conceive, Of an Ad.
ministration. This position is imminently
patriotic, and as such, thank the meeting,
and congratulate the nation for it. Ny own
purpose is the same; so that the meeting and
myself have a common object, and can have
no difference, except in the choice Of means
or measures for effecting that object.
And here ought to close this paper, and
would close il, il there were no apprehension
that more injurious consequences than any
merely personal to myself might follow tho
censures systematically cast upon me for
doing what, in my view Of duty, could not
forJear. The resolutions promise to support
me iu every constitutional and lawful measure
to suppress the rebellion; and I have moi
Knowingly employed nor shall Knowingly en-
ploy any other. But the meeting by their
resolutions, assert and argue thai. certain mil
itary arrests. and proceedinrs following them,
for which l am ultimately responsible, are
unconstitutional, think they are not. The
resolutions quote from the Constitution the
definition Of treason, and also the limiting
safeguards and guarantees therein provided
for the citizen on trial for treason, and on bis
being held to answer for capital or otherwise
infamous crimes, and, in criminal prosecutions
his right to a speedy and public trial by ar
impartial jury. They proceed to resolv'
"that these safeguards Of the rights Of The
citizen against the pretepsions Of arbitrary
l. IL. T.