The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1863-02-27
10 the Honorable he ,ss,,ate and Hou,e OF

/ VI shu CouimohWeaitn, Respectfully repre-
! sents ~ i''h Hiii ~ toFie afdl ID d.lud
] That since the commencement of the present
war, many acts Of gross outrage and wrong
have been inflicted upon citizens Of this State
i by persons holding office or appointment under
the United States, and by virtue Gas alieged3 Of
authority from the Executive Department
! thereof, which, in the opinion OF your .memori-
alists, require through exposure and condemna-
ton, and the establishment Of adequate safe
guards against the recurrence Of similar acts
| in future. " e.seass,t s5f ss..,.... ...s
Your memorialists particularly alludc to the
arrests made of citizens in civil life, without
due process of law, by Marshals and Provost
Marshals of the United Statesi or by the Mil
itary Governor of the District of Columbia,
and I'm many cases) their conveyance beyond
the State limits to foreign fortresses and risons
followed by their confinement therein for
uncertain periods, measured by the mere discre-
tion of official power.
These arrests, made in most daring contempt
Of the constitution of the United States o and
Of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and in utter derogation of those
principesof of British Liberty which were brought
to the new world by our ancestors, and. left TO-
us by them as a most sacred legacy challenge
most through investigation and out spoken re-
buke. And their occurrence, exhibiting the fact
that our citizens arc not ecure against being
kidnapped and carried beyond the, jurisdictinn
Of our tribunals and laws, proves that some
steps should be taken by the State Government
to prevent like outrages in future oa,a sa0n
Your inenoralists therefore pray, sb lIivy
That the facts in several cases of illegal ar,
rest in this State, under color or pretence of au-
thority from the Federal Executive, may be
investigated and put Unofficial form for the con-
temptation of the people; : .,.,. ,......
That the Governor of the Commonwealth,
upon whom is charged the Official duty of ta-f
king care that the laws be faithfully executed,
be called upon in due and respectful form to
communicate to the two Houses any iplorma-.
ton within his power in relation to the said
unlawful arrests, and also to state w hat steps
he has taken, if any, to defend our citizens a.
ganst them; ,y,
That If dIp6n dIIp dac inquniryle il shall appear
that our statsl;tws ara deficient inssr, spresi-
ding onr citizens, with prompt and efficient
protection against arbitrary arrestor Kidnapping
the necessary statutes securing projections may
be forthwith enacted 3 YeAl ban o9Ws5sagR
ndlastly that a formal protest -bg Che Gsn-
eral Assembly, on behalf of the people of this
Commonwealth. against the arrests Aforesaid;
and an explicit, firm, dignife;! dselaatiofn2by
the said General Assembly onthe same behalf,
that future arrests of a similar character, inyo!-
wing attempt of constitutional law and Of the
most sacred rights Of personal liberty, viii not
be submitted to by this state, may be placed
upon the journals of the two Houses, and cop
les thereof be transmitted to the President OF
the United States and to both Housss of
Congress, to the end that it may bsuknown Of
all that this State is devoted with rpntalteriag
zeal to the principles of freedom, and will con
sent to no precedents which can be cited hereae-
ter in defence Of arbitrary power. fw ,noy lct
All that lis respectfully submitted by your
The PROCUREMENT OF STAMPS ON ORIGINAL
PROCESS DECLARED NcoNsrITUuoNAL.-Jud
Barnard, in u case in the Supreme Court OF
New York, has declared the Stamp Act passed
by Congress. July l, 1852, unconstitutional, 80
far as it relates TO requiring stamps upon origi-
nal proceedings in the State courts. In. the
case of Walton agains. Bryenth an order had
been obtained to vacate the proceedings on the
ground that the summons had been filed with
outsan adhesive stamp, the defendant's counsel
that the provisions Of the statute
rendered all original proceedings Invalid and OF
no effect unless stamped. ''s.A -N9N
Plaintiffs counsel argued that Congress had
NO power to interfere with the proceedings of
the State courts. It was doubtful whether they
had the power to impose the penalty of $50;
but If they could render the Iroeeedingsin
State courts invalid, they usurped power that
was illegal and unconstitutional. LIZ they could
impose a duty Of cents upon asurnmons, they
could, upon the same principle, lay n duty (which
would amount to prohibition, and thus para
lyze the whole system of administering justice
in the State tribunals. The court decided to
dismiss the order Congress had no 'rightto
the proceedings of the Statecou
In his Judgment the provision was illegal and
Congress might impose PEN
atty, but could not invalidate the proceedings
of the State courts n This case will soon 60 to
the Court of Appeals, and probably to the Su-
preme Court of the United States, where the
important question will be finally decdedsSi
The Editor Of the Star of the West furnish
es the following modest attempt at correcting
rather widespread mistakessisn.g4a haa agi
1t is mistake to suppose that the subscrip-
tion price of paper is clear gainsto the puohsner
la 1t is a mistake to think that,hegefs hiswhite
paper for nothing. raiHias15q galdf. yQ.ye
1t is a mistake TO, suppose that 1T is printed
without cost. 49,
bodily faith.
i his mistake to suppose It Is easy topleaso
everybody. ove sveb wA : ,bgib .giarce
1t is mistake to suppose that money due
for the paper would be just as good 70 US N a
year as it would be now zof91tl sH1 WenA
q It,is a mistake to suppose that he would not
be thankful for what, is due, him and for new
subscribers. ar