North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1863-01-21
TUNKHANNOCK; PA, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21 1863

social order and sacred rights have been yio-
lated, was at that very time sending forth
great armies to protect the National Capitol.
and to save The National officials from flight
or capture. 1t was while the arms of New
York thus sheltered them against rebellion,
that, without consultation with its chief mag
'straie, subordinate department at Wash
nston nsu'ed our people and invaded our
rights. Against these wrongs and oulrages
the people Of the State OF New York, at its
late election, so.emnly protested.
| The submission Of our people to these alb
uses, for time only, was taken at home and
abroad for an indifference TO tier liberties.
But It was Gniy spirit of respect for our in.
sututlons that they waited until they could
express their will in the manner pointed out
by "nr laws At the late election they vim
dIcatcd at once the regard f,r law and their
love ct liberty. Amidst oil the confusion ef
civil war, they calmly sat in judgement upoE
the administration, vo'ing against its candl-
OF respect for the Constitution. The minor
~, OF nearly equal numbers, yielded to this
decision without resistance, although the can
vass was animated by strong partisan excite
ments. This calm assertion Of rights, and
this honorable submiss N to the verdict of
the ballot box, vIndcated at once the charac
ter at our people aud the stability of our in
| >tluIons. Had the seces>lonlsts Of the
S"uIh thus yielded to constitutional decIsl N
they would have saved themselves and our
| country from the horrors of this war, AMI
they would have found the same remedy for
| every wrong and danger.
MARTIAL LAW.
The claim Of power under martial law is
not Only destructive of the rights of States,
hnt 1t overthrnws the legislative and judicial
departments Of the General Government II
asserts for the President more power as the
head of the army, than as the representative
ruler of the people. This claim has brought
dl>credit upon us in the eyes of the world.
It has strengthened the hopes Of rebellion
II has weakened the confii"nce of loyal states
II tends t" 'estroy the value of our Govern
ment in the minds of our people 1t leads to
disc"id and disco tent at the North, while it
has united and invignrated the South.
If there is any necessity which justfies
that policy, let Us openly and honestly saw
there is necessity which justifies revou-
ton. But this pretension is not put forth
as necessity which overieaps for a time all
restraints, and which is justified by gross
exiaency; it is theory which exals the mi.
litary power of the President above his civil
and unconstitutional rights. 1t asserts that
he may in his discretion declare war, and
then extnguish the State and National Con
siitutionS by drawing the pail of martial law
over our vast country.
There is little to fear in periods
of peace and prosperity. If VIC are not pro-
tecttd when there are popular excitements
and commissions, our Government is a failure
Ii Presidential prncdmations are above the
decisions Of the courts and the restraints of
the Constitution, then that Constitution is a
mockery. If it has not the authority 10 keep
the Executive within its restraints, then it
cannot retain States within the Union. Those
who hold that there j. no saIctty IN the
Constitution, must equally hold that there is
no guilt in the rebellion.
We cannot be silent and allow these prac-
tees to become precedents They are not as
much IN violation oe our Constitution as the
rebellion itself, and more dangerous t. our
liberties. They hold out To the exc cutlve
every temptation of ambition to make and
prolohg war. They offer despotic power as
price tor preventing peace. They are induce
ments to each administration to produce dis
cord aud incit2 armed resistance 10 law, by
declaring that the CONDITION Of war removes
all constitutional restraints. They call about
the National Capitol hordes Of unprlnciple ed
men, who find IN the reck OF their country
the opportunity To gratIfy avarice or ambi
ton OF an Administration antasonlstic TO the
interest and happiness Of the People. 1t
makes the restoration Of peace the abdlcation
Of more than regal authority in the hands of
those to whom is conided the government Of
our country.
He declares that the Presidents Emancl-
patton Proclamation is IMPnLIrIc, UNJUST AND
UNCONSTITUTIONAL, caicn1ated tU create many
barriers to the restoration If the Union, and
TO be misconstrued by he world as an aban.
donment of the hope of restoring it--a result
to which New York is unalterabiy opposed
and which will be effectively resisted. The
Union, he says, will be- restored by the Gen.
tral and Western States, both free and slave.