Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1863-01-31

radical Innovations, eithe. from The North
or the South, and now we ask the reader
to compare honestly these two theories
and decide in his own mind as to their res,
pective merits, by the one we can only
hope for protracted, sanguinary contest,
and in any event a destruction Of the
Government under its present organiza.
ton, while the other promises an early
peace, and Immediately thereafter per-
manent restoration of the prosperity of
other days.
The Sioux Guy Register in response to
brief item in the editorial columns of
this paper, uses the following language
I'VE intend to stand by our country-to
advocate the restoration of the old Union
to maintain in all their integrity the
Constitution and the Laws-and 10 advo.
cate vigorous prosecution Of the war
with this end distinctly in view, and no
other
Now, this is spoken like a man but we
put it to the Editor Of the Register, if he
has this end distinctly in view bv the pub
lication and endorsement of the Tory
compositions of Dennis A. Mahony? Will
it help the cause of the Constitution and
the vigorous prosecution Of the War by
straight defense Of a notorious malcontent
and Traitor? We trust that the Sioux
City Register, which displays more than
ordinary ability in its columns, will be
found battling for the preservation Of the
Government against the assaults of rebels
ana Tory aSsasslns.'
We clip the above from the Iowa State
Register, and as the interrogation which
it contains seems to be prompted by
spirit Of caudor, we propose in the same
spirit to respond. With regard to the case
of Dennis A. Mahony we have only such
information as has been made public
From this it appears that Oh the l4tb Of
last August he vas arrested under a war
rant from the Secretary Of War, and with
ont being made acquainted with the char.
ges alleged against him, without any time
or opportunity being afforded him to con-
suit council, or to arrange his business
affairs he was conveyed as criminal to
a military prison more than a thousand
miles from his home that for some three
months be was retained in close confne-
ment, and that finally without any trial,
or attempt upon the part Of any one to
convict him Of any offence he was liber-
ated. Now, SIR. you make the allegation
that he was a tory and trrtor to his coun-
try, and if your charge be well founded
we submit in all seriousness, why has he
not been brought to trial on these char.
ges and why was it necessary to abduct
him from the place where the offence was
committed, and where the witnesses resd
ed upon whose testimony the case must
rest? Have we not laws for snch offences
in fall operation, and are there not courts
and municipal officers to a1judlcate them
Is there any reason to suppose that at any
time during the present rebellion the civil
authority of the State Of Iowa WAS not
amply sufficient to v;ndicate he law and
punise the guilty?
Until the negative of this is shown the
conclusion is irresistible, that Mahony has
been made the victim OF tyranny and per-
secution for which there can be no reas.
enable excuse offered. There are in cur
country certain rights tina, have ever been
held as inailnable. Among these is the
right Of trial by jury. aud it matters not
who may be tie individual accused, or
how fragrant may be the offence charged,
or how'well founded may be the proofs oe
guilt, he is entitled to the benefit of a
speedy and fair trial. The plea Of military
necessity can not be made to cover this
case. Iowa has always been loyal no
one can question the ability of our courts
to protect thu innocent or punish the
guilty; no contingency has ever arisen
that could by any possibility serve as
pretext for suspending the functions Of our
Judiciary and yet, Mahony with others,
were by s.archamber process unknown
to the law, and in clear violation of its
precepts, deprived Of their liberty. And
now, estoped as he is from any legal pro.
ceedings to vindlcate his character LIST,
BY his own oath not to prosecute and %,
BY the Congressional act of Indemnity, of
the speedy passage of which there is no
doubt, he only resource left him is an APP
peal to the public through the press, and our
cotemporary would not only deny him the
right of being heard through this medium
but would require that all others should
evince their patriotism by joining him in
denouncing Mahony as notorious mai
content and traitor. And now while we
are willing to admit that the persecution
Of Mahony may lead him to make indis.
Greet declarations, we must say without
any wish to be personally offensive, that
Judging from the editorials of the Dubuque
Herald and State Register, we are forced
to the conclusion that Mahony more earn.