The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-06-26

ocrats who are nobly exposing their lives
and shedding their blood on the battlefield,
have learned THAI many approve tho
course taken with Mr.. Vallandipgham.
while have not heard a single one con.
iomning it, cannot assert that there arc
none such. And tho uame Of President
Jackson recalls an incident pertinent 10 lis.
tory. After tho battle Of New Orleans,
and wbio the fact that tho traaty of peace
had been concluded was we'll knewn in the
city, but before official knowledge of it had
arrived General jackson still maintained
martial or military law. Now, that it could
be said that tho war was over. tho clamor q.
gainst martial law, which had existed from \
the first, grew more furious, Among 9th. |
or things MIR. Louallier published de-
nunciatory newspaper artidle. Gen. Jack
son arrested him. A lawyer by the name
Morol procured the United States Judge
Hall to erder q writ Of hdJcGs corpus to re-
lioye Mr.. Louillier. Gen. Jackson arrested
both the lawyer and tho Judge. A Mr.
Holander ventured to say Of some part Of
the matter that it was q dirty trick.
General Jackson arrested him. When the
officer undertook to servo the writ cfhdJeds
corpus, Gen. Jabkson took it from him,
and sent him away with copy. Holding tho
judge in custody few days, tho General
cent him beyond the limits of his encamp.
ment, and Sos him at liberty, with an orGet
to remin till tho ratification of peace
should be regularly announced, or until
the British should have left the southern
coast. A day or two more elapsed, the
ratification of the treaty of peace was rogu-
larly annaunced, and the judge aud others
fully liberated. A few days more, and the
judge called Gen. Jackson into court aud
iinod him a thousand dollars Cor having ar.
rested him aud the others named. The
| general paid the fue, and there the matter
rested Cor nearly thirsy years, when Con.
gress refunded principal and interest. The
lato Senator Douglas, thou in tho House of
Representatives, took leading part in the
| debates in which the constitutional question
was much discussed. am not prepared to
4ay whom the journals would show voted
for tho measure.
1t may DO remarked: First, that we had
the same Constitution then as now second
ly, that We then had case of invasion, and
now we have a case OF rebellion and, third
ly, that tho permanent right of the people
! to public discussion, the liberty of speech
and of the press, the trial BY jury, the law
OF evidence, and the habeas corpus, suffered
no detriment whatever BY that conduct o.
General Jackson, or its subsequent approva
by the American Congress.
And yet, let me say. that in my own dis
erection, do not know whether l would
have ordered the arrest of Mr. Vallandip.
ham. While cannot shift the responsible
ty from myself, hold that, as general
rule, the commander in the field is the bot.
ter judge of the ecessity in any particular
case. OF course. must practice a general
directory and reviSory power in the matter.
One of the resolutions expresses the opin.
ion of the meeting that arbitrary arrests will
have the effect to divide and distract those
who should be united in suppresslng the re-
bellion, and am specifically called on to
discharge Mr.. VaIlandgbam. regard this
as, at least, fair appeal to me on tho ex.
pedency OF exercising constitutional pow.
or which think exists. In response to such
appeal bave to say, it gave me pain when
learned that Vallandigham had been ar
fested-that is, l was panied that there
should have seemed to be necessity for ar
resting him--and that it will afford me
great pleasure to discharge him 80 soon as
/ can, by any means believe the public safe
ty will not suffer oy it. further say, that
as the war progresses, it appears to me,
opinion and action, which we're in great
confusion at first, take shape and fall into
more regular channels, so that the necessity
for strong dealing with them gradually de,
creases have every reason to desire that
it should cease altogether, and far from the
least is my regard for the opinions and wish
oS of those who, like the meeting a: Albany,
declare their purpose to sustain tho govern
ment in every constitutional aud lawful
measures TO suppress the rebellion. Still,
must continue to do so much as may seem
to be required by the public safety.
A. LINCOLN.