, 1863-06-09
ARBITRARY ARRESTS,
Tho opinion Of Stephen A. Douglas
Something for C0ppcrheadR and Con-
kcryativcA to Head.

Every dis1oyal sheet and every cowardly
one, every treason shrieker, and every stick
lcr for lcgul technicaltica and cobwebs are
Just now brawling themselves hoaree about
"arbltrasy arrcsts'' of dangerous and sedi-
tious characters. They are infinitely more
eolicitous about the forms Of law than for the
preservation Of the Government. And now,
when the Onion reels aud staggers in the tre-
mendous struggle with the shareholders re-
bellion, the Copperheads and leatherheads
arc splitting their throats in denunciation Of
"military despotism,'' "arbitrary arrests"
and "btuta1 soldiers" And yet many of
these persons hare the supreme eftrontery to
call themselves *s Jackson and Doug1as Demo.
crafts"
In late number VIC gave q narration Of
what Jackson did, in the famous New Orleans
care, and recounted the circumstance Of the
"military arrest" Of Louallier and Judge
Hall. We now publish what Judge Douglas
said on the door Of Congress on the subject
Of military arrests in time Of war, and COM
mended it to the especial attention of '' Doug
1as Democrats" The speech was delivered
on the 9th day of January, 1916. Read:
#.
ceeEity ind the glorious effects resulting
from the course which that necessity prompt
cd, were acknowledged By the whole country,
and he would even say by the whole civilized
world. Then, as far Us this bill was con-
cerned, he (Mr. d. cared not whether their
acts were legal or Illegal. He cared not
whether Gen. Jackson suspended all civil au-
thority or not. If his ac;s were necessary to
tho defence Of the country, that necessity .pas
atoue al ld.c. Gen. jackson llnZarded every
thing; he hazarded life and reputation on
that step, which might render him immortal
If 1t saved the country, or, on the contrary,
made him ignominious, and by,word and
deserved the protection and the plaudits Of
his country. Hc did not envy the feelings Of
that 1uan that would get up and talk calmly
and coolly, under such circumstances, about
fnles Of court, and tcch,ticalities Of proceeding,
and he danger Of erampse, when the city might
be committed. What were rules Of court but
mere eobwebs when they found an enemy
With Ills cannon at the doors Of their courts,
aud when they saw the flames enclrcling the
cupolas Talk taeu about rules Of court and
the tGT%allty Of pfosesddhiDgs Ths s man tint
was burning. [sensation.1 He euyied not
my man the possession Of such stQlcal phi
losophy. Talk about ll1egalitg! Talk about
fnrmalities! Why, there was but one form.
a1ity to be observed; and that was the forn-
ality uf directing the cannon, and destroying
it be By tie seizure Of cotton bags, or TIE seiz.
ure ef persons, If the necessity Of te case required
il. The God of nature has conferred this right
on men and nations; and therefore let him
not be told that 1t was unconstitutional. 70
defend the country, let him not Be told that it ,oas
unco,.sti ti,tiona1 to use the necessary means. The
Constitution was adopted for the protection
Of the country; and under that Consultation,
The notion had The right to exercise all The pouers
that aere necessary for Me protection Of TIE eoHn'
tn. II martial law was necessary to the sui
walton Of the country, marital lau toas Legal
for that purpose, II 1t was necessary for a
for Contempt, be thonsht It WAS necessary for
a general to exercise control over his can-
non, to imprison traitors, and to arrest spies,
and to intercept communications with the
enemy. If this was necessary, all this Tas
legal '.