The Goodhue volunteer., 1863-07-01

MI. Twas, BY = military commander seiz-
ed and tried for no other reason, than words
addressed to public meeting in cri1eism
Of the course Of the Administration, and in
condemnation Of the military orders of the
General. Now, if there be no mistake
about this, If this assertion is the truth and
|the'whole truth, If there was nosother rea-
son for the arrest, then I conclude tho ar.
rest was wrong; but the arrest, as ] under.
stand. was made for very different reason.
Mr.. Vallandisnam avows his hostilities to
the war on the part Of tho Union, and his
arrest was made because he was laboring
with some effect to prevent the raising Of
troops; to encourage dssertion from the ar
my and to leave the rebellion without an
adequate military force to suppress it. He
was not arrested because he Was damaging
the political prospects Of tho Administration
or the personal interests Of the command:
ing General, but because he was endapger-
ing the army, upon the existence and vigor
of which tae life Of the nation depends
He was warning npon the military, and this
gave the military constitutional jurisdiction
to lay hands upon him. If Mr.. VallAndig-
ham was not damaging the military power
Of the country, then his arrest was made
on mistake Of fact, which would be glad
to correct on reasonably satisfactory evil
dence. .:- :....... .,,. ........;.
l understand the meeting. whose resolu
tions am considering, to be in favor ofsup
pressing the rebellion by military force-by
armies. Long experience has shown, that
armies cannot be maintained uoless deser.
ton shall be punished by the severe penal>
ty of death. The case requires. and the
law and the Constitution sanction this pun
ishment. Must l shoot simple-minded
soldier boy who deserts, while must no,
| touch hair Of a willy agitator who induces
him to desert This is none the less iniu
rious when effected by getting father, o,
brother, or friend intoa public meeting, and
there working upon his feelings till he is
persuaded to write the soldier boy that hi
is fighting in bad cause. and for . weak
Administration Of a contemplate Govern
mcnt, too weak to arrest and punish him il
he shall desert. I think that, in such a
case, to silence the agitator and save the
boy is not only constitutional. but withal 4
great mercy. ~; n
If be wrong on this question Of consti
rutional power, my error lies in believing
that certain proceedings are constitutional
when, in cases Of rebellion or invasion, the
public safety requires them, which would
not be constitutional when, in absence ol
rebellion or invasion, the public safety does
not require them in other words, that the
Constitution is not, in its application, in all
respects the same, in cases o! rebellion Q,
invasion involving the public safety, a. it is
in tines Of profound peace and public seeu
rity. The Constitution itself makes the
distinction; and l can no more be persuad-
ded that the Government can constitutions
" take no strong measures in time Of -.
bellion. because il can be shown that III.
same could not be !,wfully taken in ti,ns 8
peace than can ba persuaded that psrtic
ular drug is not good medicine for . sicl
man, becaussit can be shown to te nor soot
ood for swell one. Nor sm I able 70 %.
preciste the danger apprehended By III,
meeting, that the American people will, 81
means Of military arrests during tho Isbsl
hon, lose the right Of public discussion, ii,
liberty Of speech and tho press. ths law o
evidence, trial 8, jury, and habeas corpus
throughout tho indefinite peaceful future
which trust lies before them, sny nor,
than am able to believe that msn eoull
contract 10 strong a appstits br snet;;e,
during temporary illness 9 to persist j,
feeding upon them during the rsmaindsr .
Ibis healihiui life. *sss y s 81. 49,
IN giving the ss,olntioss that earnest con
lsiderasion which ysa request y -. 80
not overlook tie flss Inst the nsstisx spsal
] ID .Dsmoefsfs.' Nor en- /. with I'm ],
lspect to their known intslIissncs, and u
fairly presumed delibsraaion viii. vhicl
ltheJ prepared the;r reselut;sns. 8 permit
,Ited 70 suppose that ihs oceured - aseidss
.lor in any vay othsr ikaa tbat fbey n
'ikrred q designate thsnsslvss 'Dsnsseatl