The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1863-06-19
PRIEST. LINCoLN's RESPONSE TO
the Albany Resolutions on Arbitrn-
ry Arr~sts-Whcn Arbitrary Arrests
may be Constitutional.
WASHINGTON, June IA.
MARY EBBERT,
Secretary.

WAsHISGroS, June IA.
The Presidents reply to the resolu-
tions Of the public meeting held at Al
bany, N. Y, with regard to arbitrary ar.
rests by military authority, and at the
same time expressing their determination
to sustain the Administration in all law q.
ful and constitutional measures TO sup.
| press the rebellion, is made public to day.
1t is quite lengthy. but the following cx
tract, covering Vallandigham's case, is
the result Of the entire argument. Mr..
Lincoln, in referring to the resolutions,
says:
"The meeting indicates their opinion
that military arrests may be constitution
al localities where rebellion actuiily ex-
lists, but that such arrests are unconstitu-
tional in localities where rebellion or in /.
surection does not actually exist. They
insist that such arrests shall not be made
outside Of the lines Of necessary military
occupation ard the scenes ofinsurrection.
1nasmuch, however, as the Constitution
itself makes no such distinction, nm un-
abl1 to belicve.that there is such constitu-
tional distinction. | concede that the
class of arrests complained of can be con /.
stiiutional only when in cases of rebel
lion or invasion, the public safety may
require them, and | insist that in such
clsos the, are constitutional, whenever
the public safety does require them, as
well in places TO which they may prevent
the rebellion extending as in those where
it may be already prevailing as well
where they may restrain mischievous in
reference with the raising and supplying
OF armies TO suppress tho rebellion, as
where the rebellion may actually be as
we'll where they may restrain the enticing
men out of the army as where they could
prevent mutiny in the army, equally Con-
stutioual in all places where they will
conduce to the public safety, as against
the dangers of rebellion or invasion.
Take the particular case mentioned by
the meeting. 1t is asserted in substance
that Mr.. Vallandigham was, by a military
commander seized and tried for no other
reason than words addressed t. a public
meeting in criticism of the course Of the
Administration, and in condemnat ion of
the military orders of the General. Now,
IL there be no mistake about this, If this
assertion is the truth and the whole
truth, il there was no other reason for the
arrest, then concede that the arrest was
wrong a.; but the arrest, as | understand,
was made for very different reason.
Mr.. Vallandigham avows his hostility to
the war on the part of the Union, and his
arrest was made because he was Iaborinc
with some effect, to prevent the raising
OF troops, tC encourage desertions from
the army, and to leave the rebellion with.
out an adequate military force to sup
press it.
:" lie was not arrested because he was
damaging the political prospects of the
Administration, or the personal interests
of the commanding General, but because
he was damaging the army, upon the ex.
istence and vigor Of which the life of the |
nation depends. He was warning upon
the military, and this gave the military
constitutional jurisdiction to lay hands
upon him. II Mr.. Vallandigham was not
damaging the military power of the coun-
try, then his arrest was made on n mis-.
take of fact which would be glad to cor.
rect,on reasonable, satisfactory evidence.
81 understand the meeting, whose rcs.
olutions am considering, to be in favor
of suppressing the rebellion by military
force-by armies. Long experience has
shown that armies can not be maintained,
unless desertion shall be punished by the
severe penalty of death. The case re-
guires, and the law and the Constitution
sane ton, this punishment. Must shoot
simp minded soldier-boy. W who deserts,
While must not touch hair of a willy
agltator, who induces him to desert
This Is none the less injurious when ef-
Iected by getting futher, or brother, or
friend, into public meeting, and there
working upon his feelings till he is per.
suaded to write the soldier boy that he is
hghting in bad cause, for wicked Ad-
minisiration of contemplate Govern
meat, too weak to punish him if he shall
desert. | think that in such ease, to
silence the agitator and save the boy, is
not only Constitutional, but withal great
Mercy"
After reviewing the suspens ion:oG the
writ oihabeas corpus, by Genera al Jackso n,
he President says; "And yet let me