Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-06
PERSONAL 1iber,y NORTH and south.

This act is nothing less than act for the estaosn
ment of dsspotsm in these free and happy Uned
States and taking from the people the protection nt the
Constitution 1t AUTHORIZES and jusrfes arbitrary arrests
at the viii Of the Executive in defiance OF explicit ProV
ions of 'he Coustutin orbdding such arrests IL puts
every mans liberty and property out Of the OF
the fundamental law il annhates the power OF the State
governments to protect their citizens against illegal vo-
lence it tells the President and his minOns that they may
with impuny perpetrae all these acts of despotism by
which the most odous tyrants in the worst ages have
earned the execraOn of mankind. This may be deemed
strong language but is than adequate to chaac
terlze the Infamous of combined perjury and despotsm
which print this morning aud which challenges the VI
tenton and must provoke the Indignation of every man
who is not base enough to confess hmsefs covering saVe
The Confederate Congress-, at its session in Octo-
Der last passed act authorizing the President of
the Confederate States to suspend the writ in GER
tain cases The law was hurried through at the end
of the session, and we believe operate until
the adjournment of Congress at its present session
In the course of the discussion in the House the
subject Mr.. Baldwin, of Virginia, said:
"No inquiry could arise through which might be
deprived of his liberty except by the Judgment of his
aud The common law Of the land He protested against
the doctrine that government framed only for
peace or the sunshine of political existence. 1t framed
for times of war and peace-nr all emergencies If
fairly administered, it sufficient for ali and fit for ALL
The idea of living under such law oppressed him almost
with sense Of suoeaton and he protested against doc
tne which destroyed the very foundation of cv liberty.
He undertook to y that men were imprisoned in this city
under circumstances which British ministry of modern
Times would have dared to sustain or sanction"
Mr.. FoOte, of Tennessee, said he concurred en-
tirely in the views expressed by Mr.. Baldwin. He
added:
lie was gratifed at the opportunity about to be
afnrced OF voting upon the question whether the people
should retain Their liberty be condemned to slavery
lie could not 10 The passage OF the bill reported
from the Committee for it would be consent his
enslavemenl The bill gives the President full discre
ton to suspend the writ bat his 1osr hIt eoud Rot
bedeLeguted il exclusively Parliamentary power
No such discretion bestowed upon any per-
Sonage within the British realm"
1t will be seen that Gov. Foote, who is an able
Constitutional lawyer, agrees with Mr. Warren, of
this State, whose speech publish to-day, that the
power conferred on Congress by the Constitution to
suspend the writ Of habeas corpus, cannot be dele.
gated. "De'egGta pOstestGs non pOtest delegari"
The Constitution enumerating the powers of Con-
gress, says: 1.-The privilege of the writ of hdJeas
corpus shall not be suspended unless when in cases
of rebellion or invasion the public safety may re-
quire it." Who is to judge when and where the
writ shall he suspended? Clearly the Congress-
They are responsible 10 the people for what they
do, and so is the President To give this discretion
to the President is to make him responsible to them
and thus violate fundamental principle. of liberty
Again. the discretion of both branches of Congress
is mich sounder and better and is more intelligent,
than thai Of one man.
We observe that Mr.. Barksdalc, of Mississippi, a
particular friend of the President, introduced bin
in the House on the 2Sth, as follows:
The Congress uf the Confederate States do enact That
during the present invasion Of the Confederate States The
President shalt have pnwer suspend the Operation he
VT" "i "i'tt "- III AL" town city or military district,
whenever his npn the pubic safety NAV REQUIRE il
but such suspension shalt apply only arrests made by
the authorities Of lie Confederate Government for of
I, enccS against the same
SIC The President shall cause the proper officers to
investigate The cases OF ali persons arrested order
that they be discharged, IT improperly detained unless
they can be speedily tried IN due course "f law.
SEC .. Tins Gct shall force for thirty DAYS
after the next meeting of Congress, and M longer
Mr.. BarkSdaIe moved suspension Of the rule so
as to put the bill upon its passage and on this mo.
ton Mr.: Baldwin demanded the yeas and nays The
House refused by of II to % to suspend the
rule, and the bill referred. 1t will most proba.
bly, be reported and hurriey passed, as the first or
existing law was, at the heels of the session.
The Richmond Wing, which we are glad to see
is speaking out boldly for civil liberty, submits the
following observations Mr.. Blrk$dale's motion :
This is very sweeping proposition. 1t contains the
aboSat"n OF the dearest rights uf every citizen of the
ederte States II places the bery every mantle in
estImabe Blessing of breathing the pure of heaven at
the mercy Of single ind. vdunl The caprice or prejudice
or passion or personal nagniiy of hatIndvidua may
cnnSgn hm Ia the dungeon This strips him at
o all lib freedom
been the boast of the Anglo Saxon race.
measure nght with such cru<equences thus subvert-
ing the whole framework Of English aud American free
dn and making mans will the arber u every other
fate, was introduced by individual member without the
hrmaliiy of mmitteeS repOr-a frrmtity acc rded TO
the most trivial proposition, aud sought be forced through
N hot haste, without Iteration discussion Luckily
the rules Of hs House prevented the surprise gave
gentlemen at least decent time for taking The yoke
An impression prevails that the Confed-
crate Congress disposed Ia be uuduy submissive the
! Executive will This impression may d, the Congress in.
justice, and may have arisen from proper indSpoSiriua
on The pirt OF patriotic members u make petty
points With an impractc die and i!i-cnrved fnconarv
We trust that such may b. The fact and that wheS the
dentaS ot our Tree institutions assaulted the
" of Congress WILL without fear favor prove themselves
| fearless champions of the rght
Every patriotic citizen is willing and anxious that all
power necessary the vgns prosecution of the war
Should b. Conferred the Executive But we cannot un-
ders'and how that end be promoted by giving
man The authority to deprive he Of the glorious
b'rthrigh of liberty. The first Washington successfully
carried us through The first Revolution without ask ny
the grand and distinguishing difference between
our enepes VS. that nrus was the Cause If Freedom
and theirs OF Tyranny. If we degrade by ass
arng it TO that OfShe ankles and associatng il with
despotlsm We chill warm hearts praying for its success
and palsy bTaSe arms uutstrerched to defend it,
There are not wanting indications to admOush u.s. that
have chief who loves power and to use it, We
have disposition question the purity Of his motives
but 1t Is sacred duty we UurseveSa aud glorious
cause 10 keep liberties in hands, and hedged
about with thnse buwarks of law which for ages hav,
proved ih'pregnabe TO the assaults Of tyranny"
If the Elitor of the Charlotte Democrat will look
again at the speech OF Mr.. Waddell delivered in the
Commons, and published in the Standard, he will
| find that the speech is from II Q. and not Hugh
Waddell as stated in his issue Of the Sd instant
NJ. Q Waddell and Hugh Waddcll are brothers.
The latter has frequently represented Orange Coun,
ty in the Legislature but he has never represented
Chatham.
CoNstRIPTIoN OF STAGs DRlvERs We surprised to
learn that the drivers mail stages supposed not
be exempt from cn>cTptOn, and that those line
from this place Ia Raleigh 5YGitn be rced into the
army. Ii they Shnube surprised hear that
the contractors will be obliged throw up their contract
for II is manifest that old msu capable of perform.
ing the service of drivers line which aItOge.
Their in the night and exposed 10 the severst
Eey mon Al fl iii.