Litchfield enquirer., 1863-06-25

the said meeting, and respectfully reqaest your earnest considerations of them. They deem it proper on their personal responsibility to stste that the meeting was one of ths must respect able as to numbers and character. end one of the most earnest in support of the Union ever held in this city.
 Yours, with great respect.
 ELISHA CORNING. Presidsnt.
 Viee Prssidsats. Eli Perry, William Seymour, Peter Gansevoort, Jeremiah Qsborn, Peter Montsith. s. Paddock, Samuel w. Gibbs, J. B. Sauders,
 John Niblack, Edward Mucahy, II. ". Mcclellan. D.sV. N. Radcljhe. Lemuel ". Rodgers, ~ Sserstariss.
 William 4. Rice, M. A. Nolan,
 Edward Nswconab, John R. Nessel, R. w. Peckhan. IT., .. ". Weeks.
 Here follow the resclutions.l
 MR. LncoLNs RrpIY.
 ExscurryE MAssIos. Washington,
 June l7th, 1868. Hon. Erastus Corning and others;
 Gentlemen :: Your letter of May ls. inclos. ing the resolutions of public meeting held at Albany, N. r., on the 18th of the same month, was received several days ago.
 The resolutions. as I understand them, arc resalyahle into two propositians- the ex. pression of . purpose 10 sustaia .he Union, to secure peace through victory. and to supper. the Constitution in every lawful measure to suppress the rebellion and secondly.a declara- ton of censure upon the Admfnlstration for suppo,ed unconstitutional action, such as the making of military arrests. And, from the two propositions, thi d is dsdncad, which is that the gentlemen composing the meeting are resolved on doing their part to maintain our common Government and country. despite the folly or wickedness, as they may conceive, of any Administration. This position is emi- nently patriotic, and us such. thank the meet ing and congratulate the nation for 1t. My own purpose is the same; SO that the meeting and myself have common object, and cap have no difference, except in th. chnice of the means or measqres for effecting that ob- ject.
 And here l ought to close this paper, and would close it, if there were no apprehensions that more injurious consequences than any merely personal to myself might follow the icensures systematically cast upon me for doing what. in my view of duty, could not forhear. Tho resolutions promise to support mo in eve. Y constitutional and lawful measgre to sup press the rebellion and I hare not knowingly employed. nor shall knowingly employ any oth- CT. But the meeting, by their resolutions, as asrt and argue. that certain military arrests aud proceedings following them. for which l an, ultimately responsible. are ulconstitptiopal. think they are not. The rssolptions quote from the Cons,itatieuths definition of treas- on, and also the limiting safeguards and guar antess therein provided for the citizen on tri- als for treason. and on his being held to an- swer for capital or otherwise iniamous crimes. and. iu criminal prosecutions, his right to . spsedy and public srial by n impartial jury. Thsy proceed to resolvs ithst these safe guards of the rights of the citissn against the pretensions of arbitrary power were intended maFe sspesially for his protection in times of civil commotion ' And appapently to dsnon- strate the proposition. ths resolutions pro- ceed: They wers secured substantially to the English people 9tsr years of pFotrsctsd civil var. and were adopted ise our Constisu tion at the class of tho rssolution." Would not the demopstration have bssp bsttss. # 1t eonla have besu truly said that thesa. safe- guards had been adopted and applied dsring our ssvOlution. iastsad of qfser one and at the close of the otherf l, too. am deyolealy for thsn gfssr civil war, and betors civil wal, and Ut all times, except when, iu cases If rebell- ion s or invasion. tho public safety may re- quirs'' their suspension. Tho resolutions pro ceed to tell us that the safsguards . hare stoad the test Of ssventy-six years of trial under our republican system, under circumstances which show that while shey constitute Inc fonn- dstion of all free government. they are tho el- smsnts of the enduring stability of the re- ppblic.r No one densss that they have 10 stoed she fest up to tho hsginniny Of ths pses-s ont rsbellion, lf vs sxceps ! certaiu occur- rencs It New 0rlsans nor dossany one qass- ton that they will stand the aans tsst much longer after the rsbsllion closes. But these proyipiops of the Consultation have 10 appli- catioM to tha,csse we have in hahd, becauss thh xresls Complained of were not nads forl treason that il. not for the treason dsdnsd in the Consultation, and upon the convicsion q which shs puuishnsnt is deash nor IT. MI they maiae '1D hold persons toapsrss foy sn1 capisni or otherwise iniansons ssines nor wsrs IT. ptosesding, folloNiae, D m spnatiis tvutioual z lsesl ssnsa z sslninal ssutions
 bs slrssls xsss isds = tdsalIy di1slsst srounds, sna ths proceeding o!le~ins aasosds sd vitb the grounae of ths salssts. Iet us .consiisr she reel esss with which v IT dssI- se Sss sssszS 8s:ss