Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1863-03-31

In the height If the p ra i'm OF raising
men by draft last year, to make up the quo
ia Of men for Wisconsin, the country.was
brought to halt by = decision ofthe We
consin Supreme Court affirming that draft
rioters were not amendable to the military
powers but only to the civil authorities; and
as the civil authorities and Judiciary tribu-
nails wereyin many places in the hands OF
traitor sympathizers,it Iwas found impossible
10 proceed with The draft. News of the
decision was carried to Washington. A
Ca. met council was called, and next day
the wires brought a dispatch that Judge
Howe had been detailed to 60 west, procure
a transcript Of the Supreme Court records
In the matter Of the Ozaukee rioters and
carry the same to the y s. Supreme Court
and if possible have the dicision reversed.
Judge Howe fulfilled bis mission, though
the question has not yet got hearing be-
fore the higher court. But the draft stopt
at once, for the very reason that, SO long as
IT,. decision of our court was respected, the
dieft officers were unwilling to GO into the
hostile copperhead counties and expose
themselves to mobs aud hostile local courts.
ValIandigham now brags that, by bis infu-
1 ence and the action of lis friends in Con-
gress, the essence Of the decision of the
Wisconsin, Supreme Court was ingrafted
into the army CONSUMPTION law-theraby
rendering the law paetical nullitz in all
parts Of the country where copperhead
Judges can be found. The Chicago Times
says, ..bully for Vallandigham and the Wis
Supreme Courtw At the late New Ham
shire election canvass and this day in Con-
necticut the copperhead quotes the decision
Of the Wisconsin Supreme Court as their
| highest testimony that the President has
violate. the constitution, and that the draft
laws are unconstitutional. Every traitor
member of Congress used that decision OF
our court in bis speech against the govern
ment, and the rebel pesspapers are quoting
it as one Of the signs Of the times that their
friends are increasing IN numbers and that
they now boldly proclaim hatin the fed
eraI government for want of conconstitution-
al ability TO suppress rebellion at home or
raise men BY draft for service abroad. We
are now called upon to support the iespon-
sibIe father Of that hostile decision. Judge
Dixon, fer reelection, and some Of us re-
fuse.
By way offurther defense Of our course
we notice that the Chicago Tribune takes
the same view; also the Galena Gazette Of
last week The latter paper quotes as fol-
ows from The Presidents Message last fall /:
at was not believed that any law was violal-
ed. The provision OF the Constitution that
sthe privilege of the writ Of habeas corpus
rebellion or invasion, the public safety may re.
quire it, is equivalent to PROVISIONS pro-
yision--shat such privilege may be suspended
when. In cases Of rebellion or invasion, the
public safety does require IT, II was decided
that we have a case Of rebellion, and that the
public safety does require the qualified snspen-
sion of the writ, which was authorized to be
made. Now it is insisted that Congress. and
net the Executive, is vested with this power
n .u1f a
or who, is 10 exercise this power; and as the
provision was evidently made for dangerous
emergency, il cannot b. believed that the franz
ers Of the instrument intended that, in every
case. The danger should run its course until
Congress could be called together; the very as
sembling of which might be prevented, as was
intended in this case, by the rebelion.o
After which quotation the Gazette adds
as follows:
"This argument, we take it, is clear, logical,
impregnabie and, of course, unanswerable
We think OF no President OF the United States,
except Buchanan, (and barely possible, Pierce
or John TyIerl who would not have acted as
promptly in the emergency as Mr.. Lincoln has
done.o
So il would appear we are not travelling
in the worst accompany.
Last week. some of the copperhead Judg-
es of Iowa having decided that some draft
rioters were amendable to the civil and not
the military laws-quoting thankfully and
boastfully the republican supreme court Of
Wisconsin as authority. against the govern
ment, the Attorney General of that state
embraced The opportunity TO dissent-say-
ing to them in effect, 'you traitors Of an
hour, how dare you in this day ofperil be-
get monster to overturn the government
and constitution"
Had Judge Dixon gone and raised 20
900 rebel troops and headed them against
his government the act would have been
harmless compared with his decision
How, il will be asked; we answer, that de-
cision caused a feeling of paralysis in every
department of government, from the Exec
tive to the lov est. Thee Mes pa alei
it as their ir,pregnible wall to stand between
them and TT Lafayette. Immediately
thereruon every northern rebel battery OBJ