Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-21
war ResoIutions in tho Ohio LesisIature

War ResOIutiOns in the Ohio Legislature.
In the House on Friday Mr.. West offered
the following, which we're laid on the ta-
bic snd ordered to be printed:
/" ResolUed By the GenerqIStts.n .nbly Of the
State of Ohio That the 6tAntry, in its
emergency, demands Of its loyal citizens a
distinct avowai of these sentiments,
namely:
al. There is no warrant in the Consi-
tuition for the secession Of a State, or any
number-of States
"2. Standing armies are dangerous to
popular liberty; dissolution Of the Union
and the organization of the discovered
members into rival governments, will rem
der it necessary to keep on foot large
standing armies for border protection and
national defense, which sooner or later
must subvert the liberties Of the people,
and effect the overthrow Of popular gov
ernment.
az. In view Of the foregoing, which is
the sad lesson Of history, any protested
movement to detaeh the South from the
North, or the New England from the Mis-
sissippi and Gulf States, for the organiza-
ton of independent governments, deserves
and ought to receive the apprehension Of
all loyal citizens. A national calamity,
| involving as it does the sure destruction
Of popular government, should be averted
BY every means consistent with the laws
of civilized warfare.
"a. The Constitution makes it theduty Of
the President to employ the army when
necessary in suPpressing insurrection or
repelling invasion, but is silent as TO how
it shall be done, whether by depriying the
insurgent or invader Of his life, his arms,
OF the property which sustains him. Not
withstanding it provides that " no person
| shall be deprived of life liberty or proper
ty without due process Of law" the rules
Of war recognized by the law of nations,
| Justify the taking of life in insurrectiona-
ry war, without other process than the
power Of the sword ; and surely the Consti-
tional guarantees oflife are not less sacred
than those ofproperty.
as. The limitation upon the forfeiture
which may be imposed as the penalty for
treason, does not control or restrict the
measures Of war. That is designed to re-
strain judicial oppression in the punish
ment of the traitor, after he is in power Of
| the Government But the measures Of
way are not for punishment at all, but for
self-protectiOn, and national defense and
can never be prescribed or defined in an
| ticipation of the emergency that requires
| their adoption. alt is vain to oppose con-
| stitutional barriers to the impulse of self
preservation" and the measures which
shall be adopted in suppressing insurrec-
ton or repelling invasion, are therefore
purposely left by the Constitution, to be
determined By the necessities Of the emer.
gency, and the laws of civilized warfare
"War gives to the sovereign full right tC
take the persons and confseate the prop.
erty of the enemy wherever found
Chef. AaryhaH Church 10.
"A nation has the right to weaken heI
enemy, to seize upon his property to de-
priTe him of the means Of resistance, o.
whatever augments his strength and en-
ables him to make war, in order to render
him incapable of supporting his unjus
Vaftsl
"Sth When nation divides into two
parties no longer acknowledging com
mon superior, as a public war between diff
ferent nations, and the rights and obliga
tions imposed by the common law ofinter
national war become absolute bstweeI
them Vdttel
"9th. The recent proclamation Of thl
President is therefore authorized by thu
laws of war, and not prohibited by tn
Constitution"