Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1863-01-17

states to respect the Constitution, laws,
and authorities Of the general government,
also demand that the general government,
shall show equal respect for the rights and
constituted authorities of states.
The state legislation and authorities, we
look for the good order of society, the Sc
curoty of life and property the protection
of our homes and all that is nearest and
dearest to us, in relations, duties, and ac-
tions of life. 1t is dangerous and demor.
aliziug to show contempt for state authori'
tics and laws 1t uudcrmincs alike the
foundations of state and national govern
ment, by breaking up the social SYSTEM
If home laws are not respected, the more
general authority will not be regarded
ARBITRARY ARRESTS.
Our people have thcoetore viewed with
alarm practices aud protensiyns on the
part of officials, which violate every prin-
ciple Of good order, of civil Ii berty, and Of
law. 1t is claimed that in
time of war the President has powers, as
commander .in-chief Of our armies, which
authorize him to declare martial law, not
only within the sphere of hostile move
mcnts, where other law cannot be enforced
but also over our whole land. That at
his pleasure he can disregard not only the
statutes of Congress but the decisions of
the national judiciary. That in loyal
states the least intelligent class of officials
may be clothed with power not ouly to
act as spies and informers, but aIso, with
out due process Of liiw, to seize and i'm
prison our cit zens, and carry them beyond
the limits OF the state, to hold them in prls'
on without hearing or a knowledge Of
the offenses with which they are charged.
Not only tho passions and prciudices Of
these inferior agents lead them to cts Of
tyranny, bat their interests are advanced
and their positions secured by promoting
discomfort and discord Even to ask the
aid of counsel has been held to be an off
ense. 1t has been well said that "to be
arrested for Que knows not what to be
confined, no one entitled to ask where; to
be tried. no one can say when, by a law
nowhere known or established or to lin
ger out life in cell without trial presents
body of tyranny which cannot be en-
larged,'
The suppression Of journals and the i'm
prisonment of persons have been glaringly
partisan, allowing to some the utmost Ii
centiousness of criticism, aud Furnishing
others for the fair exercise Of the right Of
discussion. Conscious If these gross abu
ses, an attempt has been made to shield
the vioators Of law and suppress inquiry
into their motives and conduct. This at.
tempt will fail. Uncoust tutional acts can
not be shielded by unconstitutional laws.
Such attempts will not save the guilty,
while they will bring just condemnation
upon those who try to pervert the powers
of legislation to the purposes of oppression.
To Justify each action by precedents drawn
from the practice of governments where
there is no restraint upon Legislative pow
er will be no avail under our system,
which restrains the government and pro-
tocts the citizens by written constitutions.
| shall not inquire what rights states in
rebellion have forfeited, but | deny that
this rebellion can suspend single right
of the citizens Of the loyal states. | de-
nounce the doctrine that civil war in the
South takes away from the loyal North
the benefits Of one principle Of civil liber-
ty.
1t is high crime to abduct citizen ol
this state, Iti made my duty by the
Constitution to see that the laws are en-
forced, | shall investigate every alleged
VIC alton of our statutes, and see that Of.
Tenders are brought to justice. Sheriff. and
District Attorneys are admonished that II
is their duty TO take care that no person
within their respective counties are impris'
oncd, nor carried by force beyond their
limits, without due process or legal author
ity. The removal to England Of person.
charged with ofcnse, away from theil
friends, their witnesses, and means Of de
lense, was an act of tyranny for which
we assert our Independence. The abduc-
ton Of citizens from this state for offonse5
charged to have been done here, and car
rying them many hundred miles to distant
prisons in other states or territories, is an
outrage of the same character Of every
principle of right and justice.
The general government has ample
powers to establish courts, to appoint Off
GERS TO arrest, and commissioners to hear
complaints, and to imprison upon reason
able grounds of suspicion. 1t has ju-
dical system, in full and undsturbed op-
creation. Its own courts held at convent.
ent points in this and other loyal states
are open for the hearing of all complaints
If its laws are not ample for the punish
ment of offcnses, 1t is due to the neglect o.
those ia power
Government is not strengthened by the
exercise of doubtful powers, but by wise
and energetic exertion of those which are
incoutestble The former course nevcl
fails to produce discord, suspision, and
distrust, while he latter inspires respect
and confidence.
This loyal state, whose laws, whose
courts, and whose officers have thus bcel
treated with marked and public contempt
and whose social order and sacred rights
have been violated, was at that very time
sending forth great armies to protect the
N otional eanitOl and 10 save the uationa