Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-06-11
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
RIGHT OF FREE DISCUSSION.

ago that the PRESIDENT, In view OF the puphc sen-
sibility aroused by it, in little danger OF re-
peating the error into which he fell when ne re-
Gently gave his sanction, in an unguarded moment
10 the illegal proceedings instituted by uen Burn
side against Mr. Vallandgham BY fastening to
snpul a subsequent order Of this same General,
founded upon considerations of alleged military
pecessity" precisely similar TO those invoked for
the summary arrest and trial of Mr.. ", the PaE-
srDEsT has signifed determination on his part to
return 10 q the normal course of administration"
80 seriously interrupted in the military department
of the Ohio.
in pursuance of the repressive policy which ne put
in force against Mr. Vallandigham, promulgated
few days ago the following order
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
. Cincinnati, June ], 1868
GENERAL ORDERS No. "a.
The tendency of the articles aud opinions habitualy
published in the newspaper known as The New YORK
World being to reproach upon the Government and
to weaken s efforts to suppress the rebellion by creating
dstrust in it's policy, circulation IN time OF war Is
calculated to exert perncous aud reasonable influence
and is the refore prohibited in this department
80 Postmasters agents, and all others will govern
themselves by this order any person detected IN Tor
",
ferred to will be promptly arrested and held for trial
80 On account of the repeated expression of disloya and
incendary sentiments the publishing OF me newspaper
known az The Chicago Times 10 hereby suppressed
"a Brig Gen Jacob Ammen, commanding the district OF
Illinois, charged with the execution OF the third para
graph of this order
LEWIS RICHMOND, Lieut.. Col. and A. A. Ger"
On the ensuing day Gen. Burnside gave additional
extension to his nterdict on unlicensed printing
by publishing the following note and comment as
an appendix to General Orders No. IS" under
which Mr. Vallandigham was arrested, tried, and
banished:
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
. Cincinnati, { Ohio June 2, 1868.
GENERAL ORDERS No, 81.
1t is announced for the information OF all concerned
that the publication circulation OF books containing sen
timeDts Of dsoyal tendency clearly within the
reach OF General Orders No 49, and those who offend VIII
be dealt with accordingly.
BY command of Major General BURNSIDE
LEWIS RICHMOND Assistant AdJt General"
1t will be seen that these orders" are of the
nature of military edicts, and proceed on the as
sumption that all civil rights in the Department Of
the Ohio are put in allegiance completely as il
the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Ken.
lucky were placed under "martial law" by the
actual presence of contending belligeIents, and BY
lawful proclamation made accordingly. But IN
point of fact neither of these conditions, prelmi-
nary to the legitimate exercise of such paramount
military Jurisdiction, are found to exist in these
States, where without even colorado pretext, Gen.
Burnside has assumed to substitute g the will of
the commander" for the established law of the
land
If we did not know the transparent candor and
sincere patriotism Of this gentleman, we might sus
pect him of sinister purpose in these stretches O.
military power. But we have known him too Ions
and too well to suspect him of any disposition to EN-
barrass the Administration, or Of any desire to make
the fortune Of its political opponents by initiating
measures which cannot but enure to the disadyan
tage Of the former as far as it countenances them
and to the corresponding profit Of the latter, BY
giving to them, what ell politicians know SO well
how to use--the benefit of "a good cry" With
out meaning to do So Gen. Burnside has already
placed the Democracy under incalcuable obliga
tons to him for the political service he has rem
dered them, while the Administration tnds hi
well-meant but injudicious zeal more dangerous t.
it than all the Vaccinations Of the enemies and
traitors sought to be quelled by such means
Accordingly, the President has wisely annulet
SO much Of Gen. Burnside's Order No "a as I'm
dertook TO dictate the suppression of the Chicago
Times; and, in view of such manifestation of The
Presidential dispeasure at his conduct, the Genera
has himself thought proper to revoke so much Of the
same order" as undertook to prevent the circula
ton Of the New York World within his depart
ment, and pro tanto to suspend the liberty Of the
press and the administration of the postal law
enacted by Congress.
These hgh-handed proceedings afford curious
illustration Of the extremites to which Of thu
purest patriots may proceed as soon as he DIVORCES
under piratons however sincere, from the stragh
line OF that professional duty which teaches him t
keep the military subordinate to the civil power
The former is always subordinate to the latter ant
never more subordinate than when it puts on tn,
garment rolled in the blood of some stricken battle
field, where the military arm, commissioned BY
lawful civil authority, seeks only to uphold the
majesty of law to enforce the claims Of justice OIL
to maintain the honor of the flag under which il
fights 1t is the civil law which gives to Gen
Burnside his military existence, and sends him OF
his mission and he should therefore seek sedulousl
to respect the boundaries within which alone HI
can move as one who would not bear the sworc