Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1863-01-16

ed, In an official correspondence, that our
Minister at Paris might make known to
the world that the administration at
Washington was not engaged in an ag-
gressiye war on the rights of the States,
but in just and defensive war g to
maintain the constitution and restore the
Union"
Mr.. Seward repudiates not only the
existence of any such power in the con-
stltution, but urgently impresses upon
Mr.. Dayton's mind that the Executive
and !" the citizens through whose suf-
frages he came into the administration,
had always repudated all designs ghat-
ecer and oohenerer imputed to him and
them, Of distar6inghe system Of Slavery
as 1t EXISTS under tie constitution and
lars"
Observe the significant admission that
the system of slavery crists under the
constitutional
But the Executive does not claim, nor
does any one for him, that he possesses
the power, under the constitution of the
United States, to issue this proclamation
as Chjef Magistrate Of the nation. He
claims the power by virtue of his militia
ry capacity as Commander-in- Chief of the
army. Laughter. Yes, as Commander
in-Chicf, though, from the Developments
now being made in the court-martial sit
ting at Washington, he cannot feel very
proud of his military achievements.
When that embodiment of ecclesasti-
cal charity and diabolical divinity Jap
plause went from this city to Washing
ton immense applausel to see him and
induce him to issue this proclamation, he
Said to them:
Understand, Praise no objections against Il
on legal or constitutional grounds for as Com
mander-in-Chef of the army and navy in time
of war, ! suppose have right TO take any
measure which may best subdue the enemy Z"
Judge Curtis, member of the repub-
lican party, and lately Judge of the Su-
preme Court of the United States, has
disposed of the great questions involved
in this claim, to Z" transcendent Execu-
tive power" with clear, vigorous, and Sc
we're logic and his stern and lofty argu-
ment glitters in the corrupt and aboli-
tionized political literature of Massachu-
sets
Like rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear"
What is the measure of these immense
powers, and where is their limit?
The claim of the President answers
the question They extend to any nlea-
sure phateger rhjch mag best SuJdue the
enemy; and the nature of the measure,
and whether it is calculated to subdue
the enemy, are questions to be deter
mined by him, and resting solely IN lis
discretion. There is no limit to his au-
thority save his discretion !; and there is
no tribunal to which be is responsible for
its exercise, save that of his olUn con-
science. Freed from the embarrassing
restraints of law, and liberated from the
inconvenient shackles of the constitution,
he is lifted above and beyond them by
the plenitude of his transcendent and ir-
responsible power, and may suspend their
action, paralyze their vital energies, and
deal with the liberties of the people ac-
cording to the suggestions of his mercy
or caprice
Men of Illinois, is this the government
that our fathers gave us? Is this the sa-
cred heritage they hallowed by their
blood ? Is this the great Republic, de-
flying tyrants, and plying and cheering
their victims, and protecting, by endur-
ing, ever active, and irrefragible guar
antees, the assured liberties of its citizens,
now disclosing, in the folds of its politi-
cal garments, the hitherto concealed au-
thority for its own destruction, and bend
ing with lowly meekness to receive, in
the discretion Of the President, the i'm
violating blow? Applause.
No, Of Illinois, no, "a thou
sand times NO. Such weapons for self
destruction are not hidden among the le-
climate powers Of this government, and
he who claims to WELD them is its most
dangerous foe Immense and continued
applause. The power of the President
as Commander-iu- Chief is not Ia power TO
adopt "aay measure wIttcA may lest sub
Due He enemy" without regard to what
the measure is. This power extends only
to the belligerent acts Of the government
in dealing with the enemy, and is clear
ly limited and defined by the code Of in
tcrnational law which is recognized as
obligatory upon all Christian nations. 49,
This law confines the military authority
of'the Commander-in-Chef to the theatre
of bis actual operations in the field, and
specifies what be may do and what he
may not do. He may take the public
property Of the enemy wherever he may
find it, but not the private property Of
though living in the enemy's
country and his subject; nos can he des-
poll and plumber the country Of the enc
my. When Cyrus, Of Persia, was march
ing upon the cnemy's border, he gave or
ders to his army not to disturb the cult
yators Of the soil when Count Debitseh
had advanced to the plains Of Romelia,
at the head Of Russian army, be issued
an order securing the private property Of
the enemy from depreciation and injury;
and tinou thv invasion ~ Mexico by the