The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-19

The following letter is the Presidents re-
ply to the address Of the n. Y. Democrats
assembled at Albany. IL will be eagerly pc
rused, and few will finish reading it without
being convinced that President Lincoln's
view is the only practical Light in which to
regard the subject;
Executive MANSION.
Washington, June IL, 1868.
Hon. Erastus CorRig and Others.
Gentlemen Your letter of May 18th enclos-
ing the resolutions of public meeting held at
Albany, New York, ON the 10th OF the same
month, was received several days ago.
The resolutions, as | understand them, are
receivable into two proportions-hrst, the ex-
preston of purpose to sustain the cause Oi
the Union, to secure peace through victory, and
TO support the administration IN every cons'i-
tutional and lawful measure To suppress the re-
bellon and secondly. q declaration ofccnsure
upon the administration for supposed uncon-
stitutional action, such as the making OF mill
tary arrests. And from the two propositions
n third Is deduced. which is that the gentlemen
composing the meeting are resolved on doing
their part TO maintain our common government
and country. despite the folly or wickedness, as
they may conceive, Of any administration.
thank the meeting, and congratulate the ma
ton for IT, My own purpose is the same 50
that the meeting and myself have q common
object, and can have no difference. except in
the choice Of means or measures for eitecting
that object.
And here ought to close thi, paper, aud
would close il IL there were no approximations
that more injurious consequences than any
merely personal to myself the censures sy Jtem-
ala 1lxf nat mn FIR Hnfn hat in my
view of duty, could not forbear. The resolu.
tons promise TO support in every constitu-
tional or lawful measure 10 suppress the rebel.
lion and have not knowingly employed, nor
shall | knowingly employ, any other. But tho
meeting, by their resolutions, assert and argue
that certain military arrests, and proceedings
follow them. for which am ultimately respon-
sible, are unconstitutional. l think they are
not. The resolutions quote from the Constitu-
ton the definition Of treason and also the limit
ing safeguards and guaranteestherein provided
for the citizen on trial for treason, and on his
being held to answer for capital or otherwise
infamous crimes, and, in criminal prosecution,
his right to n speedy and public trial by an i'm
partial jury. They proceed to resolve "that the
safeguard, of the rights Of the citizens against
the pretentious Of arbitrary power, were inten-
ded more especially for his protection in times
Of civil commotion." And, apparently todem-
onstrate the proposition, the resolution pro-
ceeds: "They were secured substantially TO
the English people after years OF protractci
civil war. and were adopted into our Consttu-
ton at the close Of the revolution" Would
not the demonstration have been better, IL II
could have been truly said that these safeguards
had been adopted and applied during the civil
wars and during our revolution. instead Of af-
ter the one and ut the close Of the other l too,
am devotedly for them after civil war and be-
fore civil war, and at all times, except when
in cases Of rebellion or invasion. the public
safety may require" their suspension. The res
olut,ons proceed 10 tell US that these safeguards
shave stood the test ofseyenty-six years atrial,
under our republican system, under crcum-
stances which show that while they constitute
the foundation Of all free government. they are
the elements Of the enduring stability OF the
republic" No one denies that they have stood
the test up to the beginning Of the present re-
bellion, II we except q certain occurrence at New
Orleans nor does any one question that they
win stand the test much longer amer the rebel
lion closes. But these provisions Of the Con-
sttution have no application TO the case we
have IN hand, because the arrests complained
OF were not made for treason--that Is, not for
he treason defined In the Constitution. and up
on the conviction Of which the punishment Is
death-nor yet were they made TO hold persons
to answer for any capital or otherwise infamous
crimes; nor were the proceedings following,
in any constitutional or legal sense, criminal
prosecutions" Tho arrests were made on to-
tally different grounds. and the proceedings
following accorded with the grounds, Of the
arrests. Let US consider the real case with
which We are dealing, and apply Il to the parts
of the Constitution plainly made for such cases.
Prior TO my installation here IL had been incul-
Gated that any State had right to secede from
the natioua, Union, and that 1t would be expe-
dent 70 exercise the right whenever the do
voices OF the doctrine should tail to elect Pres
ident to their own liking. was elected con-
trsry to their liking and accordingly, 30 far
as Il was legally possible, they have taken seven
States out OF the Union. and seired many OF the
United States forts. andhad 6red upon the Uni