Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-07-02
Yolhital.
Arbitrary Arrests.

...
Arbitrary Arrests.
PRESIDENTS REPLY TO THE ALBANY RESOLUTIONS
II will be recollectcd that a series of
halfand-half peace resolutions were
adopted at the meeting held in Alba.
ny, N. Y, ON the 10th of May, and
that they were presented to the Pres.
ident by Erastus Corning and the 9TH
er officers Of the Albany meeting.
The President has recently replied
to these resolutions in lengthy let
ter, in which he carefully discusses
the question that ut present so much
agitatcs the public mind, namely that
of arbitrary arrests" The faith of
the loyal people will be strengthened
by this letter, while the disloyal ought
to be convinced by it Of their error
and repent of their worse than folly
their crime
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
Washington, June Is, 1868
Hon. Erastus Corning and Others:
GENTLEMEN Your letter of May
18th. enclosing 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 propo-
sitions--first. the expression of pur-
pose 10 sustain the cause of the Union,
TO secure peace through victory, and
to support the administration in every
constitutional and lawful measure to
suppress the rebellion /; and secondly,
a declaration Of censure upon the ad-
ADMINISTRATION for supposed unconstitu-
tional action. such as the making of
military arrests, and from the two
propositions, third is deduced, which
is that the gentlemen composing the
meeting are resolved on doing their
part to maintain our common govern
ment and country, despite the folly or
wickedDess, as they may conceive,
of any administration. This position
is emincntly patriotic, and as such, ]
thank the meeting, and congratulate
the nation for it. Ny own purpose is
the same SO that the meeting and
myself have q common object, and
can have no difference, except in the
choice Of means or measures for CT
tecting that object.
As we cannot publish the entire let
ter. we are compelled to content our
self with giving the following extract
concerning Vallandigham's case. which
is the result of the entire argument.
Mr.. Lincoln, in referring to the rcso.
lntions, says:
The meeting indicate the opinion
that military arrests may be constitu-
tional in the States where rebellion
actually exists, but such arrests are
unconstitutional in localities where
rebellion or insnrrection does not &C
tually exist. They insist that sucl,
arrests shall not be made outside of
the lines Of necessary occupation and
the scenes Of instruction. Inasmuch,
however, as the constitution itself
makes no such distinction, l am una
BILE to believe THAT there il any snch
constitutional distinction. i concede
that the class Of arrests complained
Ut. can he constitutional only when,
in cases Of rebellion or invasion, the
public safety may require them, and,
i insist that in such cases they are
constitutional when ever the public
safety does require them, as well in
places to which they may prevent the
rebellion extending as in those where
It may be already prevailing as well
where they may restrain mischievous
interference with the raising and sup
plying Of armies to suppress the re-
belIion as where the rebellion may ac-
tualiy be ; as well where they may re-
strain the cnticing men out Of the ar.
my as where they would prevent mu-
tiny in the army aud equally con-
stitutional at oil places where they
will condnce to the public safety as
against the dangers Of the rebellion
or invasion like the particular case
mentioned by the meeting. Take the
particular case mentioned by the meet
ing:
1t is asserted in substance, that Mr..
vallandigham was, by military CON-
wander. seized and tried :" for no 9TH
ev reason than words addressed to q
publis meeting. in criticism of the
course Of the Administration, and in
condemnation Of the military orders
Of the General" Now, if there be no
mistake about this. il this assertion il
the truth and the whole truth II there
is no other reason fnr the arrest, then
] concede that the arrest wss wrong
But the arrest, as understand, WAS
made for different reason. Mr.. Val
Glsndigham avows his hostility to the
war on the part Of the Union and
bis arrest was made because he was
Isboring. with some effect, to prevent
the raising of troops to encourage
assertions from the army; and to
leave the rebellion without ali ade.
qnate military force to suppress it.
He was not arrested because he was