Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-01-13
ARRESTS.


o. AS early ss September 10, 1862, a letter
OIL mine was published, in answer to one
lnqnlrIng the cause Of certain arrest in
which ! stated that l bad not advised hat,
or any other 0rrests, or been consulted as
to The nroprIety of their being made; and
also, Stating that the power ought to be
exercised only in extreme cases. The sinh
ject is one euli Of difficulty. Ga the one
hand tits plain to be seen, that in time Of
war, the paweT to arrest sUmmarily is often
absolutely necessary and iustiGabie, if ur-
on no other, upon the paramount and all
c,ntrolling plea Irrational and self preser
vahou. The utterauce Of reasonable words
the dIrco urOg cement Of enlistments, or Civ
ing aid and comfort - the enemy in anv
Eey, are INCIDENTALLY sufficient grounds for
arrest, A trait"r or Spy 10 LOYAL State.
IL time OF war, as j1atly deserves to be ar
rested and hung, or shot, as the same class
81 persons in the disloyal States. The as
sault upon the life Of the State is the high
est crime known to the law, and nhta,lJ
especially in times like the present 10
most vigorously aud summerily dealt
with.
o. The other hand, nv Democracy *
such as to teach me TO entertain the bieb.
est regard for the rights of the individual
believing that every man, whether he lie
white, yellow, red. or black, is entitled to
liberty, and should be saeredly protected
10 the enjoymeot Of his person and uroper-
ty, and in the utmost liberty of speech and
action, constituent With loyalty to the Gov
ernment These are The rock .fopndaa
principles of our Government, 10 be sa.
credly guarded aud preserved. Il i. in,
deed Cause Of graduation, that the peonle
are disf Osed to scan closely eyerv infrae-
ton of personal liberty. We sho6ld euard
JealoHsly, as the apple of our eve. The nro-
lection to personal rights which has been
shining characteristic Of the Anglo-sax ron
race, from the period ct which II EMERGED
from heathenish barbarian, down. thro9x6
az the stages OF progress, till, under eur
form OF government, il culnoisated In the
tuli light Of civil aud religious liberty.
G Hence think that arrests should be
made only in extreme CAGES. 10 which there
can De no doubt as the Yrop.iety aad ne.
ceesity therefor; thatthe eaasSas should be
gwen t. the prisoner and the p7hlie, unless
plainly % the injury Of the pubic service;
sne 10 all cases it should appear that 10
divioual malice or party reasops had not
prompted thereto. While have no. ex-
amined the question, in order to decide
how far tue President may go in making
arrests IN State not declared to be under
under martial law. yet il would seem, shat
as the day for proclaiming martial Law
would not 10 any case be great, itoughs 20
precede the exercise Of this power of arrest
This would seem necessary. FROM the fact
that military power begins where tina civil
Law fails to afford redress, aud the distinc.
ton whore the one ceases and tho other
begins should be clearly defined. Indesd,
II would seem that martial Law might be
properly proclaimed in every State where
was evidence that traitors and spies would
openly or secretly give aid to the eneuy,
relying upon the chances of delay and ar
piiance OF ingenious counsel foF escape 10
der civil process. Surely there should be
IN every loyal State determination. that no
traitor shall outrage tue sentiment Of the