The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1863-06-12

Tor Mr. Vallandigham under the Consti-
tuition and laws of the land, that he may
receive justice or suffer punishment ac-
oording to his deserts; for Mr.. Stanton
signalized his accession to Office by an
"order" in which he designated the cir
cumstances that seem to justify only for
a time, departure from "the normal
course of the Administration, {" at the
outbreak of the rebellion, when the Gov
ernment was called suddenly to meet an
emergency which Congress had not an.
ticipated and for which it had provided. 4"
10 this effect he declared as follows, un-
der his order Of February IA, 1869.
The breaking out of formidable insurrec-
hon, based ON a conflict of political ideas, be-
ing an event without precedent in the United
States was necessarily attended by great con.
fusion and perplexity of the public mind
Dlsioyalty, before unsupported, suddenly be-
came bold, and treason astonished the world
by bringing at once into the field military for
ces superior in numbers to bo standing army
of the United States. y Il
Even in the portions of the country which
were most loyal, political combinations and
secret societies were formed, furthering the
work of disunion while, from motives of dis
loyalty or cupidity, or fIom excited hassiors
or perverted sympathies, Individuals were
found furnishing meeT-i, money, and materials
OF war anSs supplies to the insurgents military
@:.-.a naval forces. Armies. ships, Notifications
navy yards, arsenals, military posts, and gar
risons, one after another, were betrayed or
abandoned to the insurgents.
Congress had not anticipated and so had not
provided foc the emergency. The municipal
authorities were powerless and inactive. The
judicial machinery seemed as it had been de-
signed not to sustain the Government but to
embarrass aud betray it.
In this emergency the President felt it his
duty to employ with energy the extraordinary
powers which the Constitution cOnfdes to him
in cases of insurrection. He called into the
field such military and naval forces unauthor-
lied by the existing laws, as seemed necessary.
lie directed measures to prevent the use of the
post office for reasonable correspondence.
He subjected passengers to and from foreign
countries to new passport regulations, and he
insti tuted blockade, suspended the writ of
habeas corpus id various places, and caused
persons who were represented to him as being
or about to engage in disloyal and reasonable
practices to be arrested by special civil as well
as military agencies, and detained in military
custody, when necessary, to prevent them and
deter others from such practices. Examinations
of such cases were instituted, and some of the
persons so arrested have been discharged from
time to time under circumstances or upon con-
ditiOns compatible, as was thought, with the
public safety. s
Meantime favorable change of public opin-
ion has occurred. The line between loyalty
and dsloyaltyis plainly defined the whole
structure of the Government is firm and stable;
apprehension of public danger and facilities
for traasonable practices have diminished with
tn passions which prompted needless persons
to adopt them. The insurrection is believed
to have eliminated and to be declining.
The President, in view of these facts, and
anxious to favor return to the normal course
of the Administration, as far as regard for the
public welfare will allow, directs that all DO
litical prisoners now held in military custody
be released on their subscribing to parole
engaging them to render no aid or comfort to
the enemies in hostility to the United States.
Will uluut
under the direction of the military authorities
alone. W
Congress has, by its recent legislation
anticipated precisely such a case as
that raised by the alleged conduct and
language of Mr.. Vallaudigham, and has
thus made provision for the "emergen-
cy." The only justification heretofore
assigned for such extraordinary arrests in
the heart of a loyalpopulation no longer
exists, for the normal course" of pro.
ceedingS is now plainly marked out by
the law made and proved for the trial
and punishment of all who give "aid and
comfort to the enemy" and who are "cit-
izens OF States in which the Administra>
tion of the laws has continued unimpair.
ed in the Federal courts"