Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-02-25
THE TRUE POLICY OF THE WAR,
A Patriotic Democrat on the Con-
duct Of the 0pposition.-Speech Of
Senator Wright of Indiana.


A Patriotic Democrat on the Con
duct Of the 0pposition.-Speech OF
Senator Wright of Indiana.
On Tuesday. January 9th. the United
States Senate resumed the consideration oi
the bill to provide for the discharge ol
state prisoners and others, and to author
ize the judges of the United States Courts
to take bail or recognizances to secure the
trial Of the same. The pending question
being on the motion Of Senator Powell to
strike ont the third section of the bill,
Senator Joseph A. Wright, Of Indiana,
said:
Mr.. President. the bill under considera-
tion contemplates the release of political
prisoners under certain circumstances; and, \,
under the conditions Of the constitution, it
is designed to authorize the President 20
suspend the writ of ha6eas corpus. Some
days since | voted to lay the resolution of
the Senator from Delaware Mr.. Saulsbu-
bury on the table; and / did so because,
among reasons. this bill. If il shall pass to
the statue book. will entirely supersede the
necessity for such resolution; and, there
fore. its further discussion would be not
only Improbable but actually Injurious
The legislation for great conntry shonld
he accomplished in broad and catholic
spirit. and not be tinctured with party con-
tentions or loca! jealousies. or even isols-
tel cases Of wrong and oppression. Such
cases have their teachings. and they may
prompt rs to q vigorous maintenance Of
our inaliensble libe,tles. but when they
have effected their purpose they may he
laid aside and the remedy be pursued by a
comprehensive statesmanship. l prefer.
therefore that the brief period which is left
TO us Of this fieeting session shall not he
sacrificed to individual cases. but given to
legislation on general principles. which
shall embrace in their operation the vast
area Of the republic and the aggregate Of
our fcll,w- citizens. am in favor Of the
bill now before the Senate as il me to us
ir. m tie committee, that we hereafter
regulate. by law which shall not be mis-
understood. that about which there has
been mnch acelbity and conflicting judg-
mcnt. 1t is scarcely necessary. then, for
me to say that | shall not vote for the
pending amendment. the motion Of my
honorable friend from Kentucky Mr..
Powell. to stIike out the third section.
THE FOUNDERS OF THE UNION ON POLITICAL
ARRESTS.
Wecannot, II we could. conceal the fact
ha, much capital has been made by polite
ians ont Of arrests which have been directed
by the President. or others acting under his
authority. Men do not seem TO realize the
Of things in the country. and the
most improper appeals are male to the ig-
norans and uususpecting. which alarm
their fears oil this subject In the dark
lays Of '16. General Lee wrote to James
Bowden. President of the Massachusetts
Councils:
I'VE must save tie community, in spite
ri the ordinances of the Legsla,ure.-
There are times when we must commit trea
son against the laws of the State for the
salvation OF the State. The present crisis
demands this brave yirtuous kind of trea-
son."
No statesman of this day would be will
ling TO use language so strong as that
which one Of Wasl,ington's generals used
in the war of the Revolution; bat occasions
arise when arrests become a necessity
which cannot be disresarded without an
Of fidelity to the best interest
Of the commonwealth; and am not dispos-
cd to yield the credit to the Republican
party Of originating rolicy as bold as it
is necessary, for in the despondent days Of
onr infant struggle for liberty it was justi.
feel. Jefferson and jackson subsequently
demonstrated that it had their sanction.
and j, ever has had the approval Of old
fashioned democracy. General jackson
suspended the Liberty of the press in New
Orleans, and he kept the entire city and
suburbs under martial law after the British
had lett the coast. He arrested Judge
Hall for issuing a writ OF habeos corpus in
favor Of a French subject who had been
seized by General Jackson's orders; and
recent Congress of the United States. by
It's legislation, commended that exercise Of
authority. Firmness and promptitudc.
in assuming responsibility when
his country was in an emergency were a.
mong the prominent traits Of his character,
which secured the deep devotion .ot the
democracy. and the earnest anil enihusias-
lic regard which was akin to idolatry.
THOMAS JEFrERsoN's OPINION.
Mr.. Jefferson sustained General Wilkin-
son for suspending the habeas corpus in
New Orleans on the occasion of certain
military arrests of persons who were sus-
pccted Of completely in Burr's expedition;
hus justifying the setting mp of military
over the jurisdiction of the courts
in times OF public danger. AS late as the
3d Of February. 1907. in letter to Gov
srnor Claiborne respecting Burr's conspir-
hey. he wrote:
.'On great occasions every good officer
must lie ready to risk himself in going be.
yond the strict line of Law. when the pub
nc preservation requires it. His motives
will he a justification as far as there is any
Justification. rs far as there is any discre-
lion in his ultra legal proceedings"
call the attention of Senators to this
language. and to the time and circumstan.
res under which it was used That was
not . rebellion of one third Of this entire
republi: against its government. The
straits OF the Union were not then so -des-
a. L. l. II