The New York herald., 1863-01-12

qSsnces'
Senator Coliamsr, Of 7ssnanni. ass introduced
a bill to restrict judicial proceedings to obtain
redress for the illegal and arbitrary arrests
made by members Of the administration during
the present war. He might as we'll bring in a
bill to regulate the proceedings of State courts
In the trial Of criminals for murder Or in actions
for the recovery of debt.
What is the cause of this movement on the
part of the radicals in Congress- II ia prompt
ed by the forebodng Of the retribution which
the laws of the land will soon award for out
RACES committed by official authority against
unofending sitizeus. 1t appears from the re-
cords in the State Department that during the
last eighteen months the arbitrary arrests made
by the administration amount to the enormous
number Of two thousand persons--men aud wo-
men. In the beginning few Of these arrests
about one hundred in all-were made by the
authority of Mr.. Seward. They were chiefly in
Maryland, whose principal city was in dis
turbed state bordering on insurrection, if not
fully amounting to that condition, and they
were, for the most part, in the cases of persons
whose conduct gave some color for the high
handed proceedings against them. These per-
sons, however, were not brought to trial in
order to ascertain their guilt or innocence, rs
the constitution directs, but were kept in pro-
tractsd confinement. The popular feeling was
80 great in consequence of these measures that
the Secretary of State declined to proceed any
further 10 the business, and handed over to the
War Department the direction Of >system
which was only fit for an Emperor of Austria,
Czar of Russia, despot OF France, Sultan
of Turkey, or the head Of some other absolute
government. Mr.. Cameron noxt took it In
hand, and continued to play out the role
which had been thus abandoned by tho head
Of the State Department. Among others
Pierce Butler, of Philadelphia, was seized by
his authority. But when Charles Ingersoll, OF
tho same city, was arrested for the legitimate
expression of his opinion at political meeting,
such fame of popular indignation was kindied
in Pennsylvania that Mr.. Cameron, like man
of sense and proper feeling, shrank back. and
refused any longer to paader to the malignant
and hellish passions of the radicals, who emu
lated the bloOdtbirsty ferosity of the Jacobins
Of the French Revolution, and insisted upon
having every man arrested who opposed their
political opinions, or against whom they enter
tanned the slightest prejudice or the shadow Of
a suspicion Next Mr.. Stanton appeared on the
stage. He became successor to Mr.. Cameron.
He was not . man to be daunted by tribes
Consultations, forms Of law, popular sentiment,
were OF NO account. He arrested right and left,
with or without cause, women as we'll as mon
lit made no difference 10 him}. till the list Of VIC
Tins swelled up to the namber Of TIVE thousand
Some of them were kidnapped at dead Of night
and carried out Of their own loyal States to
federal fortresses in other States a thousand
miles But the counter revolution which set in
throughout the Middle and Western States-in-
GLIDING Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsyivauia
New Jersey and New York-brought the ad-
mnistration somewhat to its senses. The prison
doors were thrown open, and it was found that
some Of the inmates had died from the effects of
made subjects for lunatic aslyums. The health
and fortunes Of most had been broken. What
amount Of pecuniary recompense could do them
Justice, From some an oath had been extorted
not to bring suits for damages against the Secre-
tary Of War-an oath neither binding in law nor
upon any human conscience They had bcon de-
prived OF their liberty and subjected to "cruel
and unusual punishment" without cause, aud
they were now released without knowing the
charges against them. or even the names of
their accusers. Thus was realized in this land OF
liberty the almost incredible horrors we have
read Of in the despotisms of the Old World. In
truth, the tyrants at Washington outstrinped the
autocrats at Paris, Vienna, st. Petersburg and
elsewhere for they treated New York, Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and other loyal States as
if they were in insurrection, and. appointed
provost marshals over them to supsrsede the
constitution, the laws and the officers of Justice
these provost marshals being wholly unknown
in any part Of the world, except within the
lines Of an army in the field. Their business
is to execute martial law, whose sphere is the
camp. The worst despots Of the earth do not
introduce such appliances in those portions of
their dominions which are not only obedient to
the laws. but loyal to the government, and
shedding their blood and treasure like water iu
its support.
The election Of Horatio Seymouras as Governor
OF this State was one Of the frat fruits Of this
atrocsus system. Ia bis inaugural address he
was prompt to declare his determination to
prevent 10 future these outrageous violations Of
.'the sovereignty aud jurisdiction Of the State
In his message to the Senate he issued a mani
festo, in which be exposed and stcrnly de-
nOunced the arbitrary and unconstitutional pro-
ceedings Of the War Department; and
one Of his art ofncial acts was TO cite be-
fore him the Metropolitan Police Commis-
soners, who played = part subordinate
70 the hero Of the drama at Washington. They
claimed time to make arrangements for their |
defence. II was given them. But in the spring |
let them be well prepared; for 1t is then the |
intention Of Governor Seymour 10 hold n |