Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-05-06
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tOforc without QlIIiculty, uSSau7O 'iiS N
promises and concessions, as made, under
stood, and appreciated between the state
and Federal authority, were not trenched
upon or violated by either. The difficulty
so far as this act is concerned, exists In
the attempt of Congress to arrogate to 1t
self powers which the States believe were
not delegated, and in doing what no other
Congress. under similar circumstance, has
attempted to do TO get at the same end
AS an excuse for the passage OF this act,
as well as for much else that has been
done. ii is held that the power granted to
Congress under the Constitution is not
sufficient for a time of war. With this
we join issue, and claim that the act IN
question is unconstitutional, for the reason
(among many others) that the President
becomes the commander-in-chlef OF the
militia of the several States after they are
mustered into the service of the United
States-which words can leave no doubt
as TO the meaning and intention OF the
trainers of the Constitution. If any ether
construction could be placed on II, the
Chief Magistrate might become at once a
military despot levying his forces where
he chose; appointing his own Officers,
without regard to the wishes of those re-
ouired to serve ; cxacting his authority
at the point of the bayonct, and disregard
ing every restraint that was 50 Carefully
thrown around the rights 0" the FacTi'-
The words q military necessity" c,Hi.,.el
with the power to suspend the pli'il : :
of the writ OF haJcas corpus, would sound
in the ears of the people a. I'll 'leath-knell
TO the last remnant of ci.Il liberty be
queathed to them by thei. fathers. The
President, from being mad the servant o!
the people one day, nigh, become thsii
military tyrant the next.
1t is also unnecessary to accomplish
ANYTHING that could not be accomplished
under the laws of Congress, hcr2tefa:,
paescd for the purpose of raising irooIa
for the supply of the army. The dilf,r
cnt calls heretofore made by tsc prcsi,lc.i
have lsecn responded to by the propc" @n
thorities of the States, and no question
has rs vet arisen, and 10 difficulty oc
CURED to interfere with their operations
No clashing with authority delayed IN
r mastering Of the troops into the servic
of the United States. and nothing ap
1 pcared to destroy the harmony Of tn
: system that gave 10 the Government tn
, finest body of soldiery that ever entere
2 the field The States WED with c;.c
! other in the desire 10 bS prompt and eli
{ cient in answering the wants of ,h> n'
/ tion, and the breast IF every patrio
t thrilled with lleasure a ne saw the pea
: pie coming ward to enforce a natiun'
a authority.
But one otl:cr worl, AID we h;,v
done. Be the Conseri p ion Act conS;itu
i tional or unconstitutional, we trust n
n good citizen viii think Of resisting it, cx
:, cept in legal manner, provided Cor an
e equal to all the cxigencies OF the case
5 \ remedy (Which we trust the Exccutiy
c will not attempt To interfere with Is with
, in the reach IF ,v-ry man-speedy
: equitable, and efficient. However un
: just and tyrannical its application ma
bear upon us-and we have no doubt
/ will be 50 IN many cases-let every ma
f show TO those around him that he is
= awabiding citizen, and will seek. his re
: dress only through a proper channel an
by legitimate means. Let those in hig
places who have so basely perverted an
, abused the power entrusted 10 them, b
rebuked by the conduct of our humbles
citizen, who regards the law and tn
remedies found within its limits as suffi
cient for his purpose, strong enough for hi
security.