Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-11-25
EBENSBURG PA WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25 1868

all the world-a standard of values and of |
weights and measures that shall be COM /
mon to all the States, and a postal system !
that shall be co-extensive with interest at |
tlade and commerce. To adjust and |
maintain these external relations of the |
citizen, are high duties which the Consti- |
tuition has committed 10 the Federal Gov |
ernment, and has furnished it with all ne
cessary civil functionaries, and with power
TO levy and collect taxes from the people
of the States, to raise and support armies,
to provide navy, and to call forth the
militia to execute the laws
| Thus the American citizen amply pro-
vided, by means of Constitutions that are
written, with protection for all his rights
natural and artificial, domestic and for
eign; but as the war power of the Gene
raj Government is his ultimate security
for his external. so is the militia his ultl-
mate security for his internal or domestic
rights.
Could the State Government strike at
the war power of the Federal Govern
ment without endangering every mans
rights? In view of the existing rebellion,
[
this question, and yet is it not equally
apparent that when the Federal Govern
ment usurps power over the State mi
li.ia which was never delegated, every
mans domestic rights (and they are those
which touch him most closely are equally
endangered
The great vice of the conscript law is
that it is founded on an assumption that
Congress may take away, not the State
rights of the citizen, but the security and
foundation of his State rights. And how
long is civil liberty expected to last
after the securities of civil liberty are
destroyed The Constitution of the
, United States committed the liberties of
the citizen in part to the Federal Govern
: ment, but expressly reserved to the States
and the people of the States all it did not
: delegate. 1t gave the General Govern
r ment standing army, but left to the
States their militia. Its purposes in all
this balancing of powers were wise and
: good, but this legislation disregards these
f distinctions, and upturns the whole system
of government when it converts the State
+, militia into - national forces" and claims
= to use and claims to and govern them as
: such.
: Times of rebellion, above all others,
: are the times when we should stick to our
t fundamental law, lest we drift into anar-
chy on one hand or into despotism the
n other The great sin of the present re-
J., bellion consists of violating the Constitu-
: ton whereby every mans civil rights are
e exposed to sacrifice Unless the Govern
a. Lot, of
/, foundation of the Constitution, we initiate
V the sin Of the rebels, and thereby encour-
d age them, whilst we weaken and dis
e hearted the friends Of constitutional order
h and government. The plaintiffs in these
If bills have good right, | think as citizen:
II of Pennsylvania, TO complain of the act
:, in question, not only on the grounds
q have indicated, but on another to which
IT l will briefly allude.
! The 18th section provides that the
IS drafted person shall receive ten days no
Is tice of the rendezvous at which he is tC
report for duty, and the 18th section
N enacts g that if he fails to report himsel
If in pursuance of such notice, without fur
i nishing ii substitute paying the require,
A sum therefor. he shall be deemed q de
al vost marshal, and sent to the nearest mill
l. tary post for trial by court martial" Th
ID only qualification to which this provision
of is subject is, that upon proper shown;
is that he is not able TO do military duty til
board of enrolment mBy relieve him from
e, the draft.
a. One of the complainants, Kneedlcr, ha
I'd set forth the notice that was served o
of him in pursuance of this section, and b
tie which he was informed that unless he ap
he peared on certain day, he would b
ck s.deemed a deserter, and would be sub
ry ject to the penalty prescribed therefor, b
al the rules and articles of war" | beIiev
at the penalty of desertion. by the militaI
IL code is any corporeal punishment cour
tie martial may choose to infiict, even to ths
IS of being put to death.
d. Can a citizen be made deserter befol
u he has become soldier? Has Congre
n the constitutional power to authorize prt
to vost marshals, after drawing the name
es, freeman from a wheel and Serving hi
on with ten days notice, to seize and drs
,n- him before a court-martial for trial uud
uSt military law his question touches Il
the foundations OF personal liberty.
as In June 1918, the Barons of Englar
nal and their retainers, SO a numerous host e
camped upon the srassy plain of RUM
&C. meade" wrung from King John tn
- Great Charter which declared. amor
ith other SC ui;i-s Of ihs rights and i er:i