The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-06-26
The Presidents Reply to Resolu-
tions Adopted by the Demo-
cratic Meeting . Held at e
Albany New York. 9'ol 'a
Mr.. VallandighaM to be Discharged
If the Public Safety will Permit.
,,..,., D;sn =, 70 the Chicago Times.

The Presidents reply to the resolutions
of the public meeting held at Albany,
New York, with regard to arbitrary ar
rests by military authority, and at the
same time expressing their determination
to sustain the Administration Unlawful and
constitutional measures to suppress the re-
bellon, was made public to-day. 1t is
quite lengthy, but the following extract,
concerning Vallandigham's case, is the re-
suit of the entire argument. Mr.. Lincoln,
in referring to the resolutions, says:
''The meeting indicate their opinion
that military arrests may be constitutional
in the States where rebellion actually
exists, but that such arrests are unconsti-
tutional in localities where rebellion does
not actually exist They insist that such
arrests shall not be made outside of the
lines of necessary military occupation and
the scenes OF instruction. Inasmuch,
however, as the constitution itself makes
no such distinction, am unable to be-
lieve that there is any such constitutional
distinction. l concede that the class OF
arrests complained of can be constitutional
only when, in case of rebellion or inva-
sion, the public safety may require them,
constitutional whenever the public safety
does require them, ts we'll in places to
which they may prevent the rebellion eX-
tending as in those where it may be al
ready prevailing; as well as they may re-
strain mischievous interference with the
raising and supplying of armies to sup
press the rebellion as where the rebellion
may actually be; as well where they may
restrain the enticing men out of the army
as where they would prevent mutiny in the
army; and equally constitutional in all
places where they will conduce to the public
safety as against the dangers of rebellion
or invasion, like the particular case men
toned by the meeting. 1t is asserted, in
substance, that Mr.. V. was, by military
commander, seized and tried for no other
reason than words addressed to public
meeting in criticism of the course of the
administration, and in condemnation of
the military orders of the General. Now,
if there be no mistake about this, if this
assertion is the truth and the whole truth,
! if there was no other reason for the arrest,
| then I concede the arrest was wrong; but
the arrest, as / understand, was made for
a very different reason. Mr.. Vallandig
ham avows his hostility to the war on the
part of the Union, and his arrest was made
because he was laboring with some effect
to prevent the enlisting of troops, to en-
courage desertion from the army, and to
| leave the rebellion without an adequate
military force to suppress it. He was not
arrested because he was damaging the po-
| ltical prospects of the administration or
the personal interests of the Commanding
| General, but because he was endangering
! the army, upon the existence and vigor of
which the life of the nation depends.
| He was warning upon the military,
| and this gave the military constitu-
tional jurisdiction to lay hands upon
| him. If Mr.. V. was not damaging
the military power of the country, then
| his arrest was made on mistake, a fact
which would be glad to correct on rea-
sonable and satisfactory evidence. I'M
derstand the meeting adopted resolutions
in favor of the suppression of the rebel
lion by military force and by armies.
Long experience has shown that armies
cannot be maintained unless desertion
shall be punished by the severe penalty Of
death. The case requires, and the law
and the constitution sanctions this punish
ment. Must shoot supplemented SOL
der boy who deserts, while l must not
touch hair OF a willy agitator who in
duces him to desert? This is none the
less injurious when effected by getting a
father or brother or a friend into pub
lie meeting and there work upon his feel
ings till he is persuaded to write the SOL
der boy that he is fighting in bad cause,
and for wicked administration of a con-
temptible government, too weak to arrest
and punish him if he shall desert. Think
that, in such a case, to silence the agita-
tor and save the boy is not only cOnstitu-
tional but withal great mercy"
After reviewing the suspension of the
habeas corpus by Gen. Jackson, the Presi-
dent says:
"And yet, let me say that, in my own
discretion, do no. know whether would
have ordered the arrest of Mr.. Vallan-
digham. While cannot shift the response.
bility from myself, hold that, as general
rule, the commander in the field is the bet
ter Judge of the necessity in any particular
case. OF course must practice general
directory and revisory power in the matter.
One of the resolutions expresses the opin-
ion of the meeting that arbitrary arrests
will have the effect to divide and distract
those who should be united in suppressine
the rebellion, and / am specifically called
On to discharge Mr.. Vallandigham. re-
gard this act as at least fair appeal to Inc
on the expediency of exercising constitu
tional power which / think exists. In re-
spouse to S oh appeal l have to say that
gave me great pain when | learned tina
Mr.. V. had been arrested-that is, l wa
panied that there should have seemed to b.
necessity for arresting him, and that i
will afford me great pleasure to discharg
him so soon as can by any means believ
the pubic safety will not suffer by it,"
WAsHiNGToN June IA.
The President, under date of the 18th
has replied To the letter of Erastus Cor
ming and others, who were officers Of th
! public meeting held at Albany on the ST
of May, requesting his earnest considera
ton of the resolutions passed on that &C
casion. The resolutions, they say, prom
seto supper him in every constitutions