Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-06-19

" it was a dirty trick General Jackson ar
rested him. When the officer undertook to serve
the writ Of habeGs corpus, General Jackson took
it from him. and sent him away with q copy
Holding the judge in custody few days,
the General sent him beyond the limits
Of his encampment, and set him at lib
crty, with an order to remain till the ratification
of peace should be regularly announced, or until
the British should have left the southern coast.
A day or two more elapsed, the ratification Of
the treaty Of peace was regularly announced,
and the judge and others were fully liberated. \
few days more, and the judge called Gen. Jack
son into Court and fined him thousand dollars
for having arrested him and the others named.
The General paid the fine and there the matter
rested for nearly thirty years, when Congress
refunded principal and interest The late Sena-
tor Douglas, then IN the House Of Representa-
tives. took leading part in the debates. in
which the constitutional question was much dis
cusse1. | am not prepared TO say whom the
journals would show TO have voted lior the meas
ure.
1t may be remarked: First, that We had the
same Constitution then as now; secondly, that We
then had a case Of invasion, and now we have a
case Of rebellion, and, thirdly, that the perma-
nent right Of the people to public discussion, the
liberty Of speech and Of the press, the trial by
jury, the law Of evidence, and the habeas corpus,
suffered no detriment whatever by that conduct
Of Gen. Jackson, or its subsequent approval by
the American Congress.
And yet, let me say. that in my own discretion
I do not know whether | would have ordered the
arrest Of Mr.. Vallandigham. While ! cannot
shift the responsibility from myself, | hold that,
as a general rule, the commander in the field is
the better Judge Of the necessity in any particu-
lar case Of course, must practise a general
directory and reyisory power in the matter
One Of the resolutions expresses the opinion
Of the meeting that arbitrary arrests will have
the effect to divide and distract those who should
he united in suppress ne the rebellion, and am
specifically called on % discharge Nir Nallan-
digham. / regard this ~, at least flir ap-
peal 10 me on the cxpcliency Of exercising a
constitutional power which | think exists. lu
response 20 such appeal ] have 10 say. il gave
me pain when ] Learned that Mr.. Nalandchsm
had been arrp-tci-tlat j.. I was panied that
there should have seemed 90 be "a necessity for
arrcstinE him-ani that it viii sforl me great
pleasure o. discharge him So soon a- ! can. ly
amy means. believe the public slletywi ot>li-
fer hv it ] further say. that a- the war pro-
grcsscs. DO appears 90 mc, opinion and action.
which were boo great confusion 20 first. take sh1pe
and fall into more regular channels, So that the
necessity for strong dealing with them gradually
decrease. have every reason % desire that Do
should cease altogether, and itr from the least
BE- mv regard ir tle opinions nll w-le- no. Oh. g.
who, ac che meeting 40 Albany. declare their
ru-F.-. t' sustain OH. government Iu every cone
--.'uf.ol4. anil I1vfll measure On suppress the
rebellion. still. mus. continue % Do -r much
a- msy sram ra be- required iy the public slfa'y.
s. LINCOLN