The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1863-06-25

Ab thls u tuS uieb tuh SApVolIou VI
the views of the Administration relative
to arrests, &C., we bespeak for it care
ful examination, thus preparing your.
selves to silence ignorant cavaliers:
70 Hon Erastus C6riag and others:
GENTLEMEN: letter ofMOy 10,
enclosing the resolutions ola public
meeting held at Albany, New York, on
tie 18th of the same month, was rcceiv-
ed several days ago.
The resolutions, as I understand them
are receivable into propositions-frst,
the expression of purpose to sustain
the cause Of the Union, to secure peace
through victory. and TO support the ad-
ministrstion in every constitutional and
lawfal measure to suppress this rebel.
lion; and secondly, declaration Of CEN
sure upon the Administration for suppo.
sed unconstitutional action, such as the
making of military arrests. And, from
the Two propositions third is deduced,
which is that the gentlemen composing
the meeting are resolved on doing their
part 10 maintain our common Govern
ment and county, despite tho folly or
wickedness, as they may concede Of any
Administration. This position is emil
nently patriotic, and as such, l thank
the gentlemen and congratulate the ma.
ton for it, My own purpose is thos same
so that the meeting and myself have
a common object, and eau have no dill
ference, excep. in the choice of means
or measures for efFecting that object.
And here ought TO close this paper,
and would close it, ifthere were no ap-
prehensions that moro injurious conse:
quenccs than any merely personal to
myself might follow the censures syste,
mqticaIy cast upon me for doing what,
in my view of duty, l could not forbear.
The resolutions promise to support me
in every constitutional and lawful meas.
ure to suppress the rebellion; and have
not knowingly employed, nor shall
knowingly employ, any other. But the
meeting, by their resolutions, assert and
argue tha, certain military arrests, and
proceedings following them, Tor which
l am ultimately responsible, are upcou
SlituGional. think they are not Tne
resolutions quote fom the constitution
the definition oil treason, and the limiting
safe.guards and guarantees therein pros
viied for the citizen on trial for treason
and on his being held for capital or
otherwise infamous crimes, and, in Grim
inal prosecutions, his right TO a speedy
and public trial, by an impartial jury =
They proceed to resolve "that these safe
guards ofthe right, of the citizen against
the protonsons of arbitrary power were
intended more especially for his proiec.
ton in times of civil commotion." And
apparently TO demonstrate the the prop
osiIion, the resolutions proceed; "Ihey
were secured substantially to the Eng.
lish people after years of protracted civil
war, aud we're adopted into our constitu'
ton at the close of the reyolution.'''-
Would not the demonstration have been
better, if ii could have been truly said
that these safeguards had been adopted
and applied during the civil wars and
turing our revolution, instead of qfter
the one and at the close OF the other? |
too, am dovotedly for them after civil
war, and J,iore civil war, and at all times
except when, in cases OF rebellion or
invasio tho public safety may require"
their suspension. The resolutions pro.
ceeded to tell rs that these safeguards
"haye stood the test of seventy six years
If Irial, under our republican system,
uuder circumstances which show thet
while thoy constitute the foundation Of
all FREQ government, they are the ele-
ments OF the enduring stability Of the
republic" No ono denies that they
have stood the test up to the beginning
Of the present rebellion, ifwe except u
certain occurrence in New Orleans; nor
does any one question that they will
stand the same test much longer after
the rebellion closes. But these provs.
ions Of the constitution have no applica'
ton to the case we have in hand, DO.
cause the arrests complained of were
rot mode for lreua5u--,hat is, TO. toS
he treason defined in the constitution,
and upon the conviction of which, the
punishment is death-nor yet were they
made to hold persons to answer for any
capital or otherwise infamous crimes;
nor were the proceedings following, 10
any constitutional or legal sense, Grim.
inaI prosecutions. The arrests were
made on totally different grounds, and
the proceedings following accorded with
the grounds Of the arrests, Let US con.
slider the real case with which VIC are
dealing, and apply 10 it the parts of the
constitution plainly made for such cases,
Prior to my installation here it had