Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-06-15
President Liucoln's Lstter.

t. - he resolutions adopted at the Demo-
cratic meeting in Albany, in relation TO militia
- arrests, and especially the case Of Mr. al
IA M; gbagn. re argues the whole question:
lIc says -
The provision Of the Constitution that
Lie privilege OF the writ Of hobsos corpus
shall not be suspended, unless when IN case 81
rebellion Or invasion, the public safety may re-
,.s1ire It, is the provision which specially. ap-
65i;as r. orr present case. This provision
ola;nly attests the understanding Of those who
made the Constitution, that ordinary courts o.
Justice ara inadequate 10 cases q rebellion,
-attosts their purpose that IL such cases, men
yoav he held jD custody whom the courts, act
inc on ordinary rules, would discharge; to-
}.a1s corj1ls does not discharge men who are
proved Il. he guilty Of defined crime; and its
SUSPENSION is allowed by the Constitution. on
.anr,,os: that men may be arrested and held
Who cannot be proved TO be guilty Of defined
crime. "vhen in cases Of rebellion or invasion,
The public safety may require 1t. Ihls Is
,recise]v our present case-a case Of rebellion:
wherein the public safety does require The
suspension.
IN another place he says by the third
resolution the meeting Indicate their opinion
shat military arrests may be constitutional N
localities where rebellion actually exists, pat
that such arrests are unconstitutional IN local
Sries where rebellion or InSurrecClOn does not
actualIy exist, They insist that such arrests
shall not be made ''outslde OF the lines OF ne
necessary military occupation, and the scenes
of insure ,tion Inasmuch however, as the
G1oncti+ution itself makes no such distinction,
am unable to believe that there is any such
constitutional distinction. | concede that the
class arrests comp laned Of can be constitutions
81 only when, in cases OF rebellion Or INVASION,
the public safety may require them; and IN.
sist that in such cases they are constitutional
5hereue7' the public safety does require them;
a. we'll in places to which they may prevent
tha rebellion extending, as il those where 1t
NAV be already prevailing az we'll where they
may restrain misohley0us interference Wild
the raising and supplying Of armies to sup
nress the rebellion, as where the rebellion,
NAV actually be; as we'll where they may re-
strain the enticing men out OF the army, as
where they would prevent mutlny III the
army; equally constitutional &C all places
where they will conduce TO the public safety
~ against the dangers Of rebellion or INVASION,
re says again: Nor am | able TO apprecl-
ato the danger unprecedented By. the meeting
that the American people will by means OF
.oiIitary arrests during the rebellion, lose the
r;ght Of public discussion, the liberty OF speech
s4d tbe press, the law Of evidence, trial By
fmrv. and ho6eas corpus, throughout the lnde-
f1ijfe peaceful future which [ trust lies before
Them, any more than am able to believe that
3 man could contract 90 strong an appetite
Tor ornetics during temporary illness as TO ger
sist in feeding upon them during the remain
der Of his healthful life. = ~,
n relation to the particular case OF Mr.. al
lan3igham, the President says ;~-'ln my own
,};qorefion I do not know whether / would
have ordered the arrest Of Mr.. Vallandigh1am
While / cannot shift the responsibility from