Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-01-22

The HABEAs CORPUS AND MILITARY AR.
| RESTs.-Gov. TODD, of Onio, is Demo-
crat. But he is for the Union with OF
without slavery, just as it can best be pre-.
served. Therefore he does not devote his
annual message to an attempt to under
mine the confidence of the people in the
National Administration, or to persuade
them that they are fighting in hopeless
cause. On the subject of the suspension
of the writ of ha5eas corpus and arrests
IN Ohio, he says:
Before disnissing the subjects relating
to the military operations OF The past ear,
1t may be proper that remind YOU, that
the executives of the loyal States are CO.
workers with, and, ia great measure,
agents of the authorities of the Federal
Government, in the raising and organizing
OF the Federal forces. In view OF this, |
doubt not you will be glad to know, that
10 the discharge of the various exciting
and delicate duties thrown upon me by
these authorities, have been able to
maintain entire harmony and friendly re-
latioDs with them. Sincerely believing
that the President and those who surround
him have acted solely with view of re-
storing peace and harmony to our dis
| tracted Government, and to all its citi-
zens, whether North or South, have
promptly rendered them all the aid in nv
power, cheerfClly and diligently. With
the power of our great State, in crushing
| the rebellion, would have been wasted and
frittered away. This spirit and determin-
alton led me, most cheertully to acquiesce
in the several orders of the President de-
nying certain privileges heretofore enjoy
ed by the people, and still highly priced
by all. | aliude particularly to the tenn
| porary modified suspension of tie writ of
habeas corpus, and the order for the arrest
of citizens guilty OF interfering with enlist
ments and the order for the execution of
the draft, and their temporary contine-
ment before hearing or trial. Necessity,
stern necessity, will alone tolerate such
orders. This necessity, in the absence of
State legislation, it is known TO all who
read, did 10 some extent exist in our State:
and the individual who will complain of
the execution of these orders, under the
circumstances attending them, would com
plain of the neighbor who should break
open his mansion, when on fire, to save
his child from perishing in the fames.-
For the honor Of our State, it should be
made known that but eleven such arrests
lave been made within our borders, so far
as known to me. Of these, three persons
were removed from the State, four were
confined for short time at Camp Mans.
field, and the remaining four at Camp
Chase. All those confined within the
State, have been set at liberty All the
arrests, so far as | am advised, were made
by virtue of orders from the War Depart.
ment, and but two upon my recommends
ton.
From the knowledge I have, as to the
causes of arrest, believe the action of the
Department was based upon sufficient
grounds. That this exercise of military
power was necessary to enable the several
State authorities to raise their quota of
troops, L have no doubt whatever; and so
believing, L most cheerfully approved it.
1t Is the duty OF all good citizens to sub
NIT to any and all sacrifices necessary to
maintain the Government; and the man
who will complain of the acts referred to-,
when his neighbor on either side of him
has given up forever his darling son,
should be frowned upon by all good men.
God grant that neither, again, may ever
be called upon to make the sacrifice
AS this, however, may not happily
prove to be the case, and as we may yet
be called upon to raise additional troops,
it is recommended that provision be made
by law, to prevent all interference, by
evil-disposed persons, with the persons
instructed to that duty. The act OF April
26, 1861, entitled IAN Act to punish
treason and other Crimes" should be so
amended as to embrace this offence. The
duly constituted authorities of our State
would then be able to take care of all
offenders within the State, and thereby
relieve the President of the United States
and all acting under his authority from
this, to them, unpleasant but necessary
duty.