Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-03-13

+" W sSSA " SupPOII q OAu cause uy SIIII
worse devices.
THE Congress just ended, clothed the
President with almost unlimited power, for
the suppression of the rebellion, 1t gave
him the sword and purse of the nation, and
b.de him use them for the defense of the
republic and the crushing out of its enc
mics. The financial measures adopted
were designed to be ample to cover all the
contingencies of the present year; they
appropriate over thousand millions of
dollars, and provide for meeting that
amount of obligations. The national mi
Iitia bill places the whole military force of
the country subject to the Presidents con-
troll; and in addition to our already power
full navy, he can by issuing letters of mar
que, transform our entire steam and mer-
chant fleets into militia of the seas For
the first time in the history Of the country,
the President swaysr without limitation,
every element of strength on land or on
water, of sword or treasure, which the Re-
public possesses. He is also empowered to
suspend the writ of habsqs corpus at his
discretion, while for his previous action in
this respect, indemnity is given. BE is
thus as fully authorized to repress trea-
sonAble practices in loyal communities, as
to combat rebellion in the field.
These are vast powers, and should be SO
exercised as to bring quick and decisive
results. For all the purposes of war, the
Administration has now all the advantages
Of concentrated power which attach to the
Emperor of France or the Gar of Russia.
The President may call to the field by con-
scriptiou whatever force he deems necessa-
ry. He has carte blanche to employ all
the resources of the country. Even Con-
gress does not stand at his elbow to inter-
regate or to suggest. Take, use-is the
language of representative and constituent.
Legislation has given expression to the
popular willingness to make all sacrifices
for the preservation of the Republic. ''Use
all we have" records the statute book, as
well as the heart of the people, but give
US back Union free and unbrokeu."
VIII these great powers and resources
be employed eTectually7 Yes: they will
be, oh faint croakers. THIS legis.
latiou answers to enemies at homo and
abroad all suspicion of hesitation or laying
down of arms. The rebels aud the world
without know that such powers imply en-
tire earnestness in the prosecution of the
war. These statutes place back of the ar
my and navy now in service, reserve
equal to every able1bodied man aud every
ship afloat. There are to be great battles
soon; at Tullahoma, at Vicksburg, at
Charleston. Those blows, VIC all trust,
may be decisive for the Union. Ii they
shall be, the moral force of this reserve
will hasten the day of substantial peace
1t disaster should occur, then that reserve
must be called into active service; and the
conflict must grow more desperate, but
more sweePiugly and more certainly tri.
umphaut than if sooner ended.
1t is grave trust to couide to auv
hands, this unlimited power of the sword
HGd the purse. For this year, the Presi
dent is absolute. Such powers entrusted
to some men would never be willingly laid
down. Yet NO one fcars harm to the pub.
lie liberties from the discretion beloved
upon Abraham Lincoln. Great powers are
given him to preserve the Union and main
tain the charter of all our rights; he will
not peryert those powers to any other Dur.
pose. Within the coming few months he
will have occasion to show how grea. is the
might of a Republic forged red-hot into
one dread bolt of war. Having ern.ber,
the rebellion, he will return to the pormSi
prerOgattves of his station, ready at the
expiration of his term to descend to the re-
pose of private citizen. The coucep,ra.
ton of power into the hands of the Ad-
ministratiOn ought to secure additional
energy aud psOmptitude of action, add
hence greater success in all operations.
Nor can policy adopted only in the crisis
of the Republic be drawn into precedent.
while assuredly no harm viii come to free
Institutions from ambition on the part of
Abraham Lincoln.