Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-03-18


q bin has been Introduced IN the Confederate
house of representatives by Mr Barbsdale, Of
bTississinDi. 10 suthorizs the President TO sus-
De2d. during the present invasion Of the Con
feaa9a.e Ststas, the operation ot ths A9Tit OF
habsas corpus in any tcwH. city OF military
districs Whenever in his opinion, the public
safety may require IL bat thai spspension shall
Apply only to arrests nede by the Centsderate
g1vernment or fer ofenses against the same.
SIR Barksdale appeared very dssirous 10 have
the measure passed through at once, and for
tEat purpose he moved q sasP Pensi0a0 of the rules
ia rider 20 Eiaeo the bin on its passage. The
house refused 10 suspend snd the bin was refer
red 70 the Judiciary committee, where, we trust,
If may b8 allowed t1 rest during the remainder
Of the session.
We have never yet been able to see The ne
ceRitv Of investing the President with aut hOrity
which pisces the liberty Of every citizen in the
e0untTy within bis power. We live undsr a
goveTnment Of law, and up 70 the present time
tbsTe has been no insuTInountsble difficulties in
sbe rssY of the execution of all proper and nee
essary iaws. The civil, criminal and military
coles are comprehensive enough to embrace the
case Of every offender, and it they are not the
proper remedy Gees not lie in confsrTing addi-
doual power upon the President l. may be
said that Air. Davis is thoroughly upright and
patriotic, aud that he viii never abuse the power
confidsd to him. All this msy be true, yet 1t is
no reason why sweeping measure should BE-
adopted which places the liberty of every citizen
at t6s mercy OF single individual. However
much confidence may be Eep0ssd in the integ-
ritv o Presidea. Davis, theTe IS no necessity for
subvertng DE whole framework of our free in
stiuti0ns, and giving 70 him a power, which
were he SO disposed, could be exercised to crush
out sli who might venture to disagree with him
The Presldsnt already possesses the suthori-
tF Necessary 70 enable him As commander-in-
chief Of he army. and Chief Magistrate of the
country, TO control, in a great degree, the des-
tiuiss Of the Southern people. Hs could not do
more in their behalf if he was clothed with
greater prower, and We csnnot believe that be
bas called upon Congress for any such action
as is e1utem plated by the bill Of III. Barks-
dale
The Yankee Congress has passed q bill con.
ferrinr upon Lincoln authority to suspend
the operation OF she writ Of habeas corpus
as pleasure but that fact does not fUrn-
ish az Argument ia favor Of such sus-
pension by the Confederate Congress, II
Is Dsracly natural that the writ should be
suspended i1 the North, ss the constitutional
yore1unent tbere has given way TO tyranny,
and tyranny wil not tolerste anything which
ensures the freedom of those under it. We are,
or Breead 70 be, fghtiag for liberty and iade-
po6denca, and we cannot be too careful how we
surrender the ancient gugrantes Of freedom,
held sscred bothin England and America. The
first revolution, under Washington, was fought
through without an abrogetion Of the safeguards
Of the citiz u, and the people Of the Confederacy
would be justly proud could they say the same
hereafter ia regard 30 the present struggle. We
hops, tLerslors, that the Congress val deeply
and earnestly consider the question in ali IFS
BEARINGS before adopting a measure, the couu-
kernar Of one iustisdorse3 By the Yankee Con
giess - Montgomery dd5sFtisor.