Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-21
A MILITARY RESTRICTION.

take into consideration the propriety of recommend
Ing to the President the removal OF Major General
ii. w Haesk from the command In chief Of the
army, reconstruction Of the Cabinet, and the an
pointment to active duty in the field of those Gen
erals who are qualified for command, who arc iden-
tilted with freedom, end who enjoy the confidence
of the loyal people Of the United Ststs,"
On the day preceding that appointed for the as
sembling Of this meeting, Brig. Gen ]. w DAVID
SON, commanding In the ST. Louis military district,
issued an order TO the committee charged with
making The preliminary arrangements, sDjoining
that the meeting should not discuss the merits of
Major Geo. Hallock. He said
have to say that go much of the obI ct OF your
ing as refers 10 d 10 the President the dis
mssal of Major Gen. Haeck from The chief command Of
the army dsapproved bg M ss Military conmaudrr
d.scEsJioas on that day
1T Il not tie intention Of the military authorities 10 IN
teriere with The paceiu asssmba2es Of citizens for the
purpose ~ elaboration upon national aars Jxt those
1 cfa partisan character ,eia not be ps,miusd
You must r,fct, getem u, that IL in tsse times
The duty Of these who plain ches a. we'll as those
who wear uni orns support the ant and his az
| pointed agents
| Notwithstanding this military prohibition the
meeting was held, and the following resolutions, as
appears from the official account of the proceedings
were adopted, having been greeted on their reading
with "vehemept applause and cheers" from the
multitude present, "vaiiausly estimated at from
ten to twelve thousand persons"
Resotred, That regard 1t one of the paenable
rghs OF 1reemen 10 peaceaby assemble and petition the
Chi,f Executive for dress Of grievances believing his
to be the ouy proper er which wishes Of that
portion of the pc PIE which supports the policy of the
Government wi II, blood ard are find express
sion
Resolved That starring from these premises we deem
it proper 10 say that We believe that Gen f. Halieck
chief in command Of tho armies If United States
does not enjoy the COZ Of the people thereof; that
believe him to b. devoid u tss military tslent aribu
ted TO hin By some Incompetent or the past he flr,
and lukewarm supp rtr of that radc, policy of the
President Ia which alone for the
If the Union"
Nov, who supposes that Gen. Davidson acted |
discreetly in foib:ddipg these "radscal" Republi-
cans to meet for the purpose Of petitioniDg the
President to remove Major Gen. Halleck from the |
post he now holds? The folly of the interdict was
sufficiently demonstrated by Its inefhcacy, and by
the subsequent omission of tho General to punish |
the parties who ostentatiously disregarded his |
mandate. And who supposes that either the Pre-
sdent or Gen. Hslleck cherisbes any feelings of
gratitude to the military commandant Of the st
Louis district for his unwise and superserviceable
zeal in this matter' Or who, in reviewing the
proceedings of the meeting, is likely to find his
confidence in Gen. Halleck greatly shaken by this
demonstration?
The moral to be educed from such Piles is
easy, and it is this. that the Government may
safely tolerate the utterauce Of complaints or
criticisms on the part Of either radical Republicans
or radical Democrats than seek to repre- the one
or the other. Those who fall upon this rock of |
offence may be Only broken b it, but those upon
whom it shal fall are in dangerof being ground TO
powder.
But, while the right Of free discussion may be
properly asserted in TIE face equally of military
assumption on. The one hand or Of uuquestioning
se1v:lity the other it is cessary to give to
the exercise of this undoabted right the exaggera-
ton Of factious brayado of partisan violence 1t
was to be expected doubtless that the recent un-
fortunate arrest Of Mr. Vallandigham would be
discussed by many self-appointcd champions of
"free speech" in tempr partaking rather of
polidca! rancor against the Administration than Of
simple but resolute respect for law snd right And
in this fact We may 6nd the practical reason why
every true friend of the Government must deplore
the hasty and illegal proceedings of Gen. Burn.
side To this effect that judicious Republican
journal, the Boston Daily Advertiser, remarks as
follows:
"Gen. Burnside N tbs mater undoubtedly committed
tie error OF emitting to consdr that there some
evils for which tere cure. Ihs evils II such dis
course he compla # undoubted The spirit By
which it is inspired 10 malicious its tendency il bad and
as for the an WHO Dd,lses H. zen could always re-
ceive their ttr ct oesetsu this II zis nee term
The Dry TUrtugss might Indeed b. his tit pens
But Gen BuTasde hsd to outsider only the existence
OF the evil and bis patriotic desire reprsss r. but
also whether The process at bis command would repres
without opening the way to other evils quite serious
Tits the General does NOT 10 have but o his
omission ia The respect tho gene cur.e remark for
some da past NUT have reminded Lin very forcby If
aot dsagreeaby.
ave do refer to the legal question as to the
power under Which Gen Burnside acted Even we sup
pose the argument Z" be with him IN that particular il 10
still apparent that Vaiannigha If the men whose
e iuue is increased by auy interference uf tbs sort
His hsrangues are annoy itg msehev,us but RI may
be better IT, endure the annoyance II grra mischief
to be dune b. pfItisan his Uhe the att npt
is silence hun Aud that great mis- ehef would
CHAM, with ali III, hill in vicsion Could make an at
upon Gogernmsnt eff Give by h AZ those for
whc hi. AID ira by marital IN TIE St,t5 Il
Ohio haze given occasion Indeed G Burnside himself
10 have had prese1nent thar here was dspger
against which MT will guarded; in bis state
be anticipates this fculry by TIE remark hat
there Ia fear Of the people losing heir liberipsl
know that 10 he u cry Of degogues aud bu tn.
ignore will listen t. IT. Ihr non eltr y correct,