Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1863-03-25
What should be Done !


The New York Herald says :" the
President is now temporary Dictator :"
tells the Express, World, and Journal of
Commerce, that 90 it Is in vain to rant and
rave against the laws of Congress" and
asks them TO tell "plainly what they
mean. and what they wish" &c. To
this the E-z7reSs replies
We would = mean," if our meaning
could be statute law:
1st. Under State law according to the
State Constitutions, and all the precedents
under the Federal Constitution. 20 train
and have ready tie militia a the great
Central States of New York, New jersey,
Pennsylvania Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois,
which the Conscription bill has purposely
avoided doing for party purposes only be-
cause those States are Democratic.
No Democrats doubts-nay every one
urgcs-that the militia of the States
should be armed and trained and officered
and ready for military duty but the Fede-
eral Conscription bill steps in and stops
or destroys all that
Ist. In enrolling, under Federal provost
ma stals, all citizens from 30 20 10.
I'd. In organizing them, subject TO a
two years draft, to continue them, if
drafted. in the war for three years.
Sd. In IFS 24th and 10Th sections vest
inc the provost marshals with the power
ct summary arrests, and very extraordl-
nary powers OF punishment.
lth In lis 81 section, enabling the pro-
vost marshals. acting under the President 5
orders, 10 send off any consc;ipt, if he be
Democratic TO the swampS OF Florida or
LouiSiana-but If he be u Republican. TO
perform garrison duty on oar sea coast, or
TO perform provost marshal duty at home
"A policeman, merely, over lls fellow
Democratic NEIL
All such powers are not only the pow
ers of Il dictator. but of q desPot. The
State militia laws are all upset. The
State is left no men 10 organize and train.
Tie State Governors, State Majors Gene
rails and Brigadiers are ali ignored by the
ConScription act The ci;iz u. as citi-
zln of New York, New Jersey, or Ohio.
ceases TO exist, and becomes a subject ci
/ the President or his marshal under his
/ order to 90 just where, and TO into what
! company. that President or marshal
/ pleases-
Then the President has, in the @ In
! demnity act =
Ist The power of suSpcnding the ha-
/ B.aS corpus, when and where he pleases
! in States not '!in insurrectionary' ol
- rebellion as we'll as in rebellion
I'd. In that act, the fourth section, th'
power OF delegating ''arbitrary arrests ;
to any body he pleases-. constable any
where. or policemen, or an Abolition
neighbor, or negro, if he pleases-an,
this order from the President is sufli
cient defence, in any, court. by sPecla
plea. or under general issue.
Now, all this is not only dictatorship
but despotism-
The question is, will the Central State
including Connecticut, soon TO join tn
Democratic ranks, with their Governors
and State organizations, submit thus +
see the States nullified and abrogated. an
the right of man thus utterly trodde
under foot Will they submit TO tn
odious discrimination of the conscriptio
law-S3OO to buy off rich men, an
poverty alone to be subjected TO the cor
scription? We shall not answer this que:
ton. but leave every man OF good juds
, ment, to answer for himself.
We think that Governor Seymour,
: New York, Governor Parker, of Ne
: Jersey, and the to be elected Democrat
D Governor of Connecticut, should max
Y cases of this COnscription act for ii
courts to act upon, and if the courts d
: eide this MULTIPLICATION of States, STA
laws. and State Constitutions, as well
of the Federal Constitution, TO be Law
. beyond all question, they. and their pc
: pie. will submit to the courts
4 But, meanwhile, as the country m:
n not be able to wait for trial by courts, v
e earnestly advise.
II lst. Governor Seymour, of New or
TO send a message to the Legislature, su
" mitting his views TO that body, and aski
!. of President Lincoln, to make case
~ the courts-meanwhile New York, c
le ganizing, arming and drilling her militi
r TO be subject to Federal call, under I
Constitution OF the United States
A. ID. And at the Same time, We thin