Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1863-06-22
WHOLE NO. 1850.
The President ON the Arrest OF val.
iaudfgham


We are indebted TO the courtesy Of the Presi-
dent of the United States for pamphlet copy Of
his reply to the resolution adopted at a meeting
held at Albany, New York. condemnatory of the
arrest OF VALLASDroHAx. Mr.. LIScoLN labors
ingeniously TO make the worse appear the better
reason in an attempt to justify the arrest and
Punishment of citizen whose only crime is the
sincere conviction that the policy Of the Admin
i<iraticn is not calculated to restore the Union
and maintain the Government as it came from its
founders The Cincinnati Enquirer thus reviews
the false positions of the President:
In this eistle the President informs us that Mr..
Vallandieham was not arrested for ress0n OF
words addressed TO public meeting in criticism
of the course of the Administration and in coDs
demnation of the military orders Of the General.
He says, if there other reason for the
rest, then | (fhe President) concede that tine ar
rest was wrong. IL seems, therefore. that the
President very graciouSlY allows people TO crit-
else bis Administration and condemn the orders
of bis Generals; but adds the President, the
arrest was made for different reasons Mr. VAL
landigham. saws the President, asows his hOstil
ity to the war on the part of the UDiOn, and his
arrest was made because be was laboring, with
effect. TO prevent the raising Of troops; to
encourage desertfons from the army, and TO leave
the rebellion without an adequate force 90 sup
press-it.
Mr.. vallandgham did not say one word that
the President charges him with uttering, except
that he was in favor Of stopping the war. Does
the Presid.nt deny the right of the people TO as
semble together and consult whether they will or
will not at the next election choose persons for
Office who are in favor Of putting end 20 the
war? Have they not n right to hear debate on
the momentous subjects upon which they are 10
votei How can they vote Alright unless they
well informedf Ii Is a new doctrine that IL
the people engage in they have not right
to meet and discuss the question whether il IS 90
be stopped OF 60 onf Did not President Lincoln
himself oppose the Mexican warf Did he not
vote even against supplies to carry il on in Con-
gressf If the people have not the right. if they
please to talk and vote for peace, then a
once engaged in would be eternal-would never
end. 1t is. indeed, singular that if the people,
through their public servants, commence a war.
they have not the right 90 elect other public
wants to end iti The people are the source Of
power in this country--they are the sovereigns,
and Mr.. Lincoln aud his agents are but their
agents; being sovereigns, the people can meet
and discuss all questions appertaning TO SOW
sreignty. sr
The President says he does not know whether
he should have ordered the arrest of Mr. Vallan-
digham. This, considering what he has done, is
rather, in our Judgment gratuitous and ungen-
erous fling at the General commanding in this
Department. for Mr.. Lincoln certainly adopted
the arrest as his own In regard 70 the point that
such arrests are unpopular and will have the ef
feet 10 divide and disturb the people. the Presi-
dent SAYS he regards that as "fair appeal, and
that it will afford him great pleasure TO discharge
him soon as he can by any means believe that
the public safety will not suffer by il. When the
President takes into consideration the manifesto
tons of public sentiment in the West, we presume
he will be satisfied upon that point immediate
", and allow the patriotic exile TO return home.
Mr.. Lincoln claims generally that IL he can
make arrests, through his agents, in localities
where rebellion actually exists, and where the
civil courts are suspended. he can make military
arrests in places remote from the insuuection,
where there is no rebellion, and where the courts
are open aud undisturbed. he claims that he can
arrest any and everybody he chooses by his arbi-
trary will and pleasure; and the only reason to
be assigned for it is, he believes that IL is demand
ed by the "public safety" This is a power
greater than is possessed by any King, or En-
peror, upon this earth. Under il, Mr.. Lincoln
could, if he saw fit, order every person in Cncin-
nati men, women and children, 70 be arrested
and shot; and il would be a sufficient justification
for him to saw that it demanded by the
"public safetyi"
The people. under this doctrine. have no liber-
ties; but hold them and their lives simply at the
pleasure of Mr.. Lincolnl The Constitution is
utterly swept away and annihilated. We sun
posed we had limited Government, but. under
Mr.. Lncoln's theory, there are no restrictions.
He can do anything he plesses, and the only
check upon him is bis ideas of public safety and
of necessity. This is no check at all. and the
doctrine would transform the President in.o
Emperor. 1t is no excuse to say that this abs0-
lutte power would not be abused by Mr. Lincoln.
This we do not know There is no guarantee,
except in coLfning the President &c the exercise
of powers clearly granted him by the Consiitu-
ton. His ideas of necessities must be guided by
what Is in that instrument. The people, IL they
desire to preserve their Liberties. must, at the
elections, vote down all who cherish such mon
strous and revolutionary doctrines. Let every
candidate be asked whether he thinks the Presi-
dent can, in tine Of war, do anything he chooses
TO regard necessity. without any other limita-
ton. at