Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1863-06-18
THE PRESIDENT ON VALLAN
sDIGHAM.
He Replies tothe Committee of New
York Democrats, who Demand VAL
landigham's Release. -

landigham's Release.
WASHINGTON. June 1.-THE Presi-
dents reply to the resolutions of the
public meeting held at Albany. n. ".
with regard to arbitrary arrests by mill
tary authority. and at the same time ex
pressing their det ermination to sustain
the Administration in lawful and consti-
tutional measures to suppress the rebell-
ion, is made public to day. It is quite
lengthy. but the following extract con.
corning Vallandigham's case, is the result
OF ths entire argument. Mr.. Lincoln in
referring to the resolutions. says:
The meeting indicate their opinion
that military arrests may be constitu-
tional n the States where rebellion actual
ly exists. but that such arrests are nm
constitutional in localities where rebellion
AMI insurrection does not actually exist
They insist that such arrests shall not be
made outside of the lines of necessary
military occupation and the scenes Of in
surrection.. Inasmucll. however. as the
Constitution itself makes no such dis
tnction, / am unable to believe that there
Is any such constitutional distinction -
concede that the class of arrests com
planned OF. can he constitutional only
when. in case OF rebellion or invasion,
the public safety may require them. and.
| insist that in sneh cases they are con.
stitntional whenever the public safety does
require them. as well in places to which
they may prevent the rebellion extending
as IN those where it NAV be already pic-
vailng; aswell where they may RESTRAIN
mischievo us interference with the raising
AMI supplying OF armies to suppress the
rebellion as where the rebellion may
actually be; as well where they may re-
strain the enticing men ont OF the army
as where TREY would prevent mutiny in
the army; and equally constitutional at
all places where they will conlu o to the
public safety os against the dangers of
rebellion or invasion, like the particular
case mentioned by the meeting. II is as
serted. IN substance. that Mr. V. was, by
military comman Ter, seiz.l anil tried
for no other reason than words a ilresse
to public meeting in criticism of tho
course of the Administration. AMI in con-
siemnation of the military orders of the
General. Now, if there be no mistake
about this, il this assertion is the truth
and the whole truth. if there was no 9th.
err reason Tor the arrest. then | conclude
the arrest was wrong; but the arrest | un-
dcrstand, was made for a very different
reason. NJ. Vatlaalish,m avows his
hostility tn the war On the part Of the
Union, and his arrest was male because he
was laboring with some etfe: to prevent
the cnlissinS Of troops, to encourage de-
sertien from the army, and to leave the
rebellion without an adequate military
force to suppress it. He was not arrested
because he was d,maging the political
prospects OF the Administration or the
personal interests of the commanding
General. but because he was endanseriny
the army, upon the existence AMI vi.or OF
which the life of the nation depends. He
was warning upon the military and this
gave The military constitutional iurislic-
ton to lay hands upon him. Ii Mr.. V.
was not damaging the military power of
the country. then his arre,t was male on
mistake, a fact which [ would lac Glad To
correct on responsible and Satisfactory
evidence. | understand the mcetin.
lopted resolutions in favor of the snp.
preston Of the rebellion by military force
and by armies. Long experience has
shown that armies cannot he maintained
unless deserton shall be pm ,i-hcI by the
severe penalty of death. The case re-
quiIes. and he law and tie Constitution
sanctions this punishment. Must shoot
simple minded sol Tier boy who deserts.
while [ must not touch hair OF willy
agitator who inlluces him to lcscr,?-
This is none the less ininfioas when effect
ed by getting father. or brother. or friend
iuto pnbljc meeting, AMI there working
upon his feelings till be is persuaded to
write the soldier by that he is fighting in
bal cause. an for weak Almnistra-
ton of a coatcmptibe Government, too
weak to arrest anil punish him il hs shall
desert. think that. in such case, to
silence the ngitator and save the boy is
not only constitutional, but, withal, a
great mercy.
After reviewing the Suspension of the
kaJeas corpus by Gen. Jackson. the Presi-
dent says:
"And ret, let me say that. in ms own
discretiua, do not know whether would
have ordered the arres. nf Vallandigham.
While / cannot shift the responsibility
from myself / hold that. as gene..-'
rule. the commander in the field is the
better judge of the necessity in any PAR
ticular case. Of course. must practice
general directory and revisory power in
the matter. One of the resolutions cx
presses the opinion Of the meeting that
arbitrary arrests will have the effect to
devidc and distract those who should DO
united in suppressing the rebellion. and
am specifically called on to discharge Mr..
yallandisham. | regard this act as at
least q fair appeal to me on the expedicn-
cy OF exercising constitutional power
which think exists. In response TO such
appeal. l have to say that it gave me great
pain when learned that Mr. V. had been
arrestel--tliat is. was PANIED that there
should have seemed to be necessity for
srresting him-anl that il will afford me
great pleasure to discharge him SO socn rs
I can BY any means believe the public
safety will not suffer by it."
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