Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1863-09-24
Suspension OF the writ Of Habe-
nS COrnuS.

LINcoLs has issued proclamation suspcnding |
the writ of habeas corpus throughout the United
States, ''in cases whereby the authority OF the
President of the United States, military, naval
and civil officers of the United States or any of
them, hold persons under their command or in
their custody, either ne prisoners of war; spies
or aiders and abettors of the enemy, CT officers
soldiers or seamen enrolled, drafted, mas.
tered or enlisted in, or belonging to the land
or naval forces Of the United States, OF desert
ers therefrom, or Otherwise amenable to mill
tary rules and regulations prescribed for the
military or naval services, by the authority of
the President of the United States, or for resist
ing the draft, for any other offense against h e
military or naval service"
The habeas corpus guards the freedom of every
person in the land. II protects every home. 1t
is the shield of law gainst tyranny Concen.
tired in 1t are the spirit of the age and the pro.
gress of freedom. 1t Is holy.
Not for light causes or on false pretenccs
should it be stricken down. What is the pre-.
tence for its suspension' That The public sarc
ty requires IL. This is the only prctenco which
can be given. because it is the only reason for
which under the Constitution, the habeas corpus.
may be suspended.
The pretence is false. One fact will demon.
sratc its falsity. Our recent victories have, as
is assorted by the administration and its party,
insured the suppression of the rebellion.
In the insurgent States military has superse.
ded the civil law with In the lines of our armies
Its suspension In those States was an act of su.
pererogation. II must, therefore, have been
suspended because of the effect it would procure
in the loyal States.
Its suspension charged these States with re.
bellion. As they are not invaded, and the Con-
stitutional provision authorizing suspension in
case Of invasion will not apply, they must be
charged with rebellion to warrant the Suspension
Of the writ. Tho Constitution did not contem.
plate its suspension in States obedent to law
because of rebelli on in other States.
1t is beyond human ingenuity to justify it's sus
pension where law can be enforced The ad
ministration dare not assert that law car not b,
enforced in every one of The loyal States.
Its suspension Is blunder or crime
|
people their last appeal, save revolution, agains
an A Administration they condemn. 1t is intended
by 1t to suppress the freedom Of speech and o
the press. II is intended to control the cec
tons, and. by despotsm, to perpetute the powe
of the Administration lie who suspended i
has neither the capacity to conceive or the cour
age to execute such crime. He Is the instru
ment of 'onspirators who play with the interest
and life of the nation and the liberties of thu
people for their own aggrandizement
The suspension was the result Of conspiracy
Tho nation had no notice, no intimation of an,
such action. 1t was not demanded by the pres.
PEELED the suspension hoped to intimidate thu
people. They hoped to check the freedom o
discussion IN Ohio. which is working might,
yet peaceful revolution. We do not believe tn,
people will be intimidated. any more than W.
believe the conspirrtors will dare resort to force
when they find menace unavailing.
}, A very few days will determine whether thu
suspension is to be used rs an engine of part
sanship. or whether it will be confined to its pro
fesscd object 1t may be the precursor Of
stringent and sweeping conscription. 1t may b.
intended as a test to try the submissivcness o
the people. Its torms are so general, and IL j
capable of such extended application, that onl.
It's authors-for 1t had more than one-knov
what was intended, and heaven only knows wha
will be its practical operation.