Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-22

as expressed in another provision Of that instru.
ment art 8, sec 8. The act suspending the writ
of habeas corpus sets out with flourish of words
and among other declarations it says, "and whereas
the Presidsnt has asked ~ the suspension OF the
writ and informed Congress Of conditions OF pub.
lie danger, which render the suspension OF the wrlt
measure proper for the public defence against M
vasi0n and .lnsurrection." In the act suspen0ng
the writ we find the following items in the bill OF
indictment therein in number eleven, which refers
directly to treason and of which the President has
no control directly either as Judge or jury. "Flrsf
of treason or reasonable efforts or combinations 70
subvert the government of the Confederate States.
Second of conspiracies' 20, overthrow the govern
ment or conspracies to resist the lawful authority
of the Confederate States. Third of combinations
to assist the enemy, or OF communicating !ntelil'
gence to the enemy, or giving them aid and COM
fort Fourth, of conspiraces, preparations and at
tempts to incte servie lnsurrectons Sixth OF spies
and other emissaries of the enemy. Seventh, OF
holding correspondence with the enemy without
necessity and without permission of the Gonfeder-
ate States Ninth of conspiracies or attempts TO
llberate prisoners Of war; held by the Confederate
States Tenth, of conspiracies OF attempts or pre-
parations to aid the enemy. Eleventh, OF persons
advising or melting others TO- abandon the Conied'
crate to resist the Confederate States or 70
adhere to their, enemies Twelfth, of unlawfully
burning, destroying or injuripg. or attempting to
injure, burn destroy any bridge or railroad, or
telegraph line other property with the Intent Oh
aiding the enemy. Thirteenth, Of reasonable de-
signs to impair the military power of the govern;
ment by destroying or attempting to destroy the
vessels or arms or munitions of war or arsenals,
foundres, workshops or other property OF the Con-
federate Ststes."f .r5- as.5{
But Of the thirteen items embraced in the bill Of
Indictment against the citizens Of the Confederate
States eleven are embraced under Art 8, Sec. 3, OF
the Constitution, defining treason over which Oon'
gress and the Courts have exclusive jurisdiction
And yet the law suspendng the writ Of ha6sas cor
pus transfers the whole matter into the hands Of the
President IN opeD palpabie and gross violation OF
the Constitution which declares "that treason
against the Confederate States consists only in levy
| ing war against them, sdherlng to their enemies
| and giving them aid and comfort" And that mo
person shall be- convicted Of treason unless upon
the testimony Of two witnesses to the same overt
act or on confession in open court, and that Con-
gress shall have power to declare the punlshnsnt
! of treason" &c. .., .a ,@..-s. -.;t,.. -. ..
Now, ask gentlemen to shsw me their authorl
ty for clothing the President and his Executive OH
GERS with such monstrous, dangerous and uncon
stitutional powers, as the act suspendng the writ
of habeas corpus delegates to him. Sir, 1t author
ICES him to arrest at pleasure immune in prison
and put to death any citizen in the Southern Con
federacy for treason.
In conclusion, desire to refer the whole matter
| to those who have been so hot in their haste tt
serve the King, and ask them. if they have not un
| Willingly inflicted mortal wound upon the Con
stitution, and who at the same time declared they
were representing 3isloyal constituency upon THU
| floor.