The Cadiz Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1854-1864, 1864-03-02
Rcpubiican, Protests Against
LincOln's Doctrines OF Arbi-
trurY Military Power. f-5sl

trary Military POwer. DISCS
In the late debate in the House of
Representatives at Washington on the
Arkansas question, there were strong
protests put in by Republican members
against Lincoln's schemes of making
rotten boroughs of the Southern
States. Nh. Boutwell,, of Massachu-
sets, for instance, said: .s... .g
There is neither power under the
Constitution, there is neither force in
the nation, there is neither power in
the Universe, in the absence of Divine
interference, to create the State of
Arkansas and compel her to take her
place in this Union, to send members
to this House and Senators to the
other branch of Congress, EXCEPT
WITH THE CONSENT AND WILL OF THE
PEOPLE THEMSELVES. . ...s...g. -,..
| 4 Il
"Now what remains for us to do?-
To WAIT till the people of Arkansas,
clothed and in their right mind, with,
out the exercise of Military force,
WITHOUT COERCION, BY NUMBERS SO
GREAT AS TO GIVE ASSURANCE THAT
THEY WILL REMAIN LOYAL TO THE
UNION, shall appear before the Leg
islative and Executive Departments
Of the Government, and ask to- be re-
placed as State with Constitution,
and admitted to all the rights of the
several States Of this Union.
Henry Winter Davis. of Maryland,
a leading and bitter Republican, said:
.'Let me refer to the proclamation
of General Banks. l refer to it, be-
cause dangerous doctrines are gaining
hold upon the public mind, in my
Judgment, touching the foundations Of
the Republic. No man has greater
regard for General Banks than I have;
for 1 shudder when l find his procla-
nation summening tue people Of Lou
islsua to an'election under a declara-
ton that martial law is the fundamena
tai law of the State Of Louisiana
And here in this case what do we fad?
The Provost Marshal at Fort Smith,
Arkansas, issues this paper: "-.-
"This is to certify that Volney V.
Nlilor is duly authorized Commits
sioner of Elections in and for Sebas,
tian county, in the State of Arkansas,
and is duly authorized Acting Com
missioner in and for the Congressional
District of Northwestern Arkansas,
appointed as such Agent by the Union
Association of the State of Arkansas.
GA Provost Marshal cer55iiics that
political caucus, getting together in a
corner, authorized a man to erect a
State in Arkansas! IF there were no
other grounds, Mr.. Speaker, / would
protest against referring this paper to
any committee.
'Mr. Dawes-Let me say to the
gentleman from Maryland that the
certificates of all the Representatives
from Virginia, for the last fifty years,
have been signed by Commissioner
of Elections, and the gentleman has
never been shocked thereat till to-day,
"Mr. Davis, of Maryland-The
gentleman from Massachusetts does
not perceive the point, 1t is not
whether law Of State may pre-
scribe one species of certificate or an
other, but it is that it appears ON the
face Of the paper produced that the
only authentic certificate is that Of a
Provost Marshal, the marshal Of a
camp, the executive officer of mill
tary organization! That is not the
law of Arkansas. And he does not
certify to the election, but he certifes
to the fact that this man bfilor was
appointed 'as such agent by the Union
Association of the State of Arkansas
Is the Union Association State?-
Is 1T A BODY OF MEN KNOW TO THE
LAW? Is it a GOVERNMENT? Is it
anything excepting a CAUCUS collected
together, sanctioned by the military
authorities, to send members to this
House? Sr.a., ..+ sI... ~T.. ..t.a
CHOW, in reference to another point
made by the gentleman from Massa>
chusetts. I respectfully say that a
Military Governor is appointed un-
der no law of the United States; he
has no assigned functions. 1t is a
mere name created in an office in
Washington, and given to man who
is not charged with any legal duties.
A general is knoYn to the law, and
has rigl1 to exercise all over the
rebel country, within the limits Of his
command, the authority ola military
commander; that is, toremove traitors,
to osupprcss violence, and to exercise
the ordinary police powers in time of
war. Beyond that he has no power.
This debate is noteworthy as bring
ing out, in bold relief, the growing
dissatisfaction with Mr.. Lincoln's
plan in his own party. Received at
first by that party with aeclamation
and eulogy, it has provoked dissent in
proportion as it has been examined,
until the body ofiits defenders "grows
small by degrees and beautifully less. .
ce aoiI-- - s-----77 7-+- a mol
pitch ln."
Wilkes Spirit, the jockey paper of
New York, which has been so-long