The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-27


~&gW WT Aga
We Know No Party. but the
Party Of the Constitution.
Republican PrtOest Against
LincOIn's Doctrine of Arbi-
tary Military Power.
81 Tn the late debate 10 the House Of Repre-
s. sentatives at Washington on the Arkansas
N question, there were strong protests put in
g by Republican members against. gLiu-
coins schemes of making rotten bor-
oughs of the Southern States. Mr.
Boutwell,, of Massachusetts,, for instance
said: s,a- .a,.-sys 1>,
FF "There is neither power under the Con-
stitutiou, there is neither force in the ma
ton there is neither power in the Universe
s. in the absence of Divine interference, to
create the State of Arkansas and compel her
to take her place in the Union, to send
members to this House and Senators to the
other branch of Congress except with the
consent and will Of the people them
selves.
eNow what remains for us to do? To wait
till the people Of Arkansas, clothed and in
their right mind without 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 be
fore the Legislature and Executive depart
ments ofthe Government, and ask to be re-
placed as State with a constitution, and
admitted to all the rights of the several
States of this Union"
HENRY w INTER DAVIS. of Maryland, a
leading and bitter Republican, sal d.:
"Let me refer to the procama ion OF
Gen Banks. | refer to it because danger
Gus doctrines are gaining hold upon the
public mind, in my Judgment, touching the
foundations of the Republic No man has
greater regard for Gen. Banks than have
for shudder whenI find his proclamation
sunmoning the people of Louisiana to an
election under declaration that martial
law is the fundamental law Of the State of
Louisiana And here in this case what do
I'VE find? The Provost Marshal at Fort
Smith Arkansas issues this paper.
# This is to certify that Volney V. Miller
y is duly authorized Commissioner of Elec
tions in and for Sebastian County, tin the
State of Arkansas, and is duly authorized
Acting Commissioner in and for the Con-
gressional District of North western Ar
kansas, appointed as such Agents by the
Union Association of the State of Arkan-
sas.
"a Provost Marshal certihes that polit-
ical caucus, getting together in corner,
authorized man to erect a State In Ar
kansas If there were no other grounds,
Mr.. Speaker, would p~otest against re
ferring this paper to any committee
"Mr. Dawes-Let ME say to the gentle
man 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 gen
tleman has never been shocked thereat till
to-day. .r.
"Mr. Davis, of Maryland-The hegentlsman
from Massachusetts, does not perceive tae
point. 1t is not whether a law of a State
may prescribe one species Of certificate or
another but it is that it appears on the
face of the paper produced that the only
authentic certificate is that Of Provost
Marshal, the marshal of a camp the execu'
tive officer of military organization
That it is not the law Of Arkansas. And
he does not certify to the election, but be
certifs, to the fact that this man Milor
was appointed 'as such agent by the Ouion
Association Of the State of Arkansas Is
the Union Association State? Is at as a
bodu of men knoua to the la,cs Is aa Coz
ernmsnt? Isit any thing accepting caucus
collected together, sanctioned by the military
authorities, TO send members TO this House.
"Now, in reference toanother point made
by the gentleman from Massachusetts. l
respectfully say that military Govern
or is appointed under no law Of the U United
States; he has no assigned functions. 1t is
mere name created in an Office in Wash
ington, and given to man who is not
charged with any legal duties. A general
is known to the law, and has right to ex'
ctcse all over the rebel country within
he limits OF bis command, the authority
of a military commander; that is, to remove
traitors, to suppress violence, and to exer-
else the ordinary police powers in time Of
war. Beyond that he has no power. !" - -
This debate is noteworthy as bringing
out, in bold relief, the growing Gssatisiac-
tion with Mr.. Liucoln's plan in his sown
party. Received at first by that party
with acclamation aud eulogy, it has pro
voked dissent in proportion as it has been
examined, until the body of its defenders
grow small by degrees and beautifully
less ~ 4'- 2
The Baltimore Americans Charleston
letter of the 10th says: -e...e. .. ". 3 g..
GAs write there are two large fires in