Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-02-19
TIVE WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS.
PASSAGE OF TIE BILL TO SUSPEND THE PRIV
LEGE THEREOF IN CERTAIN OAsAs.

The following bill was passed by Congress in secret
ssssion and the injunction Of secresy having oeen re-
moved. We are at lb.rty to give il publicity;
RuI tn S.,psnI The Privilege of the Wrif Of RsSSo'
Corpus ~ certain Case'.
"Whersas, the Constitution of the Confederate . Ates
~ America proydes in Article /, Section ., Paragraph
that the privilege of the writ OF AG6'dI 'orpsi snah
not be suspended unless when in case OF reoeioh CT
INVASION the public safety may require /; aho
- +bo no-er of suspendinE the privilege Of writ,
AZ recognized in said Article l. is veste! solely Ia inc
Cop1ress which is the exclusive judge OF the necessity
of scb suspepsioD and whereas ia the opinion oil the
Congress- the public safety rtq1hes the suspension o.
sad writ in the existing case OF the INVASION Oi
states. and whereas the President has Siked Tor the
ssnepson of the writ of hd6sdS corpus and informed
OopRress of conditions of public danger Wh'sl render
an. suspepsion Of the writ measure proper ior INC
publc defense against iGvasOn and nsurectoni now
therefore,
GIGs COngr.ss of the Confederate Stat" Of America
do enact That during tho present invasion OF the Ooh
Federate Saes the privilege o. the writ OF hGosa' cor
puJ be- and the same is hereby, suspended; out suon
sn,nsnson 1ha apply only to the cases OF persons ar
rssIcd or detained by order OF the PRESIDENT Secretary
of War or the General 0hicer commanding the IIAns
Kssisappi Military Department BY tie au'horly, anu
u,der the control of the President 1t IS hereby de-
csred that the purpose of Congress in the passage
his ACT ia to provide more efootualy for the pubic
ETY. by suspending the writ OF haosa' corpus III tne
following cases and no other:
Il Oftreason or treAsoDable Efforts or combinations
n subyert the government Of the Confederate states
al OF conspracies to overthrow the government. OF
TO resist the Lawful authority OF tue Zoe
fe6erate States.
"III. OF combining to as iSs the enemy, or OF com.
municaii intelligence to the enemy, or girpg MIN aIo
and comfort. J..
"IV. OF conspi Gcies, preparations anu auemP's "
incite serVle instruction.
~ of assertions or enoou aging deserionS, Of har
boring deserters and of attempts TO avoid military ser
vice PrsvidsI Tnat in case OF palpabli wrong ana
oppression by auy subordinate officer upon any party
Who does not legally eve military SERVICE bis superior
officer shall grant prompt relief to the oPpre'sse PAfI
and the subordinate thLl be dismissed from oti,e'
"VI. OF spies and other emiSsaries OF the enemy.
GaHVII OF holding correspondence or intercourse win
the enemy without necessity, aud without the Permis
sion of the Confederate States.
"VIII OF unlawful trading with the enemy, and 9TH
er offences against the laws Of the Confederate Safes
enacted to promote their success III the war.
GIX OF conspiracies Sttempts to lberate prison
ers of war held by the Confederate Safes.
''X Of couspracies, attempts or preparations to
aid the enemy.
"Xf OF persons advising or melting others to Aban-
don the Confederate cause or to resist the Ooneoerae
States or to adhere to the enemy.
GXII OF uulawfuly burning destroying or ipJuring,
or attempting to burn destroy or inure any bridge OF
railroad or telegraphc line of communication, or pro-
perty, with the intent of aiding the enemy.
"XIII OF reasonable designs TO impair the military
power Of the Government. BY destroying, or attempting
20 destroy the vessels arms, or munitions OF war; or
arsena Oundrie5 workshops, or other property Oh inc
Confederate States.
Sec. 2 The President shall cause proper officers to
investigate the cases Of all persons so arrested or &C.
tanned, in order that they may be DISCHARGED IL I'm
properly detained unless they be speedily tried in
the due course Of law.
"Sec 8. That during the suspension aforesAid, no
mituy or other oaicer shall be compelled, IN answer
to any writ of 6GbsaS esrpS to appear in person. or 70
return the body of any person or persons detained o
him by the authority Of the President, Secretary Of
War or the General cncer commanding the Trans-As-
sssjppi Department; but upon the Certificate, under
OATH of the officer having charge of any one 20 de-
tanned that such person destined by him as prisoner
for any of the herein before spech under the
authority aforesaid further proceedings under the "ft
Of Aa5saS corpus shall immed ately cease and remain
suspended SO long as this &C: shall continue In force
''Sec T. This act shall continue in force Tor ninety
DAYS after the next meeting Of Congress, and 10
q r