Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-13
strong and Patriotic views.

e sss efucte ON the euolect Of Constitutional lib
ersy, from which we make the following extracts
These views Of the EsamiAer meet our Hearty ap-
proyal. They are based on the bill INTRODUCED By
Mr. Miles to put every able. bodied man in the army
except such as the Secretary Of War may think
proper to detail for the ordinary pursuits of live
The Esaniner says, whether the propounder Of
this bill really understood its Specification may be
doubted. His remarks in support of it betrayed an
incapacity for the business Of Legislation really pit
liable. 1t is mo'e than probable that he 10 the wit
less Instrument Of more ar.uy and soorss intention
ed men," Mr.. Miles admitted in the debate which
followed the introduction of the DILL that the Pres
deat us too fond of pososr." This would indicatJa
that be has some faint glimmerings of the purposes
Of those who are using him as an instrument to
strangie liberty and enslave and ruin the country.
The Nrasniner says: - -
snow, the liberty Of free State has three bull.
warks:
lst A Legislative department Of government
responsible to the people, created BY their free
choice. IT,, r.s,,<.-..
I'd. An Independent judiciary.
I'D. free press.
So long as these three things exist in any coun-
try, its inhabitants are freemen Wherever they
do not exist the inhabitants really slaves, and
each may become the victim of arbitrary, irrespon-
sible power, at any moment when the occupants Of
certain plaees-whatever the titles-may find
motive to exercise it Neither one Of the three has
existed does exist or can long exist where the de-
struction of the other two has been accomplished.
Each lives with the life Of the other, As we might
easily demonstrate beyond the possibility of cayil,
if we supposed such an absence of reflection in the
reader that might render such, demonstration any
thing better than waste of words and time We
have preserved perfect all these offences of lawful
liberty SO far. But two of them at least, are OBJ.
liberated if the propositions of Phelan to the Sen.
ate and Miles to the House, are framed into the
form of laws.
One OF these men proposes the suspension of the
legal process called "habeas corpus" What is "ha
6eds corpus" When's man has been thrown into
prison without process of law, Judge may order
that he shall be brought before him, and may ex.
anime she pretense on which he has been imprisoned
Ii there Is neither charge evidence of an offence
against the law, the judge may restore the msnho
his liberty If there is such ground for bis arrest
he shall order his trial 1t is process to prevent
those who have the brute force from seizing and
shutting up their fellow-ctizens on their lxwless
caprces to attain their private ends If Congress
suspends the writ of habeas corpus the agents Of the
Executive have the power to seize and imprison, in
definitely, Whomsoever it directs ard no power ina
this couatry can either deliver them or as certain the
cause of their bondage. The judiciary then becomes
nullty, so far as the public liberty is concerned
Mr.. Miles bill is not bill to diminish the number
ofexemptsfrom military servce-tsa bill to increase
their number Indefinitely, aud to change the prin-
clpe OF exemption from benefit of the nation, into
the interest Of the place holders Instead of mi.
ted exemption, for definite cause. under law
framed by legislators responsible to the country,
here is an unlimited exemption by favor, dependent
on the irresponsible will of Mr. Davis, of the most
subservient Of all his servants, and Of such other
Office holders as those two may choose to delegate
this most enormous, searching. and far reaching of
all means ever invented for altering constitution
al government into a despotis,n The amount of
bribery, fraud savishness and malicious oppression
which such law would introduce into this land;
the confusion in the social system the subvers;on
of all ideas of duty and right which it would i'm
medlately OCCASION must be evident To persons less
innocent than Mr.. Miles. 1t would be difficult to
state all its consequences in paragraph. Happily,
it is not necessary now to do more than allude to
them. Happily, yonder man from Wheeling is not
the only Representative from Virginia; and one of
her legitimate sons developed yesterday, II the
House, the purport and effect of this proposition,
with fearless reason and comprehensive visw. Our
purpose in abiding to it here, is to point out one
direct particular effect which this bill. must have
when passed-the extinction of free press. An
Independent or free newspaper cannot exist one day
must then 60 to Seldom or sape local underssapper
: fol. the exemption Of their hands =
Some publishers will doubtless be received with
many smiles and prompt acquiesceace in their
demands; but others with gloomy frown-and all
9th an intimation, more or less blunt that they
must refrain from criticism any person or persons
holding office; that, on the contrary, they must
exalt the individual who permits them to live that
they must advocate every measure the government
tavours, and denou0ce, defame and revlle every
public man who dares to doubt its expedency that
they must represent public events according to
order, and not they are in short that they must
cease to be sources Of information to the country,
and become instruments for deceiving the country
that they must lie fatter, fawn, cover % corrup.
ton and help usurpation to its goal If they are
willing to Do these things, then their workmen are
exempt If they are not wiling their workmen shall
not be exempted. If they depart from their com.
pact an enrolling officer will notify them of their
journals death. Here is one plain, straight effect
OF this bill. 1t abrogates the freedom of the public
press Il reduces the press Of the Southern States
toa condition lower than that of France, to the
ievefof Russia and Austria This is but oneamone
many similar effects which such law will have
the ignorant and the dull may think, the least con-
sequence-but it will be found one of the most i'm
portant steps in the establishment of rule, which
the Southern people will hate and overthrow, even
If they bury themselves in the ruins. Despotic
government is strong for the public defence only
among nations to whom it is natural. It answers
that purpose in. Russia in Austria in France; but
we are not Russians, nor Austrisns, nor French
We belong to race which will not put forth their
strength under such a system, but always against
1t, because abherrent and odious to their nature"
The administration presses Of this State, and
among them the Wilmington journal, are prepar-
ing the minds of the people for the suspension of
Aa6sas corpus and The consequent abrogaton of civil
law. The conductors Of these presses are the ab-
ect of slaves Of power and would submit to morrow
to the passage Of law by Congress investing Presi
dent Davis with supreme power over the lives and
property of Cur peol|es ITO what base uses may