Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-08

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| Remarks Of Hon. William A. Graham.
| .ees :. 10 OF aoRrH.cxRoLINA,
Dsliosred in tho Senate Of tho Contederate States,
Nay "a, 1864. -3f =
The resolution instructing the judiciary Commit
tee to inquire into tho expediency of reporting q
bill suspendng the writ of habeas corpus when the
present law suspendng the said writ shall have ex.
pircd was taken up. -
Mr.. Graham, of North Carolina proceeded to ex-
press bis views in opposition to the present law and
to give his reasons why, in his opinion another law
to the same effect should not be passed.
Mr.. Graham reviewed at leugth the present law
ana stated his Objection toit. 1t gave the Presi-
dent Secretary of War and the COMMANDING Gene.
raj west OF the Mississippi the authority to arrest
and ncarcerate but it was easy to show that though
this authority was by law, limited to these person
ages, IN TACT it was given to the military authorities
throughout the country. In proof of this he read
General order No. !, issued from the War Depart
ment Immediately after she passage of the law ans.
pending the writ of Aa6sas corpus.
In conclusion Mr.: Graham said be was opposed
to the law because it was vioative of the Constitu
ton and vloave of private right it interfered with
state legislation and was likely to excite dissatis
faction among the people. The passage of this law
mad touched nerve of exquisite sensibility. The
euoslons coming DIP to us from so many different
sources and different parts of the country were not
the clamor OF politicians, designed to put the ms
out and the outs in, but were the expression of the
genuine sentiment of the people. The people had
given their blood their treasure, their children, ev-
| erythlng to the cause, and they do not think any
emergency should require the sacrifice of their free
oom. Iney feel that with this power in tho hands
m ok,,o I,-f
other motive may have them at any moment cast
into prison without resort They do not feel that
1t Is necessary, for the purpose of arrestinp few
spies and dlsoyal men, to put every person between
the Potomac and the Rio Grande under feeling Of
| terror and apprehension. He might be asked what
ne would DO? Would he let spies pass through the
country, and disloyal persons and enemies inctnp
slaves to insurrecton and stirring up dissatisfac
ton? By no means. Military Commanders had
tne ght to arrest all such persons and put them in
prison. and II there were any good ground for their
arrest there was no danger Of their getting ont m
writ Of .Aabeas co,pus Generals should take the
responsibility Of such arrests and he (Mr. Graham)
~oolo 60 as lar as any one in passing bill of in
demhity TO protect Generals who, by mistake or
sons P
Inc feeling Of apprehension produced BY this law
should be removed from the people of the country
Ine PEOPLE should be talked to with reason md
,noaera6ion. he did not aude to spies or traitors
But II Congress would explain to the neonle of av'
cry section Of country in which there might be dis
satlstaction' that everything that was being done
was ior tne puoilc interest it would receive their
coroiai support Cancellation with our neonIe was
better than force and terror The peone If the
Sootn were proud and sensitive people, and thew
know that those high in authority derived the;,
powers from them. When thew hear Of =. law Of
TINS sort they say, "what have done that such a
Ia" should be necessary" If was told them. ut
was not intended for you;" 81 don't know that"
IHey leP'y' some spy or informer or other evil
aispcsed person may lodge information which will
cause my arrest and Imprisonment without remedy |
under this law" ~N9
ou. Tue greatest objection to the law was the com.
lott IL gave to the enemy. Southern emissaries
m'gnt 60 North and explain that we were united
people ana all that; but Mr. Seward will tell them
that tnls IS all false; that when they see such strn
gent measures enacted to arrest persons, merely |
upon suspicion, our government can have no hold |
upon the affections of the people, the peope are in
such condition that they (the Yankees) have oniv
70 perSeVere little while to ensure = triumph.
lnls law not only produces dependency and DESPAIR
IN our own people, but it animates and cheers our
enemies. w.
Mr.: Graham then spoke of North Carolina. If
any one supposed that anything in the condition of
tnat state had at any time called for the passage of
this law, that opinion was, in his belief erroneous
When Lincoln, by his proclamation, had declared
Mar, sne saia there was no neutrality for her. She
Threw herself heart and SOUL into the contest and
IN the manner IN which she had borne herself in
her contribution to the cause in men and means 10 the
valor OF her sons on every battle field she we'll might
challenge comparison with any State in the Confed-
eracy tie had learned from the Adiutant General
OF Norsh Carolina that that State had contributed
t. the war nnety-seven thousand eight hundred and
elghty SIX men, besides two regiments the muster
rolls OF which had not been received OF this num-
Der there were now fifty thousand in the field.
W hen General Lee began the fight in the Wilder
ness Win that army which was the admiration of
the world, onehalf of them were North Carolin,ans
he knew not what was the number now. reduced
oy the dead who were under the sod, and the woun.
ded in the hospitals "'NN
Alter some further remarks, Mr. Graham said he
naa thought II necessary to express his views on
TINS law because it had come before the Senate in
TWO fortns-the bill to provide compensation to a
appointed under the law and the res
oiutlon now under discussion He did not think
announcer law to suspend the writ either necessary or
exponent lie was not prepared to say that be was
content that the present law should remain 10 force
until it expired by limitation. He thought the bur-
cen imposed by it on the necks of the people should
be withdrawn; yet if a bill properly guarded sus.
pending the writ of habeas corpus should be brought
be did not know that he should withhold
his vote. "A'D"o'o
For the Standard.
conservative Meeting in Johnston.
In pursuance of previous notice portion of the
conservative citizens Of Johnston county assembled
at the Court House in Smithfeld on the asth ;nst