The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1864-03-24

GenN:nen:-I will join the Democrat
ic party if any person will show me that
Congress or the President has done any
thing unconstitutional in carrying on the
present war. In a time of peace the
military power is subordinate to the civ
il power, and cannot encroech upon it in
any way whatever. A civil officer may
command military officers to do certain
things, and they must obey. In times of
! peace military officers cannot, under any
circumstances, deprive man of his prop.
erty, liberty or life; and civil officer
cannot do it without due process of law.
But in time of war all this is altered,
for then the civil power is subordinate to
the military power, and cannot interfere
with it in any way vhs.ever. In time
of war all military officers have right to
do vast amount Of things which il:
would be crime for them to do in :
time Of peace. The Presiden. is COM
handler in Chief, and al! military officers
are under bis control, and 10 all cases
must obey his commands, whatever they
may be. All military officers, if not for.
hidden by some superior officer, have a
right to do, in their districts, everything
which they think is best calculated to
subdue the enemies Of their country. l
will mention some things which they can
do, in order to illustrate how much great.
er their power is 10 time of war than 10
a time peace They can establish mar
tial law in the whole or part of their
districts, and can suspend the habeas
corpus act, as Jackson did at New Orleans,
and Congress justified him in doing it; or
they can lay fines, without law or jury,
upon persons who they think are enemies
to their country, as has been done in St.
Louis, New Orleans and many other
places; or they can command individuals,
without trial, to leave their districts.
They can also seize aud retain any man,
p.erorty if thay coo ct, thoy con teko
mans slaves and set them at liberty, or
can seize and continc any person who
they suppose is an enemy to his country.
They can also burn cities, tear up rail
roads, and destroy any property which
they think will strengthen the enemy.
They do all this just when and where
they see fit, and without any process
whatever. Surely they have not right
to do any Of these things in time of
peace, and for this reason fools suppose
that they have not right to do them in
a time OF war. But there are other things
of vastly more Importance which all mill
tary officers have right to do in a time
of war They have right to wound
and kill men by the thousands, whencv
er they please, and frequently do do it
Probably 100000 individuals have beer
put to death during this present war
I without trial by judge or Jury; for war i
an appeal from law 20 violence, and Law
|" has nothing to do with it, When per
son is attacked be has right to do an
thing he pleases in defence of his life, an
q so has nation, though they must do
@ under the direction of military officers
r The President, as Commander-in Chic
q is bound by his oath to do whatever
Il thinks will best serve t. put down th
o rebellion, and every other military con
8 mander is bound 20 do the same, only h
$ must obey the orders Of superior
q What then has tho President or any oil
a or person done in this war which IS un
q constitutional: Have not military of
GERS right to do many things in tin
!. Of war which would be extremely unlav
- full in time of peace? Show me the
Q that the President or Congress have VII
- lated the ConsGtnt;an, IN anv narticnla
). III NJ B. c.