The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-05-26
BEDFORD, PA, FRIDAYMoRNING, MAY IS, 1865.

Guilty WIN ms cIYu olneels Ipey, suppose,
were better drilled than Harding's, and yielded
a prompt obedience
/ have heard of others similar in principle,
but cannot state them now, flor ] have prom
i5ed TO make these essays SHORTY reserve them
for future use, if need be- But the conclusion
is obvious, that if martial law do indeed prevail
here-it the military commandant may send his
orders to the courts of Justice. and enforce them
by the assistant process of Imprisonment, he
may do the same TO all other funciionaries of
the State. The members of the convention,
when they passed that famous resolution, thut,
no doubt, that martial law would continue to
be their servant; their tool in working out the
projected revolution of the State, not in govern
ment only, but also in population and property.
But when they find that they have gotten a
master IN place Of a servant, | opine that some
Of the members would be glad of an opportuni-
ty TO consider that resolution; but then it will
he too late. Imagine their ludicrou6 distress,
If some day, in the midst of a serious debate
upon the proper oath to be required of school
mistress, or some other great constitutional ques
ton, there should stalk into the hall a grim aid
or orderly, dressed in jack boots and long sword,
like the one that paid Col. Harding's comrli-
ments to Judge Tutt and deliver to Mr.. Presi-
dent hrekel billet, couched IN the language Of
Cromwell or BonaParte, thus:
''Conventioners II am the State Take a.
way that bau5e, and cease your babbEng about
human rights, and your clumsy efforts at con-
stitution-naking. Go!
''By order OF, &c, J. S., A. 4. A. c..
Col Krekel, President of the convention, is,
better provided for, as yet, than most OF hs
brethren, for his good services and abiding.
character have secured fer him the office Of u
nited States Judge Tor the Restern district of
Missouri, though he does not Ire in that dis
trict. When the convention shall adjourn, or
be annul.ed by martial law, the Colonel will
At once assume his new functions Of Judge, aud
will have great advantages over most new Judg-
os. lie hates conversation, and loves martial
law and the radical party, and, as Gel. Har-
dings command is within the western district,
Judge Krel.e may, from time so time, hope to
receive military orders, when to act and when
to tor6ear; and, possibly, may be furnished
with opinions 10 he delivered from the bench,
better than his own.
If there be in Missouri a man Of reputation
for probity and knowledge, who denies my po-
sitiun, that martial law is not law at all, wish
he would do il with his name attached. But
do not think there IS any such man. And this
point conceded, the second clause Of my prop
osition follows Of course, that is, ''whatevcr
may have been done under that pretence, con-
trary to the law of land, IS personal wrong
and punishable usnrnation.' So [ waste no
time on that.
have not overlooked the shameful fact that
tie convention did what ii could by way Of
ordinance, to insure impunity for past crimes
for themselves and their partisans who claimed
10 be eXecutionerS OF martial law | say them
selves, because one member in his place publicly
boasted that he had burned q woman's house
because, as lie said, sheharbored bushwbackers.
And, trusting, no doubt, in Il crime covering or
dinance, seemed to have no fear that he would
ever be called to answer for that arson And
/ am pleased to be able to believe that the or
dinanca is as important for protection as the de-
sign Of it was mischievous.
In my next number shall probably skip O.
yer my second and third propositions in order
to come more speedily to the fourth, which re-
lates to the convention and its revolutionary
character, EDWARD BATES.
81. Louis, April 3, 1865.