The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-03-10
Stanton's Report on Arbitrary Arrests

Secretary Slanton's report TO Congress on
arbitrary arrests Is q remarkable docum mt. 1t
is official, and part of the history Of this war.
There is nothing alarming now. The people
cannot be alarmed. They would have no fears
for their liberties, were Mr.. Lincoln to declare
himself Dictator for life, by proclamation, back
ed by Congress and al! the State Legislatures.
But it may be admitted that the official report
| of the Secretary OF War upon arbitrary arrests,
and the manner in which the President has
used the extraordinary powers conhded to him
by the Constitution, in case of insurrection,
presents some remarkable facts touching re-
uarkable transactions.
| Mr.. Stanton informs US that many of the ar
bitrary arrests have been made by the Cover
nurs of States and proves ma~shals without
any orders from or knowledge Ut the President
| This is remarkabe-not alarming at ali-but
| it is remarkable. The said Governors and Pro-
/ vos undoubtedly got their authority from the
extraordinary powers conferred by the Consti-
tuition in case Of insuTecton' 80 sex
traordinary" that ordinary people have been un-
able to discover them in the Constitution, or to
comprehend them as principles at all consistent
wilh a republican form Of government, having
three distinct aud independent branches, one Of
which is the Judiciary But times have chang
ell Of laie, and we suppose that, under these
| ''extraOr,Inary' powers OF the Constitution,
presidents and pootmaSters. proves and press
gaiIgs, may arrest and lmprison any citizen at
pleasure, without even the fornahty OF law
Mr.. Stanton says that among other arbitrary
orders, under the new aud ''extra0rijnary'
powers measures were taken TO prevent the use
of the pustoifice for reasonable correspondence
Tins is another remarkable use of even "extra-
ordinary constitutional powers To know what
was reasonable necessitated the examination of
all correspondence-all letters; and this GER
tainIy would be a very marked use of exfraor-
dinary power. Tie poStoffice, it Is presumed
is sacred to all correspondence. We recuIIecr
a case that occurred in This city, when the Hon
Gideon WeIles was Postmaster. Offers were
on the track of Il criminal. They watched lis
wIfe or mistress, and discovered that she drop,
ped letter into the postuti;ce, They mmedi-
ateIy went into the office, and demanded the
privilege of 10 Iking at that letter and to open
it, for the purpose of discovering where the
criminal was Mr. Welies cOolly replied that
the pustofice was as sacred 10 criminals as to
anybody-no letters could be examined in that
office, except by persons to whom they were
directed, that to break over this rule would bt
to destroy the privacy Of correspoEdence and
that it would be as great crime to open tht
letter Of that criminal as it would be to oper
the letter of any merchant in the town. The
law made no discrimination, but provided fol
the punishment of any one who should open a
letter, or ry into It's secTets--no matter wht
might direct the letter, nor 10 whom il was d.
rected He wonid noj permit the officers ever
to look at the letter. His decision was right
for the moment that he had assumed that one
letter was for criminal, and permitted it t.
lie examined, he might also decide that any
other letter contained matter OF evidence rela
tive t. crime; aud al letters would thns be sub
jecl 10 lis Inspection or the prying curiosity o
any constable of the town. But, beyond this
the laws make no discrimination, proteciin.
''the secrets of all letters, whether from Grim
inals or good citizens. But this sound law an,
correct principle have been abandoned unde
the extraordinary assumption of extraoFdinar.
powers
But there is now a remarkable concession
The Secretary of War informs tho public tha
''extra0rlinary" arrests hereafter are to b
made only 10y the military authorities. TIL
executive department of the government give
notice to The Judicial department that it ma,
step aside when the military ppear.-Hartjo1,
Times.