The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-20
Arms a md ta,e Law.

Arms ind the Law.
At the canedssession of Congress,
in 1861, the following resolution was
offered in the, Senate by Andrew
johnson, and pressed upon the body
until adopted:
! sResolved by tie Senate, That the
present deplorable civil war has been
forced upon the country by the dis
unionists of the Southern States, now
| IN arms against the constitutional
government, and in arms around the
capital; that in this national emer-
gency, Congress, banishing all feel
lngs OF mere passion Or res 1tment,
will recollect only it's duly to the
whole country; that this war is not
waged on their part i'll any spirit of
oppression, or for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugation, OF purpose of
overthrowing or interfering with the
rights or established institutions of
those States, bit 10 defe,aa and mcin-
tain the supremacy Of Me Constitution,
and to preserce the Uaion, with all the
dignity, equality, and rights of the
several States unimpaired; and that
as soon as these objects are accom-
plished the war ought to cease
The italicised words of this resolu-
ton define the object for which the
military power of the Union was call
ed into requisition, and the terminus
at which it ought, in the opinion Of
Mr.. johnson, to be laid down. The
PRESIDENT has so often declared that
he stands by his antecedents, that it
would be doing him injustice to sup
pose he intends to abjure an opinion
expressed in a manner SO formal, with
an emphasis SO solemn, and having
such direct relation to the particular
stage IN our affairs at which he be-
came the chief actor. No one can
doubt that the supremacy of the Con-
s:itutlon has been maintained, and
that the Union has been preserved.
The war has accomplished all that was
held to be legitimate in its initiation
and prosecution. It has ended. Is
there occasion to keep agencies in
force that belong only to a state of
war? Is there propriety or policy in
such course; or any authority Of law
for it ?
The law of Congress authorizing
the suspension Of the writ of Ha5eos
CorDtS, and the enforcement Of may
tial law, conferred such power only
during the existing rebellion" Is
there any rebellion" now in exist
encc? Rebellion" means violent re-
slstance to lawful authority. Who is
making such resistance? -Four months
ago, (1cth Of May the President, in
an Official proclamation, declared that
armed resistance" was ''yirtually at
an end. Never since then, if we re-
member rightly, has hostile gun
been tired. The war has long been
not only virtually but actually, at an
end-at an end morally and political
ly as well as physically. We are not
surprised, therefore, al the intima-
tion, from Washington, that a procla-
nation Is soon to be issued restoring
the privilege Of the writ of Hubeos
Corpus. The Presidents regard for
law, we doubt not, makes him feel
this to be duty-a duty which his
knowledge that it may be done safely.
and With good effect, makes a plea
sure We persuade ourselves that
such ? step VIII be followed by the re-
moyal OF all military forces not ne
,essary Gas subordinate to civil au-
Ihorlty) to perform police duties
Riczmohd Why.
A MEETTNG