Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-19

Hon. Edward Bates, attorney general :or sew
eral gears in Mr. Lincon's eabines, is out in
series of letters in The Missouri Democrat, Sc
vereiy crticising the action of the Missouri
convention. His second letter is lengthy and
able discussion of martial law. which said con
vention declared 10 Oe iu free, and expressed
desire that il should remain in force. We can
not publish the whole letter, but the fol
wing extracts will show the aninus OF the
whole:
But there are some members OF that body who
ough, TO know, and do know, that martial law
(as contrsdistipguished from the law of the land)
is simply no law at all; that il s neither more nor
less than the suppression of the established gov
eminent, and the sub -tiluton Of the will, how
ever capricious OF the military commander. in
the vacated place of the laws.
But where can you read any lesa! description
Of martial law, aud deprivation OF it's power, or
any limitation upon their exercised No where;
and for the simple reason that is has no legal ex
stence and the very term N iriial law" il only
nj kname for arbitrary power assumed against
law. by men in arms!
"No principle better settled in he con .titution
and ponty of the United States than this the
military is subordinate 10 the civil power and
can act only as The minister and servant of the
law. For we have no ruling sovereign but the
Law; and therein consists our only claim of su-
periority in government over the people of Eu
rope, Who. for the mos, part, are governed by
visible. human sovereigns. in the shape OF empe-
rors and kings. in the great nations, and all lie
way down the scale of power 10 the petty princes
and dukes. who reign over the inhabitants of
few thousand acres of land. This. say. is the
only claim we have of superiority over them in
the matter Of government, and so long as that
claim is sustained by reality and truth il is full
OF goodness and glory. Buff that claim be fall
si6ed-if the laws OF the land are no longer 20
rule and protect us-f We are indeed under the
despotism OF that martial law then | affirm ,ha.
the government is tar worse than theirs and our
condition far more to be pitied For the soveE-
egns OF Europe most of them) derive their
place aud power through long line Of descent
from their ancestors, and oil ot them, from the
Queen of Great Britain down TO the Duke OF
Hesse DArmstsd nope to transmit them 10 their
posterity. In that CAGE every conclusion of rea-
son, aud every impulse of the human heart com
pei the desire for stability anu order sover-
eign in that condition must be not II tyrsnt only,
but fool. VINO would prefer TO leave 10 bis sue
cessor degraded state, an empty treasury. and
a sedltioGs people. rather than leave him hon
orable name in history, 8 revenue equal TO the
wants OF the state. ana people prosperous, con-
tented aud loyal
Blu, what will be the condition IL the conven
ton succeed in placing Us under the despotism
of martial law z? Our masters will have no in
ducement 70 stability and order for the present
and no hope of continuance in the future. no rule
10 work BY. nd no Law TO retain them. Without
any established scconnts bity TO Law. and with
out any fear Of punishments tor their mlsdeeds,
except at the caprice OF a higher tyranny than
their own. ours will De worse than rny hereditary
de-potism c'n be; for ouIs must be continually
changing from one master Ia another. lt will be
despotism multiplied oy republican forms.
Such. then. ia martial law. so eagerly coveted
by that class of Missouri pplitici-ns who are
laboring 10 consolidate their accidental and tran
ssnt power. and who kaow right well that Moth
ing short of despotism will serve their turn. IN
diferen, countries and differeu, ages Of the world
despotism hss taken a variety of names anc
forms. In some countries. the whole govern
ment was military, resting upon force alone. and
consequently whoever was master OF that force
WAS master OF the nation which IL held 10 subiu-
CATION, and might rule both alike by his simple
orders: and il l. Of 10 importance whether We
call these orders.oy the name OF hrm,n, rksse.
or decree, ordinance; for. by whatever name
called "a ey 90 but express the sill of the CON
mander. Duxipg the time of the feudal system
all Europe VAT governed by military power, and
the sovereign ruler OF each particular country
<hetber K,sser. King, Prince or Dake-xss the
head general OF the nation, aud eommsnder-il
chief OF the army. In such governments those
no questions Can arise about martial law. for the
ruler is already despotic. aad speaks to bis sub
jecs. both military aud civil, only in the language
of command