The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-05-17
sEcREr TRIAL OF THE COtsPlRAroRs.

charged With crime under the civil law
This feature of the Republican administra-
tion was established in the time of ABRAHAM
LlScoLs and supported by what is called
the loyal press, and now being established
the cabinet Of Andrew Johnson follows she
evil precedent. We then admonished the
nongrel parry in power of the evil arising
from establishing such precedenis in viola
ton OF law and the constitution; it was only
considered dislogal and we were said to be
IN opposition to the government alias AHA
HAM LINcoLs. Now the wrong is seen by
the most radical Of The horde of despots.-
The Ne'0 York Tribune under the caption of
SEcaET Murray TRIALS, says:
There is curious old document in exists
ence, known as the Constitution of the U.
States, which formerly had the force and
effect OF law in that large portion of our
country not specially dominated by the
slave power. Under the rule of our present
Cabinet, il seems to have gone out of fash
ion and, since Mr.. Slanion's accession to
the control OF the War Department, it has
become practically Obselete. Loyal citi-
Zens did not much mind this while civil
war convuIssld the country. threatening the
permanei overthrow o. our liberty and ma
tionality but, now that the war is practi-
cally ended, il seems high time that the old
parchment were exhumed and treated with
some show Of respect. There being ap-
parently, no copy extant in the Federal
City, We quote from one in eur possession,
for the instruction and admon ition of our
masnaies, certain amendments proposed by
the States when raliiying The instrument,
which, being duly approved and adopted,
became an integral part of our fundamental
law-as follows:
Arr. v. No person shall be held to an
swer for a capital or Otherwise Infamous
crime unless. presentment or indictment OF a
Grand Jury e:rcept in cases ising in the land
or naval forces, or in The miitia 1Cken in actual
service in time Of war or public danger nor
shall any person be subject for the same
offsnse TO be twice put in jeopardy OF life
or limb nor shall ne be compelled in any
criminal case TO be witness against him.
self, nor 10 be deprived of life, liberty or
properly, withOm due process of ldsU nor
shall private property be taken for public
use without Just compensation.
Arr vi. In all criminal prosecutions, tie
accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy
and public trial, by an impartial Jug of the
Stale and district wherein the crime shall
have been committed, which district shall
have been previously sscertained by law /;
to be confronted with the Witnesses against
him to have compulsory process for OBJ
tanning witnesses in his favor, and to have
the assistance OF counsel for his defense.
ART VII Ia suits at common law, where
in the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by Jury
shall be preserved and no fact tried oy q
jury sball be otherwise re-examined in any
court OF ,he United States than according 10
the ru.e of common law.
ART. VIII. Excessive bail shall not be
required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishment inflicted
We have made our citations full, not
merely in Difference 10 the apparent mac.
cessibili,y of The document at Washington,
but because we wished every reader TO see
that :he passages We have placed in H0lics
are not garbled nor picked, but that they are
of the essence and vitality of the Consiitu-
tior itself. Being so, how can we justify or
excuse, or even keep silence with regard
TO, the military trials just initiated at Wash
ingion A miscreant, acting in concert
With other assassins, has attempted The life
of the Secretary OF State, and, though his
purpose was defeated, he nevertheless se-
verely wounded Governor Seward, his old
est son, and two or three others who nobly
resisted him. OF course. this villain and
his coniederstes should be slerny dealt
with but why not according 10 law? What
reason, what excuse, can be urged, TO JUS
tify the sending of this case before a CO urt
martial and having il tried in secret How
can such a trial be recouciled with the
plain provisions of the Constitution above
quoted
As 10 the military trial Of those who con
spired with Booth 10 assassinate the Presi.
dent, and aided TO achieve that fell purpose
The outrage is not quite so fragrant; but
suck trial is AT best blunder, while en-
shrouding II in sseresy is utterly indefensi-
BILE. To Try doctor for his life, because he
set Strangers broken bone ard gave, or
sold,or leht him pair of crutches, ,,,may just
do; but 10 try him in secret allowing no re-
port Of the testimony but such as the prose-
culion sees fit 10 make, is nothing less than
abominable. Two months ago it would
have been endured for the couniry's sake :;
now, there is no reason thai it should be.
We warn all who take any voluntary part
in-ihese strange proceedings that the rebel