The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-06-02

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merely but he now lies IN New York peni-
tertiary, hardin1 with felons, murderers, and
thieves, though il legally convicted before Chief
Justice Chase be could by law have been sen
fenced only to fne and imprisonment in jai, /
am daily bese: by letters and solicitations Of
loyal gentlemen, my frmest and best personal
friends ia the world, TO 90 to the President and
beg as g boon that this man be y5rd0asIi /
haze had no stronger pressure brought upon me
since have been in public life. NV reply is;
il petition Is gotten up for Mr. Weiseuiieid
10 pardon the President for his illegal oppres-
SION, / VIII SYN Ii 6Gt VIII no: desraa6 the
nar5 Of an AGlefican citizen by signing pc
titioa 10 bee as e favor the personal liberty Of
an American citizen illegally and oppressiyely
condemned by a military commission and that
at the hands Of the President who twice refused
70 refer his case 70 tins courts OF the u. States
vide open for lis protection, and in the face
Of ihe laws and Constitution Of the Il. Sl3tes
subjected hin TO this Illegal persecution. Sir,
let him stay where he is til the voice Of public
indignation or he whispers u conscience con-
pei lis honorable discharge-n5t his pardon
Till they who illegally confined him shall beg
him to come forth Mr, Chairman, the alarm
ing fact IS tiis-2iiitary commissions DO not
even profess to be governed by the laws Of the
L. States enacted by Congress. They have
created department Of jurisprudence unknown
10 the laws Of the United States, nowhere en-
bodied in statutes OF decisions, called the ''cus-
toms Of war" They try loyal men in loyal
states, where no wax rages, for violation Of
what they call 'ths usagss Of icQr.' Here
ave the p0udscts of the future empire Of the
United St0tes; the rulings Of the Judge-3dvo-
cate General on t'tbe usagcs and customs OF
war" applied to peaceful citizens in loyal states
where he courts are open, where the law alone
ought to be the rnie Of every judgment and ev-
ery conviction, This invention Of the law OF
''the usagcs Of war end "miiitary oGenses, "
applied to citizens ana friends instead Of enc
u;es. anuuIs every act Of Congress. IN vain
does the act Of tie Cd Of Iarch, 1863, punish
the aiding a soldier to desert by one not in the
military service on legal conviction In the courts
Of the e-ai.sd States; in vain does The act 0t
tie ( Of March, S53, punish fraudulent claims,
false caths, forged signatures forging papers
embezzlirg L. States property, false receipts
for arms Purchasing arms from soldiers, when
committed by Il person in the military forces Of
tial, and at tie discretion OF the e0Irt- martial,
but in the third section dacllres that any person
uVl ID tie nj .a1y forces Of the u. States gult-
~ cf those acts, shall forfeit certain fines and
be subject to certain Imprisonment on convic-
ton in the courts Of the United States; fer the
military commissions presume TO punish every
one o. these acts committed 10y citizens ia deii-
ance Of the law securing them q Constitutional
trial. BY the act Of the "a March, 1881, EJrg-
ing pay certificates IS punishable by the courts
Of the United States in the District Of Coium-
bia; yet military commission Furnishes 1t with
IN sight Of the open courthouse and OF the
Presidents mansion
The act Of March ,, 1853, expressly directs
q person guilty Of resisting the draft 20 be ar
rested by the provost marshal and to be forth
with delivered 70 the civil authorities, and, on
conviction by them, subject him 10 fine and
imprisonment; but the military commissions
have annulIed that law, and instead OF deliver
ing the person to the civil authorities for trial
themselves hold and try, convict and punish hIm
and this when the courts OF the United States
are wide open in the District where Congress
sits IN peace and enacts the laws which are Jau7
defed. II these things be not arrested, there is
no law but The sword, no Judge bat the MAORI
iY Of military commission holding their ccm-
mission at The will Of the PreSideGt Now, sir,
have a word for the Gentleman from heatGcky
rAlr. TEAAAS who moved to include persons
engaged in violating the rules and customs Of
war. Does that mean citizens OF the United
States IN loval states, where the courts Of the
United states are open, where their &C; Is trea-
son, for which the statutes OF the United States
=. n. H..
The courts Of The Uui!ed States, and who,
the Constitution says, shaiI be tlied no other
wise than by jury OF the state and district III
which tho crime was committed, and convicted
only on the testimony OF two witnesses Ii 1t
is notorious that they are guerIas, IN the name
of conscience and common sense can not that
0e made to appear to jury o. their loyal tel-
low citizens, 20 be summoned By q marshal ap-
pointed by the preaident4limself; prosecuted by
district attorney that he appoints adjldged
by Judges who hold their office during life many
of them now even appointed by RIr Lincoln,
and a.! liable TO impeachment by Us and CON
viclion bv the Senate if not fit TO administer
Justice? If it be matter Of doubt; teen the
prisoners are entitled TO that doubt and If ii
is so plain that there is no doubt then any tri-
bunal win convict. That IS my answer TO that
proposed amendment
MIR. Yeaman--I ask the gentleman to yield
TO me.
Mr. Davis of aryland-oortainly, for a
question.
Mr.. Yeaman-I only desire, Mr.. Chairman,
to smte that there is now a law of the Congress
Of the United States prescribing the mode and
manner of trying these vagabonds, cut-throats
| and robbers, who have to-day become the great
est scourge TO the states of Missouri; Tennessee,
and Kentucky. In reply to the suggestion, if
it is so notorious that they are guerrillas why
cannot it be proved and established in court
Of justice, I will say now that in thrce-fonrths
of Kentucky we have no courts of justice, be-
cause from the acts Of these men we cannot
hold them In eight counties Of my own dis