Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-18
RUTLAND HERALD.
SATURDAY, MAY IS, 1865,
Secret Trials.


ment to the newspaporial fraternity,
who doubtless expected TO make big
thing out Of their reports of trials. 1t
is we'll enough to bear this fact in mind
while reading some OF the indignation
paragraphs with which our contempora-
ries are just now highly seasoned, The
New York Tribune for example, out
Greeleys Greeley and we should say
he would do we'll to be a little careful,
as he might some day, in the language
OF DR., Slop, find an old house over his
head. After quoting several OF the ar
tlcles Of amendment from a "curious
old document known as the Constitution
of the United States" Sin Difference" as
it says, " to the apparent iRaccessibility
OF the document at Washington" which
articles provide for public trial by JurB
and showing up the unconstitutionality
OF secret trial, it closes as follows
1.-TWO months ago it would have been
endured for the country'S sake; now,
there is no reason that it should be. We
warn all who take any voluntary part in
these strange proceedings that the Re
bellion is suppressed, the War at an end.
and the right to suspend the privilege
of habeas corpus and make the will Of
the Secretary OF War the supreme law
Of the land has expired. If our pres
ent Secretary cannot be made to realize
these grave truths, it is high time he
had q successor; and if our Attorney
General believes the assaiant of Secret
airy Seward now legally triablc before
military commission" he badly needs
his own time for the completion Of his
legal studies, while the Government
needs different law officer. There may
be potter ways Of setting forth these
convictions, but none of these would do
them justice. Gentlemen Of the Cabi-
net The War eastward of the Missis-
sippi is ended; the Rebellion is suppress
ed; the Union is re-established and
Peace virtually restored wherefore the
people demand of youa speedy and thor
ough return to the safe and orderly ways
Of Law and Liberty. d. not compel
them to speak in tones that you cannot
refuse to hear '
There now, Gentlemen of the Cabi-
met" If you know what is good for
yourselves, you had better stand from
under, If you don't, the people will
be down upon you before you can say
Jack Robinson.
Keeping our minds, however, calm
and serene, and looking at the matter
soberly, we are bound to acknowledge
that secret trials in this country are not
in accordance either with the spirit or
the letter Of our Constitution, and that
they are very much to be regretted
They naturally remind us of the star
chamber times of Henry VIII in Eng
land, which were only brought to a ter
mination with the beheading OF Charles
l. Articles V. and VI. of the Amend
ments quoted in the Tribune read as fol-
lows
Art. V. No person shall be held to
answer for capital, or otherwise in
famous crime, unless on a presentment
or Indictment Of Grand Jury, except in
eases arising in the land or naval forces,
or in the militia when in actual service
in time Of war or public danger; nor
shall any person be subject for the same
offence to be twice put in jeopardy of
life or limb nor shall he be compelled
in any criminal case to be a witness
against himself nor be deprived of life,
liberty or property, without due process
Of law; nor shall private property be
taken for public use without Just COM
pensation.
Art. VI. In all criminal prosecu-
tions, the accused shall enjoy the right
to q speedy and pubItc trial, by an i'm
partial Jury Of the State and district
wherein the crime shall have been COM
mitted which district shall have been
previously asCertained by law to be
confronted with the witnesses against
him; to have compulsory process for
obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to
have the assistance of counsel for his
defense.
It is urged that the rebellion is yirtu-
ally CruSueu, anu VIC loluly HopC anu
believe lis, but we are not absolutely
certain Of it, and perhaps we should do
well not to be in too great haste to take
it for granted. Suppose man has been
terribly sick for long time, and now is
free from pain, and apparently well as
ever-an experienced physician would
not recommend that he should at once
resume the habits, the diet and the ex-
posure Of a healthy man. We must
grant to the gentlemen Of the cabinet a
reasonable time to let themselves down,
and adjust themselves to peaceful reg
linen. Everything requires attention at
once, but that is impossible. There
would be enough to exhaust the ener-
gies and resources Of the most gifted,
without this horrible assassination con-
spiracy. The suspension of habeas cor
pus which has continued for two years. or
more, has not yet been revoked, and tits
by no means perfectly clear that it ought
10 be. The present emergency is GER