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

Velled GO,
dr. Davis, u Eq- la1a-~Ar Chaireasn. I
appreciate the weight CT The crliFcisnl Of the
distinguishes aentieman a5m Pennsylvania,
Mr.. Stevens and am sure that noboiy vii
say that have ever embarrassed The proceedings
Of .h;s House By any pertinaeioos adherence 70
schemes Of my own. / have neyer embarrass-
rl the House week after week 5y motions to
tax or exempt whisky on hand, That would
have been q mere appropriate subject of criti-
clsrn than sach aa aBan3;nant Is this, whch IS
never to1 carly, aud can never be tc0 late until
the voice fEt-rty ahall caasa 70 be haarj in the
United States. Then It witt be impertiaens TO az
rest the progress Of sappliss for the government
hy calling the attention of tie representatives
Of the people 10 she freedom of their constitu-
ents. Let this bi!! perish thousand times rath-
or than that any vote should 20 On The records
Of this House declaring that the protection Of
The E5ariies Of tue citizens Of Massachusetts
ana the citizens Of Maryland are not Of para
noun! Importance 70 = soto Of m2acy for the
ylolators OF their rights There has been no
other period, SIR at which [ could obtain the
ear of the House on such au amendment.
Rave had NY eye cn the gradual intrusion Of
the military Authority OF the rights Of the citi-
zen from the outbreak Of The rebellion. It was
first instigated by tie people; and the most EN-
iaent lurists Of the lana converted their c.amor
into the sembaHce Of the voice Of the law by
maintaining the RIGHT oF the President to sus
reud the la5e4s corpus without the authority Of
Cancress-in tha faca Of john Marshalis iud.-
rnent. Gentlemen &C the opposition, on this
topic have no right here 20 east i:0paIaliyns On
the administration. SEQ. j. Mcclellan frsj
Set the bad example IN an order Illegally sus-
pending the ri=j:t Of Au5eGs corpus IN Maryland.
I refer 20 that not as en- ImputatIOn on them,
hat because Il shows that 1t ID 10 party quas-
Ion wth which we age dealing to-day, but an
American question: question Of republican
liberty endangered by the common madness Of
government and the people The evil has gone
90 far that to-day every man feels without She
necessity Of an arSmnea: that there must 0o Is
stop pnt 70 military trials Of citizens IN the
g.gtes here represented, or there is no law Or
liberty in the land. The honorable gentleman
from Pennsylvania has said that cougictions
have taken place under laws passed by Congress.
/ admit it; bat that proves only that Congress
Is also guilty of the usurpation And the hon
orabie gentleman from Massachusetts ar.
pawesl he's told Us fhaJ the law which he IN
tr9duced has failed 10 serve the purpose conteEa-
plated, while it has developed consequences OF
which he did not dream The honorable gen
tlenan SAYS that il ought 10 be repealed, and II
It ought to be repealed. then carry the remedy 10
the root Of grievance and discharge the men
who were convicted under what was in form a
law, but in fact q usurpation which had not the
authority of the constitution. But, sir, have
prosecutions stopped within the limits Of the
acts Of Congress? If they Lad, | could have
heard with more patience the appeal OF my hon
orabla friend from Pennsylvania. Bat every one
knows that they have not. We in Maryland have
known it b. sharp castgaton now for three
years It is now being known in Newly ork.
And in Boston men have turned grey under per-
.ecutions not according to those laws Ent,
or, what do you say with reference TO trials for
things that are not crimes under any law. for
things that are not defined to Le crimes, civil
or military? What do you say TO the trial Of q
loyal citizen in the city Of Baltimore upon the
charges and specifications which I hold IL ny
hands for forging Jefferson Davis s currency
One of nv constituents IS nor III jaG ul3sr tt0ss
sDe~Seahous. having been tried and condemned
by military tribunal for attempting 10 break
down the rebel currency | can state no other
fact that will better Illustrate the iusOlence Of
Irresponsible military tribunals, known TO no
law, appointed under no law, restrained by no
law, authorized 10y nobody, bound by no law
but the win Of the men who itin their uniforms
10 try the rights Of American citizens according
70 the law of the sword.
III. otorous-Do understand the gentle
man to say that this man was convicted on the
ground of having counterlei.ed the re6el cur
rsHcyf
Mr. Davis, of MaryIand--He was condemg-
ID for that, and is now in jail.
hr. Steveus-WeIl, think that "A man who
vas fool enough to spend his time in such work
oaght 10 snffer some severe punishment.
Mr. Davis, of Maryland-If all fools are at
the mercy Of the military courts and they are
70 judge of it, they haze a wide il arisdiction.-
lLaughter1
Then there Is the case of Weisenfeid. This
man WAS not charged with defrauding the gov
eminent, under the act of Congress; he never
placed himself within the reach Of the law to
which tie gentleman from Massachusetts has
referred. He was charged, and in my judg-
Eent charged falsely, and convicted on testimo-
ny which no jury in the world of any political
conpiexion would weigh an instant, of having
sold a few hundred dollars worth Of goods TO
government spy to be sent across the lines to
The southern eonfedsracy. That trial by mlli-
t2ry commission was authorized by no law
known 10 any statute book in the u. States. The
crme Of trading with the rebel states is express.
ly directed 70 be tried and punished bY ,adictnHn'
before tIue r States courts for a tniSdemeanar