The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-08-16
Are We to have Civil Law
Again2

peace relSnS supreme tuFOuSHuut tuc Wuoic
country, the military is still enthroned above
the Law, and no mans personal freedom is
secure against the DEGREES Of arbitrary pow
Ter. For what has been done thus far We
have given due credit; and the people have
accepted with extraordinary patience the
promise that the Constitution would ere
long be re-established but months have
elapsed since the last Confederate regiment
retired from the field OF conflict. and still We
have court martiaIs, arbitrary arrests, sas.
pension Of habeds corpus, aud y threatened
continuance of the same arbitrary rule ID
the uncertain future. Even the Tribune,
the great abolition war organ, is becoming
indignant at the prolonged usurpation Of
power, and occasionally rises into the Ian
guage Of yehemeut impatienceat the desp. t
! ic course Of the Administration. Tue pow
ers that be will soon discover that in adopt
I ing this policy they are injuring the North
| as well as the South, that they are destroy
ling that confidence which is the very life Of
trade, that they are preventing restoration
| OF business intercourse between the different
parts Of the country, that by retarding the
regeneration of the South, they are serious
lly damaging the interests Of the whole PEG
1ple, and that the great money classes Of the
county, the vast commercial community,
|are not only becoming FESTIVE under
1.-THE disabilities By which they are bnrdened
but that they are losing heavily through the
Idelay Of the Government in the restoration
of Civil Law.
] It is not alone in the South that the mill
Itary power reigns supreme; but here in the
4 North, here ID the city Of New York, in
which journalist was arrested by an order
from the War Department while quietly en-
gagged in the duties Of his profession. We
4 we're told that the moDstrous outrage re
1 Gently perpetrated 10 Washington against
! the majesty Of Civil Law VAS to be last, and
that there was 10 be no more military trials
for alleged civil offences; but riir1ors orr
flying thick and fast from the Capital I'll
over The country that Mr.. Davis is to be
tried by a court martial. As these reports
have hot been confirmed. We shall not ere
|dit them until they are. Wecannot believe
!, that such wrong win be perpetratetl agains
! Justice and right. We cannot believe tina
: man entrusted by seven millions of Amer
4 leans at the head of Government which
! that Of the United States recognized as en-
Titled to belligerent rights, with which i
n entered into arrangements Tor the exehang
Of pri oners, and finally with whose Com
missioBers it held conferences for the settle
! ment OF terms cf peace--we. cannot, W
:. say, believe that it is the intention Of tn
!, Administration toso far Outrage all sense Q
! Justice and right by subjecting jefferson
! Davis TO trial by court martial, Indeed "
= cannot understand how he can be jtstl
: kent IN confinement when all, or ncarl
:, ali, tie leadiug men Of the Confederacy at
!, paroled. Itappears absurd to see ono Ell
!; loving freedom, while another equally guilty
+ according 10 the rule that prevails at Wash
! ington, is incarcerated in gloomy cell q
: Fortress Monroe, surrounded by guards, an
!, denied The privileges extended to the YER
est criminals. Whynot let Mr. Davis on
: on his parole. If he must be tried? WI
: not treat him as Governor Brown has bee
J, treated. let there be, at least, some cons
). tency, some harmony in the tyfaunic polio.
: Let it move evenly.
j We sometimes doubt whether Jeferso
al Davis viii be tried at all. Those who has
!" violated the Constitution are not willing.t
Y submit to its decision in what they call ire
!, son. It should be borne in mind that tt
ri Administration Of President Lincoln stud
Il 4 ously avoided bringing any Of The dispute
)" questions, such ss State Sovereignty al
!, the powers Of the General Government f
], !, adindication before The Supreme Cour
! There were many opportunities presented
:, do this, and to have all doubts on the
points for ever set at rest, but they were 8
!. ways avoided, and from first to last the Al
!; ministration ignored the Chief judicial E
4 e bunaI Of the Republic, rightly fearing,
Il Il we beievn, 10 trust it with adjudication
Il its arbitrary acts.
I The people must demand the restoratlt
y Of Constitutional Government if they Wou
~ ~ not be made the most abject slaves ev
= ruled by q despot; they must organi
throughout the country, and hold ma
meetings Under The lead Of the right Kind
d men.
What is the Legal Profession doing o
. what does it intend to do? Has it lost
- regard for the principles ofalaw and justi'
]. Of popular freedom and constitutional g
Y eminent. Will they now put themselves
:. :, the trout ranks Of the people and dena
- that the reign Of despotism shall cease .
40 - us....x.. &C Eknnks, hnsx;r, 80