The Columbia daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-05-29

cally ended, it seems high time that
The old parchment were exhumed and
treated with some show Of respect.
There being, apparently, no copy
extant in the Federal City. we quote
from one in our possession, for the in-
struction and admonition of our mag
mates, certain amendments proposed
by the States when rati:ying the instru-
uent, which, being duly approved and
adopted became an integral part Of our
fundamental law-as follows:
ART. '. No person shall be held to
answer for a capital or otherwise in
famous crime. un}ess on q 1orcSentment
or indictment Of a Grnnd Jury, except
IN cases arising IN tie hnd or nnroi
! forces. o. IN The militia whcn IN octuoi
scrrice in time Of war or public
danger; nor shall any person he subject
,4or the same offence to be t.vce pat in
| jeopardy Of LIE or limo; nor shall he
he compelled in any criminal case to
be a wituess against himself, ror be
deprived. acithout dae process Of lar;
nor shall private property be taken for
pubic use. without just compensation,
AEr VI. In all criminal pro>-cu-
tons, the accused shall enjoy the n@ht
to u speedy aud pa5lic trial, bv an
! impartial Jury of the State and Dis
trct wherein the crime shall have bee.!
committel, which District shall have
been previously ascertained by law; to
be confronted with the witnesses
against him; to have compulsory pro-
/ cess for obtaining witnesses in his
! favor. and to have the assistance OF
conn>e! Tor his defence.
! ART. VIZ. In suits oi' common law,
wherein the value in controversy shall
.r%Gycu twenty dollars, the right OF
trial 10y jury shall be preserved; and
no fact tried by a jury shall be other
wise re-"Xamlned in any court Of the
United States than according to the
iuiv> Of the common law.
ART. VIII. Excessive bali shall not
be required, nor excessive fines i'm
posed, nor. cruel and UNUSUAL punish
! nltnL inii'cleU.
We have made our citations full, not
merely IN ie!erence to the apparent
inaccrSsibili:y of the document at
! Washington, but because we wishc,;
every rcaLer to see that the passages
we have placed in italics are not
| CARRIED nor picked, but tia, they arc
OF he essence and vitality Of the Con-
I S:ilutioil it,et. Being so, how can we
! justify, or excuse, or even keep silence
w'h regard to, the military trials Just
inflated ut Washington? A miss
creapt, aching in concert witt: other
'ss4s.in<, mas attempted the life Of the
Secretary Of State, al, thon%h his
| purpose was defeated, he nevertheless
severely wouned Gov. Seward. his
Oldest son. and two or three others
"no nobiv resisted MIN. O: course,
f, his villain AMI his conf, dera;es should
be slern'v dealt with; but WHY not
according to law? What reason. what
excuse, can be urged, TO justify the
sending Of this case before court
na:taI and having it tried IN secret?
! low can such Il trial he reconciled
with the plain provisions Of the Cons
>iitu'ion above quoted!
As To the military triad Of those who
co'.splred wih Booth to asSa~Suae
the President. aud aided to achieve
t!.at fell purpose. the outrage is Tot
quite so tlagranl; but such t'ial is at
osst a b!under, While enshroudng it in
secrecy is utterly indeteusible. TO
Try doctor for his life, because he set
a strangers broken bone, and gave, or
! sol ] or Int Lin, n mir OF crutl.Lo.