Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-01-28

y uApM ~ H@&R3UhAc@-H-t RI.
The Republican members Of the House Of
REPRESENTATIVES, are beginning to speak out
plainlyin denunciation OF some OF tne aroi-
trary and tyrannical arrests of the 9oSern-
Mr.. Kasson, a leading Republican from
Iowa, said: =.
l desire to add my testimony, as far as 1t
may go--and will give my reasons for IT.
to the .propriety OF the Investigation pro-
posed. It would constitute not the slight
est objection with me, resting my opinion
on facts within my own knowledge, that 1t
may imply censure on one department. OF
|. the Governments; for / believe that the tint,
has arrived when it is due to the people of
this country, that Congress shall examine
the extent and manner In which the power
of the Secretary Of War is exercised. y
state on. my own responsibility, as mem
ber.of the House, that an order taken from
the President to the Secretary Of War, for
a certain object has been met with the re-
ply, ~ shall otIdo II, sir, y and when an
explanation has been asked. 1t has been met
with the reply, II do not propose to argue
the question; am responsible to the Pres
ident, and to him alone, for my conduct
When Representative of the people is met
by responsible officer of the Government
in that way, it constitutes with me no OBJ
lection to a proposition that it may possibly
imply eensure on the head Of an Executive
department. .... 4-, ,,....-.,,.
olution for the reason that when an oiiicer
has it i'm his mental constitution to shut of
from the representatives of the people eve
ry information from his department, as the
Secretary of War has done by general or
der, except 1t be given by himself or on his
own express order--n0 matter IL the in
formation even be whether some poor wo-
mans only son has been killed in battle-and
when, in addition to that, he positively de-
nies his responsibility to the Congress of the
United States, and affirms 1t to be to the
President alone, remitting us to our forum,
i think the time has come when Congress
should inquire how far that arbitrary habit
of mind extends, touching the liberties OF
citizens throughout this broad land.
For myself, hope that this committee
NAV be raised, and L will be the first to- vote
for the exculpation of the Secretary of War,
ii he be found innocent of aggression on
any persons in the army or out of the army.
wish it to be understood by the army OF
the United States that although its officers
may be compelled to tremble at his power,
rs that of an absolute dictator, the Con-
gress of the United States think it right to
inquire into the management of his de-
ppanuia orc " concerneJ or the rigbts of gai.
iant men in fbe army NAV he denied to
them. .TtNn.l ~ -TNfG
r0soJ no Sn ,,,;S,, ha;no ,rho could In lime los
bana na asohanaed hrm 0 nr;soners of war of the
ITn;tod INIT Statas On terms % %recoonized tbrouehs
out all civilized nations, yet left ten or
twenty thousand of our gallant men to per-
ish In rebel pens during last summer,
tySn'of ttat So,,ortvnont shonId he ;nyesti-
%staS ovn Ia donot want the letters To Increase
en M tabie nrging CONGRESS to inyestigate
.or,o om y os these fects connected with fine ex-
oIe oEnnoo " os snIJ;ers In reheI hands For
tha sst;s act;on of NV own Constituents. at
iaost des;ra IN have an investigation
[ ,vho rovor Tho nubl;c Interests NAV reonjre
!, and ,,hnravar tha military r;ohfs of
soldiers or The nersonal rights of Citizens
orc ;nvoIveS S'-N1 !,
rtn wn D.v,s Penubl;con
from MARYLAND, said: q ,rG ,14sA sLt
The law. sir. Is not so deficient; but the
neonla have heen educated within the last
three years, in the belief that the existence
of state OF war justifies any thing and
every thing, in the shape of discretionary
and arbitrary authority, on the part of mill
tary officers. high and low, until the uery
la,cs of the land, intended for the protection Of
the citizen, are not inuoked by the people, be-
cause then fear that to inuoke them toiH offend
the military po,cer and bring its irresponsible
vengeance on their heads. When say that, /
say it on my personal knowledge.
Gentlemen have appealed to me to re-
dress, in the uR-American mode of solicit
ing favor, some of tho grievances suffered
in Maryland by persons who are loyal citi-
zens. have pointed them to the law on
the subject, and asked them. "Why do you
not indict the wrOng-doers? The law for
the suspension of the hdbeGs corpus is your
adequate protection. Why do you not in
dict them?" "We are afraid" the reply
has been, Ito incur the displeasure of the
military authorities" soish Il TO be under
stood that there is potcer higher than the null
tary authority, ,chether that authority be lodged
IN, the hands Of a Lieutenant, or OF Provost
Marshal, or Of the President Of the United
States, and that pO,oer Is here.
Col c.pv,v,n of ob;o an ultra Abol;-
+;on;at and the Snccessor Of Jasuni r
GVnn,Ncs sold y,
49,.
desire IN tne secNnu place. 70 can asgen,
tion to the fact that 1t Is now the law, and
mas Deen, since .he louhuaton OF our uoV-
ernment tnat when an omeer OF tne army
Is arrested, 1or any supposed crime OF mis-
demeanor, ne snail De heio IN arrest-lt ma
De IN close cohhnement anu uIuer guaIu,
according to the supposed enormity OF the
onehse-no longer Ihan eignt eays wItnout
Deing iurnished Win copy OF ,he cnarges
against MN. Inc law aiso Allows MIN
speedy triai. =
NOW, without trenchlng upon tne Dusl-
ness In winch Ine cOmmlICee Oh mlIItary