New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-07-11
Chief Engineer forthwith; and let him DO q man
whose fitness will be promptly and universally
ronc pded
MILITARY JUsrICK.n

The War being over-n9t shot having been
fired for weeks, and not q man on earth be.
ing now in arms TO resist the authority of the
United States-wc renew our prayer for a
prompt. full, unequivocal restoration of the
privilege of Habeas Corpus, coupled with a
clearing out Of our Military prisons by the lib
Grafton of their inmates or their rendition to the
civil authorities for detention, trial and punish
ment We can imagine no good reason for the
further dominance Of martial law in any State
north of the Potomac and Ohio.
We have had abundant exhibitions of "Mili-
tary Justice throughout the past four years,
as was reasonable and fit-in fact, rather more
than that. And, so long as Military power and
law were required to keep treason under, we
heartily upheld them. We never supposed that
their administration would be perfect; but we
wanted the Republic saved, even at the cost
OF some temporary cncroachment Onpublic liber-
ty and private right. And, now that the work
is done, we want to get back to old-fashioned
civil law at the earliest practicable moment.
Let Military men be subject to Military law,
if they must; but give lis civil law for every
body else.
Next Winter, we trust the Secretary of War
will report, either voluntarily or by order OF
Congress, on these points:
l. How many Corrts-Martial have been held
since 1860?
2. What was the duration Of these Courts re.
spcctively7
3. What was their cost respectively and in
the aggregate
4. In how many cases were the findings re-
versed or modified, or the penalties imposed
thereby RENTED, by the revising authority
). What would be the probable effect of con-
filming these Courts to the trial of offenders in
the Military service of the Union and to those
arraigned for disloyal acts in States which are
the arena of actual hosiilities
There have been instances when we needed
in rhe field all our officers who ?, ssess any
fighting capacity. yet when not less than fifty
OF them were serving or dancing attendance on
COurts-Martal-hslf dozen of them being en-.
gagged for three months or over in the midst Of
momcntous campa On, in proving one Brlga-
der scoundrel at a cost to the Government OF
Il OF less than SO, 600, when any Tombs lawyer
would have done that same conclusively in
three Ii ours, at a cost Of $50.
We hear tain of more Court Martial for the
trial Of other than persons in our Military ser
vice, and we protest in advance against them.
We have Courts enough, law enough, and at
least as fair chance for justice with these as
with any that can be impIoyised out oil our
Army by an order from the War Department.
We do not much care what Europe may say OF
our jurisprudence; we are only anxious that she
shall have no Just cause for censure. II any
Rebel has consprcd to starve our soldiers, OF
infect our cities with pestilence, or do any ac'
abhorrent to Humanity, lot him be fairly tried
for the crime; or fit is thought best to arroigr
some Of the Rebel chiefs for treason, SO be III bu
let us deal with them according to law. II will bt
grievous mistake-an avowal Of Weakness
blunder and folly-to hold another C0urt-Nar
tial for the trial Of other than military offenders
belonging to our own army. Such Court car
render no verdict that will carry weight with il
in the judgment Of impartial Chrstendom--th'
fact that such tribunal is resorted to will b.
trumpeted by thousands as virtual confession
that fair trial was not desired-its verdict o
\ Guilty will be decided "a preluding and pre-
pairing judicial murder. Let US return to thu
dominion Of Law