The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-05-19
Secret Military Trials.

There is q curious old document In existence,
known as the Constitution Of the L. States,
which formerly had the force and effect of law
ia that large portion OF our coantry not special
" dominated by the slave power. Under the
rule of our present Cabinet, it seems to have
gone out Of fashion; aGi, since Mr.. Stanton's
accession to the control Of the War Department,
it has become practically obsolete. Loyal ciJi-
zcns did net much mind this while evil war con-
vuiged the country, threatening the permama-
nent overthrow of our liberty and nationality
but, now that the war Is practically ended, it
seems high time that the old parchment were
exhumed md treated with some show of respect.
There being, apparently, no copy extant in the
Federal City, We quote from one in our poses
sion, for the instruction and admonition Of our
magnates, certain amendments proposed by the
States when ratifying the instrument, which,
being duly approved and adopted, became an
integral part Of our Fundamental law-as fol-
lows:
ART. V. No person shall be held to answer
for a capital or otherwise infamous crime unless
on pTesentmsnf or indictmeE! Of Crane JU'y
ercsDt in cases arising IN the land or Darqt for
ces, or in the militia 1rhs8 in actual ssrU1ce in
time of war or public danger; nor shall any
nerson be subject for the same otfense to be
twice pu: in jeopardy of life or limb nor shall
he be compelled in agiy criminal case TO be a
witness against himself, nor be deprived of life,
liberty or property, toithout doe process Of lar;
nor shall private property be taken for public
use without just compensation
Arr. VI. In all criminal prosecutions, the
accused shal. enjoy Tue right to a speedy and
public trial, by an impartial jury of the State
and district wherein the crime shal! have been
I commt:ci, which district shall have been pre-
/ yiously ascertained by law to be confronted
, with the witnesses against lin; to have COM
/ puisory process for obtaining witnesses n his
/ fayor and to hare the assistance Of counsel for
/ his defeHse.
/ ART. vi. In suits at eommoa law, whereiR
/ the value in controversy shall exceed twenty
dollars, the right Of trial by jury shall be pre-
served and no fact tried by a jury shall be
otherwise re-examined in any court Of the L.
States than according 10 the rule of the COM
mon law.
! ART. VIII. Excessive bail shall not be re
! quirad, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unlsual punishment inflicted.
| We have made our citations fail, not Eaerely
/ III difference 10 the apparent inacccssibili;y Of
I the document at Washington, bat because We
/ wished every reader to see that the passages
we have placed in Italics are not garbled nor
/ picked but that they are Of the essence and Vi
| tality OF the Constitution Itself Beiag 50, how
| can ge justify, or excuse, or even keep silence
with regard TO, the military trials Just initiated
/ at Eashingtcu 4 miscreant, acting in concert
with ether assassins has attempted the life Of
| the Secretary of State. and, though his purpose
( was defeated, he nevertheless severely wounIed
/ Governor Seward, his oldest son, and two or
three others who nobiy resisted him. OF course,
his villain and his eonfederaes should bes.c!n-
/ " dealt w1th; but why not according to law ?
! What reason, What excuse, can be urged, so
! Justify the sending of this case before Z court
| martial and having it tried IN secret? How
/ can such a trial be reconciled with the plain
provisions of the Constitution above quoted
/ As to the military trial Of those who con-
spired with Booth TO assassinate the President,
and aided TO achieve that fell parpose, the cut
rage is not quite so fragrant; cut such trial e
at best a blunder, while enshrogGing It n secre~
ey is utterly indefensible. To try doctor for
has life, because he set o strangers brokeG cone
and gave, or sold, or lent hiln pair OF cratch-
es, may just do; but TO try him in secret, al
lowing no report of the testimony but such as
the prosecution sees fit to make, is nothing !eSs
than abominable. Two months ago, it would
have been endured for the countTy'5 sakas now,
there is no reason that it should be. We warn
all who take any voluntary part IN these strange
proceedings that the rebellion is suppressed, the
war at an end, and the right TO suspend the
privilege Of kobeas corpas and make the will OF
a Secretary of War the supreme law Of the
'lani has expired II our present Secretary