Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-07-22
From The New York Tribune.l
"Miltary Justice"

The war being cvcr-not a shot having
been fred for weeks, and not man on
earth being now in arms to resist the att
thority Of the United States---wo renew
our prayer for prompt, full, unequivocal
restoration Of the privilege of haJcas cor
puS, coupled with clearing out of our
military prisons by the liberation Of their
inmates or their rendition to the civil au-
thosites for detention, trial and punish
mcnt. 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
military Justice" throughout the past
four years, as was reasonable and 6t-in
fact, rather more than that. And so long
as military. power and Jaw were required
to keep treason under, We heartily upheld
them. We never supposed that their ad-
ministration would be perfect ! bat We
wanted the republic saved, even at the
cost of some temporary cncroaohmcn. on
public liberty and private right Aud, now
that the work is done, we want to get
back to old fashioned civil law al the ear
liest practicable moment, Let military
men be subject to military law, il they
must; but give US civil law for every body
else.
Next winter we trust the Secretary Of
War will report, either voluntarily or by
order OF Congress, on those points:
/. How many court martals have been
held since 1860
2. What was the duration of these courts
respectively!
3. What was their cost respectively and
in the aggregate?
4, ln how ~ any cases were the findings
reversed or modified, or the penalties i'm
posed thereby remittcd by tho revising au.
thorityy
5. What would be the probable effect o
coniiniDg these courts to the trial OF offeu-
ders in the military service of tho Union
and to those arraigped for disloyal acts
in States which are the arena of actua
hoshlities
There have been instances when We
needed in the field all our officers who pos
sess any lighting capacity, yet when moi
less than fifty of them were serving oil
dancing attendance on courts martial
half dozen of them being engaged fol
three months or over, in the midst OF {
momcntous compaign, in proving one brig
adler scoundrol at cost to the govern
meut OF not less than 10000, when any
Tomps lawyer would have done that sam,
conclusively in the hours, at cost Of S25
We hear talk of more court martials 70
the trial OF other than persons in our m il
itary service, and we protest in advance
against them. We have courts enough
laws enough, and at least as fair chanc,
for justice with these as with any that Car
be improvised out of our army by an or
der from the War Department. We dc
not much care what Europe may say OF
our jurisprudence; we are only auxou:
that she shall have no just cause for cen
sure. If any rebel has conspred to starvt
our soldiers, or infect our cities with pes
thence, or do any act abhorrcnt, let hiu
be fairly tried for the crime or if it i
thought best to arraign some of the rcbc
ch iefs Tor treason, 80 be it ); but let US dea
with them according to law. It will be
grievous mistake-an avowal of weakness
Ia blundcr and iolly--to hold anothe
court martial for other than the trial o
military Offenders belonging to our owl
army. Such q court can render no verde
that will carry weight with it in the judg,
ment Of impartial Ghristcpdom--tho fc
that such tribunal is resortcd 10 will t
trumpcted by thousands as a Virtual con
fassioD that fair trial was not desired
its verdict of guilty will be decided as pre-
Guiding and preparing a judicial murder
Let us return to the dominion of law