Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-03-08
Stanton's Report on Arbitrary Arrests

Stanton's Report on Arbitrary Arrests,
Secretary Stanton's report to Congress
on arbitrary arrests is q remarkable docu-
ment. II is Official, and part of the his
tory of the war. There is nothing alarm
ing now. The people cannot be alarmed
They would have no fears for their hber.
ties, were Mr.. Lincoln TO declare himself
Dictator for life, by proclamation, backed
10y Congress and all the State legislatures
But il may be admitted that the Official
report Of the Secretary Of War upon agbi-
trary arrests, and the manner in which
the President has used the eXtraordina
~ powers coufded to him by the Consti-
tuition in case of insurrec,ion," presents
some remarkable ficts touching remlrka-
bic transactions.
Mr.. Stanton informs us that many Of
the arbitrary arrests have been made by
the Governors OF States aud provost mar
shals, without any orders from or knowl-
edge of the President. This is remarka-
ble-not alarming at all-but it is remar-
kable. The said Governors and Prcvos
undoubtedly got their authority from
the extraordinary powers conferred by the
1 Constitution in case OF insurrection"-
powers so extraordinary" that ordinary
people have been unable 10 discover them
In the Constitution, or TO comp ehend
! them as principles at all consi te At with
a republican form of government, having
three distinct and Independent branches.
| one of which Is the judiciary. But times
| have changed of LAKE, and We suppose
! that, under these extraordinary" pow
/ ers Of the Constitution, presidents and
poslma.ters, proves and press gangs, may
arrest and imprison any citizen at pleas
lure, without even the lJrmalty Of law.
Mr.. Stanton says that among other ar
D,rary orueIs, under the new and tex
! lyaordinary' powers, measures were ta-
ken to prevent ihe use o! the postoIlieo
! for trea.ouHb,e correspondence. This Is
Iauo.her remarkable use o. even "cXtraor-
binary constitutional powers" TO know
! what was reasonable nece-sita'ed the OK
ANIMATION Of all couesPeudence- all let
ters and this certainly would be a very
marked use OF extraordinary power. The
postotlice it is presumed is sacred to all
correspondence. We recollect a case TINT
occurred in this city, when the Hon. eide
on Welles was Postmaster. Officers were
on the track ola criminal. They watch
ed his vile or mistress, and discovered
that she dropped a letter into the post
office. They Immediately went into the
office, aud demanded the privilege Of
looking ut that letter aud TO open il, for
the purpose Of discovering where the
criminal was Mr. Wciles coolly replied
. that the postoilice was a- sacred to crimi.
mails as to any body-no letters could be
examined in that Office, except by per
sons to whom they were directed, that 80
break over this rule wOlld b. - destroy
/ the privacy OF correspondence; and that
/ 1t would be as great a crime to open the
letter OF that criminal rs it would be to
open the letter Of a merchant il the town
/ The law made no discrimination, but pro
yIded for the punishment Of any one who
should open letter, or pry into is Sc
crets-- no matter VINO might direct the
letter, nor to whom it was directed. lie
would not permit the officers to even loek
/ at the letter. llis decision vas right; for
/ the moment that he had assumed that one
letter was for n criminal, and permitted it
/ TO be examined, he might also decide that
any other letter contained matter OF CVi-
dence relative to crime; and all letter,
would thus be subject TO his inspection or
the prying curiosity Of any constable Of
the town. But, beyond this, the laws
make no Discrimination, protecting "the
secrets" of at letters, whether from crmi-
nails or good citizens. But this sound law
and correct principle have been abandon
cd under the extraordinary assumption Of
extraordinary powers.
But there is now a remarkable conces-
sion The Secretary of War informs the
pubic thatI"extrnWdiraly arrests here
after are to be made only by the military
authorities The executive department
Of the government gives notice to the ju-
dicial department that it may step aside
when the military appear Hartford
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