Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1865-07-14

] EDGAR SN OWDEN,@ bR
ass~ ~OFFICE-No.s 104 King street over
/ French's Book Store I
= The National Intelligencer, in commenting
on the late summary closing of Ford $ Theatre,
IN Washington, uses the following language: e.:
Upon what precise ground the War Otfice
iustifes this intervention we are not othcla1ly
advised J; but we assume, what appears: to US
TO be the strongest position upon which the
Secretary can legally base such action that
the Government apprehended that mob vio-
lence LEM was likely to ensue if the regular theatri
cal career Of the establishment was permitted.
This matter is not properly, as We think, to
he compared with the class Of things which
come within the purview Of military law, such
as the closing of drinking saloons under justif-
able circumstances Viewed In It's legal as
meet. the owner Of the theatre has the right to
90 on with his business Rights cannot yield
to mere sentiments, no matter how exalted
these NAV be; and if the public would rebuke
the proprietor of the establishment for any
outrage, as they might choose it, OF the public
heartor conscience, their proper and legitimate
remedy would be to Withdraw their patronage
But If mob rises, or threatens to rise, to
crush the rights of citizen, then the duty
of thelawfu! authority is clear and unay oldable
In such case the law must interfere to protect
the citizen in his rights, rather than to yield
itself as the abettor of organized violence. >
It is alleged that this tbeatfe should be pre-
served sacred, in some form, as a monument
to the late President. But this proposition, 1t
made practical, requires the consent OF the
oWner.of the property; otherwise one OF the
clearest constitutional rights Of the citizen is
violated A citizen, no matter how much
yeneratea. nor how deservedly venerated, is
but a man, and mortal; principles involve
nations and ages, and are as deathless as time
itself. Would any one desire that monument
to our Lincoln should be reared upon such
foundation as that one could point to it and
say, See there how the citizen was stricken
down how the right to his property, guaran.
teed TO him by our Constitution, was torclbly
destroyed, without trial, judgment, conviction,
or even any accusation against the man thus
abused to Justify the deed 2, This would be
indeed an Ill association with monument to
him who perished at his post in defence OF
the Constitution The right TO property and
its legitimate uses must be protected, other
wise free government is at an end. Hence,
no precedent Of violent and unlawful lntelfer-
ence with this right must be permitted to
obtain encoul agenent under any circumstances
from the people, since precedent makes law
and what is the case OF the proprietor OF this
play house to day may, upon some pretext,
become the case of others in regard to their
rights to morrow; and such state OF things
would bring upon our citizens all the calaml
ties chat spring from the insecurity to life and
property that is inherent IN pure deSpotlsms:
The following is the military order by which
the Richmond Wing was suppressed the first
morning of its appearance under the editorial
management of Mr.. Ridgeway:
HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF VIRGINIA, I
RICHMOND, Va, July, II, 1865.
Special Orders, No. 81.
Whereas in the issue of the Richmond Wing
Of July llth, 1865, certain clause of the
merciful Amnesty Proclamation OF the Presl-
sldent Of the United States, pardoning certain
traitors, is stigmatized as 9 heathenish, and
alaw of this land, duly enacted by Congress and
approved by the President, is characterized as
mean, brutal and cowardly, /" revoltingly
absurd and atrociously unjust, it is ordered
that the Provost Marshal General OF this De-
parsment seize and hold in bis possession the
otfce presses, type and other property belong
ing to the proprietors of said paper, and pre-
vent henceforWard the publication thereof.
By command of Mai Gen. Terry.
{Signed) Ed w. SMITH, A. A, &.
The negro who was hung up by the thumbs for
tour hours, near the railroad depot in Raleigh,