North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1865-04-12
A Pointed Rebukes

A debate took place in the U.S.. Senate
recently on the question of illegal arrests
1t was contended BY many Senators of both
parties that no man can be arrested without
"due process of law" and that military trials
are mere mockeriea, unconstitutional, unlaw-
full and vllainous. Conness, the miserable
creature, who misrepresents the great State
of California in the Senate. expressed himself
in favor of illegal arrests and trial by drunken
military courts. In his speech on the sub
ject, he said he scared nothing for the Con-
sttution." Senator TrGmbull of Illinois
who is a strong Republican partisan, but IN
like mos. prominent men Of that party, op-
posed to infidelity, perjury and wickedness,
replied to the expression used by Connsss,
and in doing so, literally skinned the poor,
California Infidel alive. We quote from the
Globe:
Mr.. Trumbull. A word or two, only
word or two, as the Senator from California
(Mr. Conness) who modestly assumes 50
much patriotism and if patriotism consists
in noise and bluster, he certainly is possessed
of great deal. He made himself heard most
certainly, and he talks of "croaking" and OF
"cowards," and says that he cares nothing
for the Constitution, SO that he has coun-
try. He had better migrate to Dahooney
or somewhere else, where there is q country.
I care, sir, for the Constitution and for liber-
ty, and think a country or life itself scarce
ly worth having without liberty without
liberty regulated by law. But he is bold and
brave bold enough to violate his oath and
defy the Almighty Yes, sir, bold and brave
and would sink the government, would vote
against all apprt priatione, SO ner than not
have the power to try man by court mar
tial or military commission. That great
patriot would stand here and vote-vote
against appropriations for the army or any
thing else, if he could not arrest somebody
and try him in a loyal State, where the
courts are open by military commission or
court martial! He says substantially, 81
will not appropriate to sustain our soldiers
the rebels may come here and tear down the
Capitol and destroy the Government, because
|, the Infidel Senator from California. cannot
be permitted to have somebody arrested-no
not arrested, but cannot have somebody
tried by court martial )" aud that is his
"patriotism - that is his love Of country -
And he says no provost marshal arrested
him Why, sir, those who "crook the preg-
nant hinges of the knee where thrift may
follow fawning" are never arrested.
Mr.. Conness rose.
PRESIDING OFFICER: Does the Senator
from Illinois give way!
Mr.. TrumbulI When I an through the
Senator can talk if he wishes. He need not
expect to be arrested; but the liberty he
talks OF is the liberty of the highwayman.
Disregard law How is he any better than
the brigand who meets you at night and
calls upon you to stand aud deliver! No
regard for law; he cares nothing for the
Constitution" so that he has country, and
he talks of towards and croaker ! Sir, | am
not brave enough, thank God ! | am not
bold enough to walk up to that stand AMI lay
nv hands upon the words Of Eternal Life
and promise, calling God to witness, to
maintain the Constitution, aud then say
care nothing for il! an rot bold
enough to make such declaration. Ihope
never may be. Sir, If nothing else should
restrain us from treating with contempt the
Constitution Of the country, the oath we have
taken should restrain US, the appeal we have
made TO the Supreme Being, should withhold
from us such declaration. I say that do
care for the Constitution and Tor law and for
liberty, and that ! am for preserving them
all, and the country and the Union also, for
it is the Constitution and liberty that make
the Union worth preserving. Without
them Union forced by arbitrary power, a
Union such as is brought about by the heel
Of despotism is not the Union am strug-
Cling for. 1t is not the Union that the brave
soldiers of the republic are fighting for
They 60 forth to battle for the purpose Of
maintaining the Constitution under which
they themselves have enjoyed freedom, and
handing it down for the protection of their
posterty. 1t is for this we are fighting, and
not simply to try man by court martial or
a military commission,
have 10 disposition to prolong the de
bate. do not desire the bill to be lost, but
| have felt it due TO myself to say this much
after the remarks made by the Senator
from California.