The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-06-02

finement seek that remedy; and if it be denied
them, let an impeachment by the representa-
tives of the people vindicate the rights Of the
people. Mr. Chairman, the public safety never
hes required these illegal and summary trials /;
II now requires that they cease. The past, men
arc ready to forget. the American people most
of ali they instigatod or tolerated the usnrpa-
lions Of those in aaihority; but they now have
fe3ttle sharpness OF military Justice and demand
Of their rulers return to the Constitution and
laws, If heretofore they have violated the law
and Constitutional do not say criminailY, do
not say with intent 10 oppr~SS. do not say even
kaawing il to be criminal--it was the common
ereor; and they may plead the error OF TIE peo-
pie Which 4nlsled the leaders Of the people at
the beginning OF the rebellion More frmness,
NOR, knowledge, more GOODNESS in high places
might perhaps have arrested the popular cur
ren. and silenced the popular tumut and kept
the torrent within the bounds Of law. 1t was
not found in places Of authority; all bowed be-
fore the storm and iloatel with the current 1t
is IN the power Of the representatives Of the
American people alone to stop il before every
gestige Of American liberty IS hurried beneath
the waters Sir, / am not willing to change
one word of my amendment. 1t vas not fra
med ont Of my own head, Of my oid-fashioned
whins and fancies, now out Of fashion in this
era Of gold lace ana military vertigo. had
frequent consultations with some Of the ablest
members upon this side of the House, those
most conspicuous for the ardor Of their support
of The administration and they think with me
that obstinate adherence to these abuses must
destroy either the administration or the repub-
lie IL il would satisfy any one TO strike out
the word 'diseharge," / have 10 objection, be-
cause an American citizen Is saie when deliver
ed into the custody Of the civil authorities to
be proceeded against according to law; but be-
yond that l do not feel disposed to modify my
amendment in any particular. Least Of all can
| accept the amendment Of the gentleman from
Iowa, (1Ir. KAssoS which enumeratos the Of
fcnses for which citizens shall not be tried by
military courts, but yields the whole principle
By admitting that persons not in the military
forces, in states where the United States courts
are open, may be tried for violating the ''usAges
aud Customs Of war" il recognizes the cate
CORY Of military of'enses committed by citi-
zen, an exception which would place your lib
erty and life and mine at the beck and call, at
tie viii and pleasure of any military commits
sion of officers too worthless for field service,
or'ered to try us, and organized TO convict
That amendmen; involves total misapprehen-
sion Of the whole question. 1t is not what Of
fenses L military court may try, but what per
sons they may try for any ofense Tie Con
stituton forbids them TO try any citizen for any
oifense | will not detain the House by nara
ting the individual cases of oppression that are
fresh in my memory There is no gentleman
that does not know Of such cases in his own
neighborhood, and has not felt this atmosphere
Of oppression around him.