Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-12-27
supreme Court Osi siie knights
of the Golden Circle.

The following is the article in the Wash
ington CarOaiele, rejecting on the decision
of the majority of the Supreme Court in
relation To the Indiana ConSpiraturs. WHO
were tried, convicted, and sentenced by a
Military Commission for traitOrous practi-
ces. The decision has created great eXul-
tation among the rebels in Washington.
Their organ the lutliiyenc,r, claims almost
in terms, that under this decision the earn
est men of the Republic are to be punished
for their efforts against the traitors. Unless
Congress- interyencs, suits will be cycry-
where brought against those who took
part in military trials. &c. There is how
ever, very little doubt that Congress will
axe prompt action.
The five Judges in the majority were
terrier, Nelson. Clifford. Davis and Field.
The dissenting Judges were Chief Justice
Chase, Miller, WAYNE. and Swayne.
The comments Of the Chronicle are rs
follows:
'.THE SUPREME COURT AND TIE AMERICAN
KSraiITs.p ALIAS ''k.;iGHrsoF TIE GOLDEN
CIRCLE"
lon Monday, by majority of one. the
supreme Court, in the Case OF tI-pdrte
Milllgan, declared the prisoner trial Illegal
and his conviction imperative, and order
cd his release.
lit NAV be proper to state that Milligan
was prominent leader among the 'Ameri-
can Knights or Knights of the Golden
Circle and L was for lraitorOus practices
90 tlafs taft al
Indiana. when that State was the theatre
of the war that he was arraigned and con
lemped by a military commission. on tie
fullest proof of his guilt. His death sen
tence was approved by General Hovcy.
who convened the court, and by General
Hooker, commander OF the department,
and, in April. 1865, was ordered To be
carried into execution by President john
son. who however, subsequently cOmmu
ted il To Imprisonment for life. The SUI
preme Court now holds all the proceedings
against him 10 have been mall and void. on
the ground that military commissions
wherever or however constituted, are I'M
constitutional and without color of law to
support them.
I'VE refrain from any detailed criticism
on this nlomentous decision until it shall
have been published in full. We cannot.
however. avoid saying now that in its
scope, as reported, it can scarcely fail to
shock the sensibiliiies and provoke the Sc
we're rebuke of loyal men everywhere. The
exultation of the Infeiligencer over il will
awaken jubilant echo throughout rebel
dom, and the hearts of traitors will be
made glad by this announcement that trea-
son vanquished upon the battlefield. and
hunted up from every other retreat. has at
last found a secure shelter ia the bosom OF the
Supreme Court.
The military commission thus denoun-
ced as a unsurpatiOn, has existed IS le-
climate fundamentally in the hands of the
war making power from the foundation of
the Government; it has again and again
been recognized by Congress, composed of
the greatest statesmen. jurists and patriots
Of the nation. and has been constantly en-
plOyed BIZ all our most illuStrious Generals
as potent agency for the suppression Of
the rebellion. President Lincoln, himself
an able lawyer. and. as Chief Magistrate,
most careful ofhuman life, confirmed and
executed the death sentences OF this tribu-
nal in numberless cases. Yet we are now
told that all this array of learning and pat
riOism, and experience and loyalty, which
has given unhesitating support TO the
military commission Is TO be he'll for naught
in the presence of a single voice Of the
Supreme Court. The bravest, trie5t and
wisest men of the land, who have used this
tribunal in defence of the national life, are
thus branded as felons, and we are now
told that the real criminals ofthe war were
not the traitors, spies, guerillas, and assas-
sins, but the patriots who tried them.
This extraordinary decision will doubtless
receive the attention of Congress at an ear
ly day"