Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-02-28

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number of agents as is contemplated by the
bill, must, BY the very nature OF man, be
attended by acts of caprice, injustice and
passion. The trials, having their origin
under this bill, are 10 lake place without
the Intervention OF jury, aud without any
fixed rules OF law or eyidendce. The rules
on which offences are 10 be heard and de-
termined, by the numerous agents. are such
rules and regulations as The President,
through the War Department, shall pre-
scribe. No previous presenlment is re-
quired, nor any Indictment, charging The
commission OF crime asains. the laws !;
bn! the trial must proceed on charges and
specifications. The punishment will be
not what the law declares, but such as
Court-martial may think proper. Ard from
these arbitrary tribunals there lies no ap.
peal-no writ of error 20 any of The Courts,
in which the Constitution of the United
States vests exclusively The judicial power
OF The country while the Territory, and The
class of actions and offences, that are made
subject 10 this measure, are so extensive
lha, the bill itself, should it become law,
will have no Limitation in point of time, bnI
will form part of the permanent legisla-
lion of The country. | cannot reconcile
system OF military jurisdiction Of this kind
with the words of The Constitution, which
declare that ''no person shall be held 10 an
swer for capital or otherwise Infamous
crime, unless on presenlment or indicl-
menl of grand jury, except in cases aris-
ing in the land or naval forces, or in the
militia, when in actual service in time of
war or public DANGER" aud that "in all
criminal prosecutions, The accused shall
enjoy the rish: to a speedy and public trial
By an impartial jury of the State or distric,
wherein the crime shalI have been COM
mitiedp
The safeguards which The wisdom and
experience of ages taught our fathers 10 es-
iabiish as securities for the protection Of the
innocent, the punishment Of the gully, and
the equal administration OF justice, are to
be sell aside, and for the sake of more Wig
orcUs inlerposition in behalf of justice, we
are TO .ake The rest OF the many acts OF in
Justice that wonld oil necessity follow from
an almost countless number Of agents es-
lnblished in every parish or county in nearly
a third OF the Stsss Of the Union, over
whose decision there s 10 be no superFi-
sion or control by lbe Federal Court. The
power that would be thus placed in the
hands of the President is such as in time OF
peace certainly ought never to be entrusted
to any one man. If ii be asked whether
The creation of such tribunal within Il
State is warranted as a measure of war. the
question Immediately presents itself whelh-
er we are still engaged in war. Let US not
unnecessarily disturb the commerce, and
credit, and industry Of the couErry, ny de-
clarir TO the American people and the
world that The United States are still in a
condition of civil war a presenl there is
no part of our country in which The authority
of The United States is dispufel. Offences
that may DO committed by individuals
should rot work forfeiture of The rights ol
The same communities. The country has
entered, or is returning 10 d state OF peace
ard irdusi.l, and the rebellion is in fact al
an end. The measure, therefore, seems to
be as inconsistent with The actual condition
of the county as it is at variance with .he
Constitution of The United States.
II, passing from general considerations,
We examine The bill in detail, it is open TO
weighty objections. Ia time of war ii was
emipeuily proper that we should provide
for those who were passing sDddenly from
a condition Of bondage TO a stale of freedom.
Bat this bill proposes to make 'he Freed
mems Bureau, established by the act oil
1868, as one OF many great and extraordi-
nary military measures 10 suppress tor-
midabIe rebellion, q permanent branch ct
the public administration, with its powers
greatly enlarged. have no reason 10 sup
rose, and do not understand II to be al
legeJ, that The act OF March 1865, has prov
ed deficient for The purpose fer which. ii
was passed; although at that Time, and for
considerable period thereafter, the govern
ment Of the United States remained unac-
knowledged in most of the States, whose
inhabitants had been involved in the re-
beIIion The institution of slavery, for the
military destruction OF which tho Freed
mems Bureau was called into existence as
an auxiliary force, has been already effec.
IuaIy and finally abrogated throughout the
whole country by en- amendment oil the
Constitution OF the Uni,ed States, and prac-
tically It's eradication has received The as
sent and concurrence OF most of those
States in which il at any time had existed.
am not, therefore, able 10 discern in tne
country anything TO justify an apprehension
that The powers and agencies OF the Freed
mems Bureau, which were effective for the
protection of freedmen and refugees Guriog
the actual coniinu uslion of hoSlililies and