The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-03-08
PRICE FIVE CENTS.

them dictatorial powers. That is the
word. This bill establishes military
dictatorship by congressional enactment
for one third of the United States, and
its grants are in the largest and vaguest
terms. Under them any act pertaining
to civil government, any act pertaining
to the punishment of criminal offenders,
may be authorized and may be perform
cd by the military power which you set
up. That is dictatorship. No matter
by what name it be designated, that Is
itsnature. That you establish by this
bill. Whatever you propose, that Will
be the authority created; 1t will bo
known as q dictatorship In oil future
time.
Mr.. President, at what time Is it pro-
posed to set up this military dictator
shin in the United States. Is it not
nearly two years after the conclusion of
the late war? Is it not at time when
complete peace reigns throughout the
United States, when there Is no resist
ance to the authority of the Govern
ment, and when we apprehend no such
resistance in future unless that resist
ance be provoked, possibly, by our con-
duct and policy? There can be no vim
dication of this measure upon the ground
of its connection with the war. There
can be no vindication of ii upon the
ground that it is necessary in tho
conduct or management of military
operations, in the subduing ofa forco
arrayed against our authority in any
portion of the country; nor that 1t Is
necessary to guard against renewed re-
volt and renewed resistance in any place
or section subject to our jurisdiction.
The Long Parliament, to which refer
ence has been made, established milf
tary force ofits own, independent of the
| ~ ,,1o fnrpn
military commanders. 1t armed them
and sent them forth upon u mission of
resistance to kingly power. That was
during time of civil CONFUSION, when
parties were to be arrayed against each
other in daily conflict, when the great
battle between executive, prerogative,
and popular freedom was to be fought
out upon British soil. There was some
reason, some excuse then for Parlia-
ment which claimed omnipotence to
confer enormous powers upon military
commanders selected by itself. There is
no reason now why an American Con-
gress which is not omnipotent, an Amer
lean Congress whose powers are care
fully and grudgingly parceled out to IL
in the Constitution ofthe country, Con-
gress whose powers are subjected to ne
cessary and extensive limitations 1t Is
not now time for an American Con-
gress to assume to itself those omnipo-
tent powers which will be implied by
the passage of this bill. 1t is not now
time for the American Congress to set
up military power and military dicta-
: torship in any portion of the country.
, The duties of the hour of which we
hear so much are to heal the wounds of
conflict, to restore real peace and genu-
| inc concord throughout our country, to
, return to the pacific debates which In
+ former times characterized the proceed
ings of the legislative department OF tho
D Government, to restore by sound meas
:: ures that prosperity which was inter,
5 rupted by the war, and by a careful and
T. prOvident craftsmanship to make pro-
c vision against those dangers to which
= the pecuniary interests and the liberties
= of our country are liable in the future.
1 If read Alright the duties of the hour,
= they may be thus described: they do
II not consist in prosecuting in time OF
v peace the projects, enterprises, and meas
: ures of a time of war. They do not in
c clude the injecting into our councils Gle
ments of commotion, ofhatred, of antaS-
Ionism. What is now required, and par
" ticularly what is required in the consul
:. tatons of the legislative department,
" which is the great branch of Govern
= ment, is n spirit of Christianity and Of
q Justice, which shall put behind Us tho
- works of war and the passions of war
land incite Us to works Of restoration and
;, peace. Possessing this spirit, we shall
IL perform our mission nobly and grandlyi
y without it, our labor will be vain and
,o our future inglorious.
i Because this bill asserts acongression-
>, al omnipotence which we do not pos
=, sess, and which, five did possess it, we
W ought not to exercise; because it an.
y nounces before the world the failure Of
u republican institutions among us; be,
u u cause it disregards all the constitutional
II projections Of the citizen, and, without
u, necessity or reason, subjects him in his
~ rights of property, liberty, and even lift
,e ] shall vote against it, as | shall vote
" against all similar measures which may
~ be introduced hereafter.