The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-03-07
IN. so,,a c.ro,in. Murderers.

he House committee APpoiuted investigate
tain South Carolina murders Of Unsa soldiers have
made their report Isappears that all The base char
ges made against tie President abou. removing the /
criminals 10 Fort Delaware, that they might obtain
their release by OF the writ OF ha6sas
were simply fabrca;ions that Mr.. Stanton had the
men removed upon legal grounds aud for good rea
sons We annex his testimony given before the
~ TESTIMONY OF THE sEcRETAHY or WAR
When the record of the trial and conviction of |
KEYS aud Others anedg~d to have committed the muir
der in South Carnlna, hal been reported upon by the
Judge Advocate General, examined it and found
that more of the parties convicted had received
. Communication Of sentence by the action of General
Sickes, and that more remained subject to the
execution the capital sentence, in view of what was
understood be The opinion Of the supreme Court in
reference to trials by military COMMISSIONS l did
not feel myself justified in ommending the execu
ton of the sentence DEATH and therefore advised
the President to commute the sentence of she others
to imprisonment for life, which think was doue-the
record however, will show it seemed to me Ia be i'm
proper to recommend the execution Of the capital
sentence when there any doubt as to the juris-
dcsion Of the tribunal 10 nAct such punishment in
order avoid collision between the military com
mander OF the department and the civil authorities IN
South Carolina ] directed the prisoners to be sent
! 10 the IOftuRaS subsequently, unaeassS~ NSeA
some that complaint made of their trans
| fer to that post and myself somewhat anxious
about in view Of the fact that had considerable
number of there and that the threat
ened be siekly. therefore determined On remove
them to Northern prison, and, on consideration,
| I concluded that Fort Delaware wonld be the best
place for their confinement during their sentence and
/ gave orders for their transfer to Fort Delaware.
/ They remained there until the officer in charge was
served with writ of hsbsas corpus, which directed
him to obey had the record and proper instruc-
tons transferred 10 him, and caused the District At
torney to be directed prepare to the writ
aud to resist the discharge of the prisoners; was
aterward informed by the Autant General that they
were discharged by Judge Hall, Of the United States
District Court who had issued the writ this compri-
SEES think the substance Of what know in references
TO the matter under inquiry; my opinion OF the Law
is that all such properly cognizabe by mill
tarv tribunals believe that those persons were
properly convicted, and that Milligan also prop
ery convicted think that the true exposition Of the
law by this country and OF every other civilized coun
try of the GLOBE justies in saying that trials
vctions and by military tribunals per-
fectly legal do tl6uk that the decision of the
Supreme Court il. the case of Milligan was justified
by any principle of law recognized by any civil Gov
eminent the earth I think is wholly inconsistent
with thprotection of persons in the military service
with the preservation of peace and safety in any
of the States in Instruction whether this view of tbs
law be correct how it be enforced if correct
properly subject for legislative wisdom, and
, which cannot make any suggestion know of bu
.--A .-;,---e'tan orIsr riIursry: II the cisI
tribunals fail do not know of any other remedy thar
military tribunals; never heard of any nt+rmeiiat
| tribunals between those two Tar as have sno a !
edge there was no purpose in bringing those parties to
Fort Delaware to bring them within the iuri Iicton "a
court. SO that the writ of Aa5eas eorpm could amply
the Order was made by in the exercise of NV bes,
judgment and on my official responsibility do no,
think that any person whatever suggested that pl ce
or that ever conversed with any in reference 70
it, except with the Adiutaut General on the genera
subject as to wha. military posts were at that time
\ used as military prisons.