Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-03-06
Why Not Try lsOltl

Now that Conoyer is convicted of pcriu-
ry, why should not Joe Holt, the head of
the so-called Bureau of Military Justice, be
put upon trial? Why not try and convict
the mere tool and agent and let the princi-
pal go free? All that Conover did was to
comply with the demand, of Holt. IIewas
furnished with money by Holt, with which
to procure witnesses in order to prove that
Davis was connected with the assassination
of Lncol y made such bungling job
, of it, thatno exposed his guilt, and COM
PEELED his employers to make show of vr-
tue by abandoning and prosecuting him. -
Suborncrs are every whit as criminal as the
principals, and as richly deserve punish
mcnt. They always flourish where legal
courts are superseded by lynch law or mill
tary commissions. In such times and places
suborners and common inlormcrs, those
pests Of society, hold the lives, the rights,
the property Of the rest of community. at
their mercy. Holt should, in equal justice,
be tried and compelled to endure his share
Of the punishment.
g=J~ The Legislature is not likely to pass
a General Railroad Law this winter. The
defeat of the Connellsvillc railroad bill is
fair indication Of what element controls that
Legislative body. Every member in the
interest of the Pcnna. Railroad Co. bitterly
opposed the bill. 1t would seem that that
great monopoly is allowed still to control all
legislation upon Railroad subjects The pco-
pie in Allegheny and adjacent counties
are quite indignant over the defeat OF
this bill. The Western members alege
fraud and corruption to be the cause of its
defeat, and Others claim its failure on the
ground that the completion of that road
would be the means of building up and en-
rlching city outside of this State. That
city is Baltimore. after all, the great Sc.
crct of the whole il, that the Pennsylvania
Central Railroad was likely to lose large
amount of tonnage in the event of the new
road being built. The Legislature did great
injustice to the Conncsvilc and Pttsburg
Railroad Company, and a gricvous wrong
to the people of the whole western part of
the State, simply to crafty the demands
and benefit selfish monopoly.
Eay Who ever heard of free press
flourishing under the deadly shadow of the
bayonet? 1t sinks under its arbitrary rule
like shackled frccmcn within sunless
dungeon. There is no freedom where there
is no discussion, and there can be no discus.
sion when Coloncls nod or a Leutenant's
order may strip man of his rights. There
is hardly solitary amendment ST the Con.
stitution, whether lclating to a free press,
to free speech, to the right of assemblage,
to freedom of person or from search, to
prescntment by grand jury or jury trial,
to bearing arms, or the reserved rights of
the people, that this military bin does not
utterly and shamelessly disregard.
~~s~s
Bay Has it come to this, in free America,
that the Congress of the United States are
debating upon the proprety of law that
shall prevent Supreme Judge of the Unit
ed States from holding court in one-half of
the Union, save by the permit of wearer
of shoulder-straps? Is the Chief Justice
of the United States to get the gracious
authority of Il military official to hold his
sitting in the capital of Virginia? We'll
may men ask, Are We living in free rcpub.
lie, in the midst of the nineteenth century;
Or have we been transported lack to the
violence and intolerance and armed tyranny
Of the dark ages? .
BsT" Arthur's Magazine maintains its rep.
utation well as periodical of rare literary
ability. Its corps of contributors is not out
done in the State. The March number
isa rare one, and should lie upon every desk
and centre table. Price per anhum So. 30
to single Subscribers H,hl;slod l,, ~, 6