North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1867-03-13
VOL. 6 NO. 81

In any way but one that ID by the ordan-
ed and established courts. 1t is equally
we'll known that III all criminal cases 9 tri-
al by jury is made Indispensable by the
express words Of that instrument. will
moi enlarge on the inestimable value of the
right thus secured BY ever freeman, or
speak of the danger to public liberty in all
parts of the country which must ensue from
denial of it anywhere or upon any pre-
tence. A very recent decision OF the Su
preme Court has traced the history, vindi-
Gated the dignity, and made known the
value OF this great privilege so clearly that
nothing is needed. To that extent viola
ton OF it may be excused in time of war
or public danger may admit Of discussion
but We are providing now for time of pro-
found peace, when there is not an armed
soldier within our borders except those who
are in the service Of the government. 1t is
such condition of things that an act of
Congress is proposed which, if carried out,
would deny N trial by the lawful courts and
iuries To nine millions Of American citizens
to their posterlty tor an indefinite period.
Is seems to be scarcely possible that any
one should seriously believe this consistent
with Constitution which declares in sim
pie, plain, and upambiguous language that
all persons shall have that right, and that
10 person shall ever in any case be depriv-
ed OF it. The Constitution also forbids
the arrest of the citizen without judicial
| warrant founded on probable cause {: this
bill authorizes an arrest without warrant
u. the pleasure Of u military commander.
The Constitution declares that no person
shall be held to answer for q capital or
otherwise infamous crime unless on pre-
sediment by grand jury this bill holds
every person noha soldier answerable for
all CRIMES and all charges without any pre-
sentiment. The Constitution declares that
no person shall be deprived Of life, liberty
Or property, without due process of law;
TINS bill sets asiIe all process of law, and
makes the citizen snswerable in his person
| aud property to the will of one man,
and for h,s life to the will Of two Finally
the Constitution declares that 'the privilege
of the writ Of ha6eus corpus shall not be
suspended unless when, in case of rebellion
Oh INVASION, the public safety may require
it :" whereas this bill declares martial law,
which Of itself suspends this great writ in
time of peace and authorizes the military
to make the arrest and gives to the prison
er only one privilege, and that is trial
without unnecessary delay" He has no
nope of release FROM custody except the
hope, such as it IS, Of release by acquittal
before q military commission. The Uni
ted States are bound to guarantee to each
State republican form OF government.-
Can it be pretended that this obligation is
no. palpatIy broken if we carry out mea.
sure like this, which wipes away every yes.
tge Of republican government in ten States
and put The lie, property, liberty, and hon
or OF Ill the paople in each Of these under
the domination Of n single person, clothed
with unmitled authority? The Parliament
OF England, exercising the omnipotent pow
pass bills Of at,slnder-that is to say, it
would convict men Of treason and other
crimes OF Legislative enactment. The per-
son accused had hearing, sometimes q
patient and fair one, but generally party
prejudice prevailed instead Of justice. It
often became necessary for Parliament to
acknowledge its error and reverse its own
action. The fathers of our country deter
mlucd that no such thing should occur here
They withheld the power from Congress,
aud thus forbade its exercise by that body,
and they provided in the Constitution that
no otale should pass any bill of attainder.
IL ls theretoss impossible yor sny porson in
this country to bs constilutionAlIy convict.
cd or punished Tor any crime by alegisla-
tive proceeding Of any sort, Nevertheless,
here s bill OF attainder against nine nil
lops OF people at once. 1t is based upon
All accusation so vague rs to scarcely beintel-
hgiule, aud found 10 be true upon no cred.
lille evidence. Not one Of the nine mil
hens was heard in his own defeace. The
representatives of the doomed parties were
excluded from all participation in the trial.
Ihe conviction in to be followed by the
most ignominious punishment ever inAict-
ed upon large masses Of men. II disfran-
chises them by hundreds OF thousands, and
degrades them all, even those who are sd-
united 70 be guiltless, from the rank Of
freemen to the condition of slaves. The
purpose and object of the bill, the general
intent which prevails from beginning to
end, is to change the entire structure and
character OF tue State governments, and to
compel them by force to the adoption Of
ganic laws and regulations which they
are unwilling to adopt if left to themselves.
The negroes have not asked for the priv
ilege OF voting; the vast majority Of them
have 10 idea what il means. This bill not
only thrusts it into their hands, but compels
them as well 40 the whites to use it IL q
particular way If they do, not form a
constitution with prescribed articles in it,
aud sfterwards elect @ legislature which
will act upon certain messures IN prescrib-
ed way, neither blacks, nor whites can be
relieved from the slavery which the bill inn
poses upon them, Without pausi,g here
] l,n, NE Tr,