Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-03-07

not inclined to speak ut length, but
should take shame to myself if such a
bill as this could be passed or be under
consideration here without uttering
some few sincere words in opposition
TO its enactment.
Sir, this bill, in Inc first place, is an
open confession in the face of the
world that republican government is
a failure. 1t is an open and shameless
confession, made by us in the presence
of our own countrymen and in the
presence of the world, that our repub-
lican institutions are not as they were
gun,a.a4.-i - L. 1--4t tsO.t ~ tiuu1vft ftdll-
~ or TO future rcnown that their
period of life has about closed, that
we are to be added TO the list of re-
publics of former times and Of other
countries who ran hurried, but some
of them not inglorious careers, TO end
in wha. this bill suggests, in the rule
of master, in the establishment of
military power, in the chastisemcnt of
crime, of violence, and Of private
wrong, not by civil law, but military
force. You propose TO put in com
mand of one third of the United States
generals of your armies. lou propose
to confer on them dictatorial powers.
That is the word. This bill establishes
a military dictatorship by congression-
al enactment for one third ofthe United
States, and its grants are in the largest
and vaguest terms. Under them any
act pertaining TO the punishment of
criminal offenders, may be authorized
and may be performed by the military
power which you set up. That is u
dictatorship. No matter by what
name it be designated, that is its ma
ture. That you establish by this bill.
Whatever you propose, that will be the
authority created il will be known as
dictatorship in all future time.
Mr.. President, at what time is il
proposed 10 set up this military dicta-
iorship in the United Statesg Is il
not nearly two years after the con
clusion of the late war? Is it not at
? a time when complete peace reigns
throughout the United States, when
there is no resistance to the authority
of the Government, and when We ap-
prehend no such resistance in future
unless that resistance be provoked,
possibly, by our own conduct and poll
cy? There can be no vindication OF
il upon the ground that il is necessary
in the conduct or management OF
military operations,in the subduing OF
force arrayed against our authority
in any portion of the country nor
that il is necessary to guard against
renewed revolt and renewed resistance
in any place or section subject TO our
jurisdiction.
The Long Parliament, to which re-
ference has been made, established q
military force of its own, independent
of the Crown, and it placed over that
force military commanders. Ii armed
them and sent them forth upon a mis-
sion of resistance to kingly power.
That was during time of civil con-
vulsion, when parties were to be ar.
, rayed against each other in deadly
conflict, when the great battle between
. executive, prerogativc, and popular
d freedom was TO be fought cut upor
British soil. There was some reason
some excuse then for u Parliament
which cla:med Omnipotcncc to confer
enormous powers upon military com
, mandcrs selected by itself There il
! no reason now why an American
Congress which is not omnipotent, al
American Congress whose powers ar
(, carefully and grudgingly parcelod out
I to it in the Constitution of the coun
! try, q Congress whose powers ar
: subjected to necessary and extensive
!. limitations; il is not now time for al
American Congress 20 assume TO itsel
those omnipotent powers which vii
> be implied by the passage of this bill
IL is not now time for the American
Congress to set up military power an
y a military dictatorship in any por
tion of the country.
The duties of the hour Of which W
}. hear so much are to heal the wound
D of conflict, 10 restore real peace an,
r genuine concord throughout our coun
o try, to return TO the pacific debates
+ which in former times characterized
, the proceedings Of the legislative de
!. partment of the Government, TO re
: store by sound measures that prosper
ity which was interrupted by the wal
/ anG by a careful and provident states
y manship Ito make provision agains
Y those dangers 10 which the prcuniar.
! interests and the liberties OF our coun
d try are liable in the future. Ii i rea'
8 Alright the duties of the hour, the,
$ may be thus described they do no
r consist in prosecuting in a time q
l. peace the projects, enterprise, an'
o measures of a war They do not N
o clude the injecting into our council
It elements of com notion, of hatred, Q
q antagonism. What is now required
l. and particularly what is required il
= the consultations of the legislative d'
d partment, which is the great branc
d ofGovernment, is spirit of Christian
J, ity and of Justice which shall put b'
4 hind us the works of war and tn
,f passions of war and incite us to work
< of restoration and peace. Possessin
&c this spirit, we shall perform our mi
> sion nobly and grandly, without !
,e our labor will be vain and our futur
)f inglorious.
Because this bill asserts q congress
G, ional omnipotence which we do M
o possess, and which, if we did posses
o Il, wo ought not to exercise bccau'
/, II renounoes boioro tho world Oh
q ---.-..l.lI--.. LII Ia.