Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1867-04-12

While reiterating his desire to see his
Universal Amnesty and Universal Sut-
frage plan carried out, he made such
objection to the Military Bill that "seua-
tor Morrill,, Of Maine, read him a long
radical lecture on the improperly Of his
remarks"
Senator Stewart said that the bill
subjected the people to a fearful ordeal
of one man, arbitrary, utterly irresponsi-
BILE power and declared that unless the
Blaine amendment "road Of escape
was adopted, he would not vote for the
bill. He said that under the terms OF
the bill before the Senate
uThe military commander or
rauize at his discretion military COM
missions. Suppose that the military
commander is not a great and good man,
suppose he has p~rejudices and passions
like other men; suppose he allows those
prejudices and passions to control MS
action, and suppose the innocent are
punished, There are no CONSTANTS OF
law upon him; his will is the law. Sup
pose that he, being a mortal aud liable
TO err, Furnishes the innocent with
the guilty; suppose the tyrsnt who
is thus enthroned is not perfectly
lust, and the innocent suffer with
the guilty, how will Senators under
such circumstances excuse themselves
before their God sudtheir country? Can
they do so by saying that a future Con-
gress may remedy it; that some other
legislation may be had? No, that will
not do. If you vote for this bill you
must put init your excuse. Without a
reason appearing in the bill, and with
! out q road open to these people to es-
| cape, | never will vote for the bill,
though l stand alone, though all the
| world beside vote for it. " will
vote to place any people permanently
under military rule. never will vote
| for any one man to have absolute con-
troll Of life and liberty and property in
sny of these States. l would not trust
il to myself. / dare not trust myself
with such power. would only trust 1t
10 any man in great emergencies. loe-
lieve that temporarily we must have the
strong arm Of the military for protec-
ton; but while | believe that, | believe
that these people should have a road
open to escape. I believe it is my duty
to say to them, "Whenever you will do
right, whenever you will do justice, you
shall receive mercy"
Replying to Senator Morrill,, Stewart
said:
1.-THE Senator says I want an apology
to vote for placing the lite and liberty
of citizens in the hands Of military men.
l want an apologyfor voting for military
commissions, l want an apology for
violating the republican principle and
giving all power to n man. Yes, sir,
| do want an apology for it. want a
reason for it. l want q reason OF neces-
si.y which no man can g~ainsay before |
vote to place any man at the mercy OF
another. If l did not want an apology
| and a reason for such action, should
be false to truth, false to honesty, false
to justice, false to republican institu'
tons"
The conclusion which we have, with
no little iuctuation Of "believe"-"
believe" being the great staple OF thu
Senator's sentences)-arrivsd at, in re-
spect to Senator Stewards position or
the Military Bill is, that he thought l,
was a "capisal" measure to "ledge'
on ; actually denouneing it a. a very
Objectionable bill, and yet declaring
that on the adoption Of an immateriaI
amendment he had an excuse for voting
for it. And yet he makes, in nominal
opposition, some cogent objections tc
the bill.