The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1870-05-13
HABEAs CORPUS IN GEoRGIA--wHAT
SENATOR'S THINK OF 1T.


A special dispatch to the Baltimore
Sun, dated Washington, May 4, says ::
''The fact that General Terry, command
ing in Georgia, had virtually suspended
the writ of habeas corpus and instituted
a military commission to try civil often
ders while the civil courts were in session
was not generally known here till to-day.
Mr.. Beck, of Kentucky, attempted to
get resolution through the House call
ing upon the President for all informal
tion 1.-THE premises, and to know If this
extraordinary proceeding received his
official sanction, but single objection
prevented It's consideration. The infor-
nation at hand shows that citizen of
Warrenton, Georgia, was arrested at
midnight, without knowledge of the
charge and at once imprisoned. Coun-
sci sued out writ Of habeas corpus before
the civil court having jurisdiction, but
General Terry gave orders that the writ
should not be obcyed.
at seems that the Senate even did not
intend to authorize such suspension un-
der the Georgia bill, now pending in the
House, and most of the Senators thought
that the writ could not be suspended I'M
der present circumstance, but General
Terry has not on y suspended the writ
but virtually declared martial law. Fur
Their information says that the pretext
for this is an intention to develope the
KuKlux. For four days the examination
of this citizen has been going on under
bayonets, and the whole community
thrown into terror lest suborned testi
mony may touch the unoffending. A let
ter says that this is part of Bullock's
scheme to make it appear that there is
trouble in Georgia, and if the fear of be-
ing involved with the military did not
deter, the scheme would be exposed, and
would startlc the co untry even in these
times. The crime charged in this par
ticuIar case is the murder Of a citizen
more than year ago. The friends OF
the murdered man are numerous, and
decline to prosecute the man under mil
itary arrest for the crime, 1t is beiev-
cd in Georgia that other arrests are to
follow this, though there are no inculpa-
ting facts, and the impression is crca-
ting great alarm"
A military government is no new thing
in this country, and we should manifest
no greater surprise to see one quietly
submitted to by the whole North and
West than we are now that we see one,
by the consent of the American people,
permitted to exist in the State of Georgia.
The form OF government is necessary
consequence, in AS much as the Constl-
tuition of the Republic is shattered, man
gIcd, torn and virtually rendered a null
lity by those representatives who were
sworn to maintain it in all lis pristine
glory and strength as the bond Of unity
between the States. They are now ac-
Qualities, and though they may be but
temporary in their duration, they are
liable to be established at any time, or
whenever a majority foiled and beaten
back in the Court secs proper to resort
to them in order to control public affairs
They were born in the time of excite
ment, when war ragged in the country,
and when the blood Of Americans ran in
rivers down our hillsidcs and across our
plains. Though there is no actual war
at this time, it appears that military
government is necessity. Because the
period of excitement, and its attendant
passions and prejudiccs still exist; be-
cause the voices Of equity and reason are
drowned.
Until the period of excitement is pass
ed until the passions and prcjudices Of
the hour are dead until the voice of
reason is once more heard in and ont of
our Naliona! Councils, there will be mil
itary governments in this country. We
must expect and submit to them, and
look to the futurc-how far off that flu
ture is we know not-but which, I'M
doubtedly, has in store for us, as a peo-
pie, unnumbered blessings, unlimited
prosperity and untold glories. Certain
of that future, we cannot afford to be
rash now. Gen. Terry, the Military
Governor of the United States in Gcor-
gia, may or may not be as tyranical as
he is represented, certainly he is but
the military servant of the government,
and acting under instructions. Were he
not the servant of the United States and
acting in obedience to its mandates, he
very probably would be glad to be as con-
ciliatory as any gentleman would wish.
1t is the party in power at Washington
that is to be held accountable for the in
Justice that has been practiced towards
Georgia, and until the American peo-
pie overthrow that party, we must ex-
pect in the future the same amount of
lreachery, intrigue and rascality, as here
tofore on the Georgia question.
SOUTHERN BAPTIST CoNyENTION.-A
Western press dispatch in the Nashville
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