The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1871-11-02
Martial Law in South Carolina,

Nero is Mil to have 6'LlIed while Rome
was burning Grant, wihou. The provoc.
alton. is violating the Constitution by de.
claring martial law in the South while the
North is burning. Scarcely has the Pres.
ilcnt taken bis sea, in his proper residence
at the Capital Of the nation, after pleas
ure. seeking campaign Of many months;
aud willis, tho thoughts Of the American
people arc painfully exercised with the
iaaarlrendius tdings Of the most appalling
ircs the history OF Tic ~arll has recorded
one destroying, with the loss Of many isi;
an opulrnt aud populous city; others
grooming over vast territories 10 several
States, destroying tuou.nu'- O. S:e!!!!g,s many
Towns and villages and leaving homeless
and hreadlcSs innunerabc families OF ag.
ricul'nrists. that muah oppressed. hard.
working class VII, at best have to con-
tend against the grinding and oppressive
ge6s,-saSa,ion imposed upon them by the
fiailni,ous political party 0ow ruling aud
Eruinins the country. we find General Grant
cuolly mkiug advantage Of questionable
act Of Congress the conNitu,ionahty of
which is denied By every lawyer of ability.
coupled with honesty, in the land to issue
a proclamation" initiating military de-
spotisn, and which has now eliminated in
another proclamation" declaring martial
law in one of the free aul inIepenlnn,
States composing the Uai'cd States
Martial law says the great English com,
incubator Blackstone, is entirely arbitrary
has no settled principles, aud, in truth. is
no law; in the language Of lord I.oushbor
ough, at doe. not exist i. England at
all" Martial law. rs thus described, can
only exist in the United States by virtue
Of clause in the Constitution which vests
in Congress alone the power to suspend
the writ Of habes corpus when the public
safety may require it in cases Of rebellion
or invasion Congress itself has no power
I, suspend the wri, in time Of peace =
This bein, de'eyutea power to Congress,
Congress cannot delegate that power to
either of tue other twoch ordinate branche.
Of the Government Nor could a more
efT'c'ual auihilation Of all the principle
and theories free government. ora more
deadly assault upon the letter aud spirit Of
the Constitution be made, than that Of
vesting in the Executive. 10 time Of pro-
: found peace. this despotic power, especially
when that branch of the Government hap.
pens. unfortunately for the country. to be
filed by a military cheiFtaiu. who from al.
most AFFECT obscurity, by the foruitaou|
incidents Of war, has risen to the Chief
Nlagstracy Of u great EepuIic. However
qualified by talents or education General
Grant may be for the command Of an army
be has proved himself utterly ignorant Of
the arr Of restoring peace. aud healing the
wounds civil discord and military violence
had inflicted On the civil institutions ofthe
country. By the sword he rose to bis
present. exalted position, and By the sword
be hopes to retain it How long. 0, ye
American citizens Republicans, Conser.
vatives Democrats, all!-will ye sustain
such . President and the polilica rrick,,ers
who support him?- Washington Patriot