The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1871-10-05

facts shall be deemed a denial by sui! state of
equal protection under its laws, and il 3hall be
lawful for the President and his duty, to take
such measures by the employment Of the mill
tia land and naval forces OF the United States.
or by other means, as he may deem necessary,
to suppress it,
THE PRESIDENT ENDOWED WITH DESpOTIC
POWER.
Where the combination, III the Judgment Of
the President, is able to defy the State or the
State connives at its purpose, the President may
suspend the writ of habeas corpus IN that To-
cality.
Let me again call your attention to the fact
that previous law made it criminal to deprive
any person of any constitutional right. lie
who committed such an offence could be prose-
euted. The marshal, having at his command
all the force he might need, could arrest nm,
and ample provision was made tor his trial,
condemnation and punishment. All that, you
Will notice. Is a judicial proceeding, and right
and proper. But the case here provided for is
not judicial proceeding; it is war It is not
the marshal and his posse making an arrest I'M
der a warrant. There is no process in it, and
no court. 1t is the commander-ln-chief at the
head of his army entering State, not to make
an arrest, but to cut down and Stay. | repeat
it, it is war. The State government is pushed
aside; the courts are shut: they are not want
ed; the writ of habeas corpus is suspended,
and the Federal Government takes absolute
and supreme command.
! Never before to-day could the Federal Gov
eminent march its armies into State, on ac-
count of any disturbance confined within that
State, unless invited to do so. Now it may do
on its own motion. AS Senator Thurman
we'll says, the whole matter is left to the udg-
without any appeal from his judgment, wheth-
er there Is an instruction, or domestic violence.
or an unlawful combination. He alone decides
whether it works deprivation of any right.
| He alone decides whether the State is unable or
| fails to afford protection. He alone forms the
| Judgment and then executes it by such measures
Us he chooses to adopt. He is both Judge and
eXccutioner. Behold a despot. Where is the
State: Under his heel. Where is that great
writ upon which we all depend for our person
The people never put it there. How carefully
| they have tried to guard it.
" 1t never shall be suspended, unless When in
cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety
may require it, and even then it is trusted not
| to the one-man power, but TO Congress, one OF
| whose duties il Is to watch this one-man power
How came it in his hand? We are at peace
with every nation on the earth, and not SC
much as one solitary being in all our land stands
in arms against any authority, Federal or State
GRANT MADE A GAR.
My friends, this is not temporary law, MOI
is it confined in It's application to any particular
locality. 1t stands MS our permanent policy
to Ohio, to all the Western, Northern and East
ern States, well AS to the Southern States
From this day each and all of them are exposed
to this military invasion; from this day the
writ of habeas corpus may be suspended
against your liberties and mine, at the will o
one man. One man decides the whole case
and he Who makes the decision executes it ne
cordng to his own pleasure. TO put the mat
ter in the mildest words, we make a permanent
| deSpot over us all to correct a temporary ant
local evil. 1t may me rotous outbreak in 4
mere town ship. That is enough; case is
made for the President and this extraordinary
power is let loose against us. The State may
differ with the President-it may deny that
there is case for his interference; and if there
be a case of domestic violence, it may insist that
it can and will put it down. in due time, and in
! the best way. What matters it now what the
State may think or wish? 1t is no longer fit tc
keep the peace within its own borders. 1t is
silenced, and the whole matter is with the Pres.
| ident But, we are told, the President will not
abuse this extraordinary power. Who knows
that: Again they tell us we can trust him. A
free people trusts nobody with such powers
can point to YOU long reigns of despots during
which the peace of the nation was undiSturbed
and all rights were respected and enjoyed. The
sword of absolute power lay all the while at
| the hand of the ruler. and was not once lifted
| But what people jealous of their liberties anG
safety would place it there:
How violent, how dangerous and unnecessary
! is this legislation. The war is over, but the
spirit Is still upon us. The sword is every
| wherein front Of Us, to the right of Us. to the
left Of us, on all sides and in all measures. Ii
| is fast becoming the daily remedy for private
wrongs. The old-fashioned ways of keeping
| the peace with civil officers, chosen by our
| selves from among our neghbors. are dying
out, and the practices of despoism are tax ina
their places.