New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-07-12
GENERAL POLITICAL NEWS
DANGERS OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
VIEWS OF SENATOR BLAIR on THE PRRILs
THREATENING OUR REPUBLIC.

DANGERS OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT.
VIEWS OF SENATOR BLAIR on THE PERILs
THREATENING OUR REPUBLIC.
Ex-GOv. Austin Blair of Michigan, who has
recently repudiaed Grant and announced his intention
to support Greeley Brown delivered the Fourth Of
July grafton at Kalamazoo in the course Of which he
said:
The habits Of military government are not easily laid
aside. The soldier naturally has much greater faith IN
the efficiency of his sword TO maintain public order and
due respect than the slower process OF the court
and the sheriff He IL apt 10 feel certain contempt for
the arrest that cannot be made without demand based
on affidavit, and for the imprisonment That may rapidly
be termned by an action OF the haboas corpus ana ne
lawyer are to him little better than jargona the best
the cunning devices 10 defeat Justice Tell him that the
great reilance OF good government must be upon the
good Judgment and patriotism of the people, and II he
would be better If lis could somehow be thrown
INTO the scale. For some years after the close OF
the Rebellion 1t seemed necessary TO continue tho
military occupation Of the lately nsurrectionary States
and 1t has been continued in greater less degree
believe that the Of military force is the most sum
mary and convenient method OF putting down those
evils which exist there and very many no doubt seri-
ousy believe that there no other ehclent way Ihet
faith the people IL entirely lost and they stu struggle
keep up that system Those portions Of the people
who may consider Themselves oppressed ana WfOnkou
fy 10 the military for protection they have
found IL efficient heretofore General Government
Is constantly mpOrtuned to Interfere upon every SORT OF
pretext and many statutes have enacted TO make
such interference legal until there IL danger that It
may be drawn into precedent and become common re-
our fathers 1 erected with such painstakng care.
and foresight, against the encroaehments OF power
more less arrested, one after another until tne
time has arrived when It Is necessary 10 l1oA lneo
of the safeguards OF liberty which experience has
proved to be essential safely be set aside for any
not OF the most serious nature ana then o.y IN
pursuance OF settled laws. The Constitution OF the
article that the privilege the writ Of habeas corpus
shall not suspended unless when In case Of rebellion
proposition has lately been made in Congress in time
Of profound peace 10 authorize the President AZ ms as
nd fha writ
The proposition passed the Senate aud was only deeate
in the House by the most easIeTn AM fine
circumstances surrounding IL. The president OF th9
United States with the power in his hands To suspend
that writ AT his pleasure dictator in fact. whatever
he may called. It is the power at his single VIII 10
in the land by armed solter cr %n
any citizen who may nave incurred the 'la
pleasure OF the Government This IS power so vast ana
dangerous that nothing snort OF the actua ekence
OF the emergencies contemplated Dy te oohsttaion
could for moment justify II. That II should nave Deeh
contemplated at all Is an evidence OF the great bIosesi
made within the last four years In those prncpes anu
practices which easily justify the use OF arbitrary
and there is no reason to apprehend either. what then.
purpose OF this attempt to authorize the suse
grounded that the occasion might occur In which t
might lawfully be done, or was 1t intended 10 exercise
the power against the law in certain eyentt what
ever may have been the design OF those who SET tue
scheme on foot frustrated aogether and the re-
az 1 believe every such effort in the future viii
be- 1t is now several years SINCE bSsn TestoTed and
are Tenresented i'm Congress- Il it not time that
legislation should cease II IL is not when will IL bei
Are we TO 20 forever as II new rebellion was just
about break outl Shall we never again trust the eO
pie with the control OF their afairsi Is IL true that
have arrived at point when II Is necessary or tio
National Government TO stand guard win lts drawn
sword ever the States menaclng immediate inter-
ference in their domestic affairs Has local segOVetn
men already failed and must we bring IN tRe a'
know many regard them but with very many others
they are Of the most serious import and surely IL VIII
never be of order for the American people to con-
slider carefully drift OF public affairs. III Is thelr
especial duty know just what Is the meaning OF puDo
acts which are in themselves unusual ana "Ach seem
10 lead us In the wrong direction.
What remains for Is restoration. we need 10 clear
away all the rubbish Of the TO put behind us all Od
conflicts which have no longer any meaning why nurse
the enmties which grew OF slavery after slavery 1t
self Is dead Why continue TO indulge the spirit OF war
long after the war has ceasedl why enact laws OF
doubtful cOnstitutiOnaty in hope or accomplishing by
intimidation what could be much more easily done ny
Cancellation and good Will Why MAINTAIN eXasperatlng
disabilities after all occasion Tor tne mas passed. away
union that rests force Is not the union estDsheu
by our foreathers. The force necessary for tenn
porary object but cannot must not take the place OF
statesmaushiD in Institutions Reason Is the power
on which we must rely, with patriotism for the motive
TO give it direction. orr Government IL one OF the
people, and its appeal Is always TO the good sense ana
of that appeal every of the land Interest hopes
ambition all combine to unite our whole population In
vast National Commonwealth under SOhSttutlon
which abundantly the rights OF all We want
peace indeed, real, enduring peace based on mutual
interests and common respect We want order secured
by the institutions OF peace the court anu jury anu
not the soldier with his bayOnet, who never did and
never secure 1t. Not the peace OF desert
made by fear, but the blooming wholesome peace that
respects the rights and liberties OF all men. We want
good fraernal government secured by wise laws, with
Just and economical administration, and this also must
the people whose careful attention IL must
always secure Let them not listen 10 apologies for
wrongs but abate them. Let them hold those who oc-
cupy the high places TO the strlctest accountability,
being charitable indeed toward honest errors bnt mex
ora lie tpu