The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-08
THE NEW CHIEF-JUsTICE.
He Was an Anti-war Dsmocrst Of the Z
sreme Copperhead school.

He Was an Antf-war Democrat OF the Ex-
treme Copperhead school.
Washington Special to Globe-Democrat.
Some Of the Republican Senators have been
invest ieating Mr. Fullsr's record and have made
some discoveries not at all fattering They
have found that Mr. Fuller was . member Of
she Illinois Legislature from Cook county dur
ing the war, and besides being ''coppsrhead'
OF the pronounced type, he was engaged IN very
questionable lsgisl alton As q lawyer Mr..
Fuller's career Is said to be without except on,
but as . sound patriot the evidence appears TO
be very much against him. This evidence, IL
II und erstood, has been placed in the hands
Of the Senate committee, and cites several
Incidents OF Mr.. Fuiler's legislative career
during war times which his friends are averse
TO having recalled. The most notorious was his
connection with the peace resolutions" which
passed the House Of Representatives Of the llli-
nois Legislature in February, 1863. Various
resolutions declaring the war a failure, de-
nouneinR the emancipation proclamation mn
constitutional, and otherwise belittlinR the
cause Of the Union. were offered in the House
during the months Of January and February,
1863. butt was not until the latter part Of Feb
ruary that anything was agreed upon.
The House Was Democratic By . vote Of fifty
six to twsnty-eight, and the notorious s'peaes
resolutions" as they finally passed, were adopted
by vote Of ffty-four TO twenty-sight. The
Republicans voted solidly against them, and the
Democrats for them. two Democrats only not
voting.
Melville W. Fuller was then member Of the
House. and the journal Of the Illinois LsRisla-
ture shows that he was instrumental in securing
their adoption, aud his vote IL recorded In the
Affirmative They were introduced on the 14th
Of February, by Scott Wike, Of Pike. They re-
cited that the Constitution could not be main
tanned nor tho Union preserved in opposition to
public feeling BY the mere exercise Of the coerc-
I've powers connded to the general government.
and that. IN case of differences and conflicts be-
tween the State and federal governments, too
powerful for adjustments by the civil depart
msns Of the government. the appeal was not to
the sword. but 70 the people peaceaby assem-
He'd by their representatives In convention
The suspension OF the writ OF habeas corpus
vas denounced 10 the strongest terms. IL was
alleged that citizsns not subject 10 military law
were arrested without warrant or authority, i'm
priscned, denied trial by jury, their petitions
Tor redress answered by repeated injury and in
cases being compelled to take test oaths arbi
trsry and Illegal that freedom OF speech was
abridged. some papers suppressed by military
force and q censorship established over others;
that martial law was declared in States not in
rebellion; that slaves Of loyal well az disloyal
persons were In certain States and parts Of
States declared free; that the attempted en-
forcement OF compensated emancipation could
never be brought about The transportation OF
negroes into Illinois was disapproved, as we'll 40
when West Virginia was cut OF OF 10. IL was
declared arbitrary and unconstitutional to tax
the laoorine white man to purchase the freedom
and secure the elevation OF the negro.
The declaration was also made that the ad-
minisrratiou had usurped the legislative func-
tons and superseded the judicial departments
OF the State and federal governments. subverted
the Constitution, invaded the reserved rights OF
the people and the sovereignty of the States.
which action. II sanctioned. was destructive Of
the Union. and tended to the establishment Of a
consolidated military despo tism.
The resolutions rscited that the President
had broken the declarations made in his in
augurAl message that he would not interfere.
directly or indirectly. with the institution Of
slavery In the States where 10 existed. bus that
she Emancipation Proclamation showed that the
presidents was &C war with his previous deelara-
ton la having diverted the war from its hrst
avowed object 10 that OF the subjueation and
abolition Of slavery. thus psrpetrsting fraud
both legal and moral
I'VE believe" said the resolutions. ''the fur
Their prosecution Of the war can lot result In the
restoration Of the Union and the preservation of
the Constitution ~ our fathers made it unless
che Emancipation Proclamation IL withdraw;
thst while 70 dsnouncs the fragrant and mon