Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-04-18

as proposed in the bill introduced by
the Senator from Missouri.
The President gives no animation
except as already indicated, that his
mind has undergone apy change. He
would therefore become Judge of thu
Worthiness OF these men > re-eulist
! If we should pass the bal. lA reduced
by the Senator from Missouri, firmly
possessed OF the conviction that few.
II any OF them were free from guilt.
In other words. practically every man
or the battalion would have to prove
his innocence before one who has
over and over again formally and
publicly adjudged him guilty and de-
nounced him as guilty I'm the severest
language OF Ccusure and condemna-
tion.
Moreover. how would such n pro-
cedure be conducted2 Would Il be
public or private? II is a constitu-
tional right OF the most important
character that all trials upon indict-
ments involving criminal charges ano
convictions shall be public, 10 the
end that the public may see to II.
through the power OF public senti-
ment, that no man shall be unfairly
condemned. This trial would not be
within the letter but il would be
within the spirit Of the Constitution.
for these men are not now soldiers to
be dealt with arbitrarily, but plain
American citizens, invested with all
the rights of citizenship. Who are
seeking not only a restoration of their
good names, but also Of valuable pro-
perty rights. to all of which they are
confessedl- entitled, if not found
guilty OF crime. They should not
be dealt with, therefore, in the dark.
as though a lot of chattels, for that
day for the American Negro has for
ever passed, but as American citizens
| entitled TO the same rights white
men would have under the same con-
diuons."
SAYS POWER IS WITH CONGRESS.
Regarding the discretion given thu
President in the Warner bill, he
said:
''And If we are to be further re-
minded as We have been, that the
President is the COmmander-in-Chief
or the army. it is a sufficient answer
that, wh4A IL is true, yet also 1t is
ltrue thae&&loes not create the army
1t is noA4e him to say who shall
enlist or reenlist. All that belongs
to Congress.
In short, there is no excuse whar-
ever for such a bill. To pass it
would be but pretending to grant re-
lief, for manifestly none would fol-
low.
"Our action would but add insult
to injury. 1t would be without pre-
cedent for IL may be safely asserted
that never before in the history of
civilization has a legislative body
been invited to require men accused
of crime to prove their innocence be-
fore hostile judge, who has already
| adJudged them guilty; and never be-
fore has there been a suggestion
that any man worthy to SIT In judg-
ment upon the rights OF his country
men would accept such a duty, If as
signed him, If conscious OF having
the slightest prejudice against the
| accused.
by what right does the Senator
from Missouri assume that the Pres
ident is capable of such a manifest
impropriety?"
THINKS MEN SHOULD BE CON-
SIDERED.
"The vilest horse thief, the most
dangerous burglar, or the bloodiest
murderer would not be required eitn-
Ter to prove his innocence or to sub.
NIT TO a trial before Judge who had
In even the most casual way express
ed the opinion that the defendant
was guilty. Such performance
would be Justly denounced az a de-
NAL OF one OF the most sacred rights
tof citizenship and a lasting disgrace