Year: 1863

Mr. Senator Doolittle made speech at
Chicago not long ago, passage of which is
thus reported:


1u regard to the matter which was Immediately
before the meeting, he said: He believed the ex-
ercise of the power in any part OF the United
States to suppress newspapers is simply ques-
tion OF time and necessity. In New Orleans,
Gen. Butler suppressed newspapers, and even
executed traitor Has anybody found fault
with that? In many parts of the North papers
have been suppressed, and justly In my
opinion tie Executive is clothed with discretion
in the time OF war to do what he deems fit and
proper. He alluded to the revoking order.
Probably the President thinks the time has not
yet come when Chicago shall be put under mar
tial law. But If any newspaper opposes the
enforcing of the conscription law, or any
other order the President thinks proper to give,
that paper will be suppressed and if need be.
martial law proclaimed. We desire, if possible,
to have the loyal people OF the North united as
one man, and we must have it practically So or
it is of no lavail. He regretted that there were
still two political parties. There should be but
one. and that one united with the determination
to put down rebellion. But as it is, the Presi-
dent must control all men of all parties and
those who oppose the Administration will suffer
the consequences. If the time comes, and it
becomes necessary, Mr.. Lincoln will declare
martial law, even in Chicago He hoped there
would never be q necessity for such Il measure


Upon this the Boston Courier, having pre-
viousIy cited Louis Napoleon's tvranical nI
reference with the French elections, COM
ments thus justly and happily: I'VE confess
that there is thoroughness and complete
ness, roundness in Mr.. Doolilte's views
which we rather like. He resembles the ac
tor in Mr.. Crumes's company who used to
black himself all over when he was going to
play Otbello. In my opinion, the Executive
is clothed with discretion in the time of war
to do what he deems fit and proper This
is simple, satisfactory, and Ineligible; it cuts
clean as with touch of a magician's wand
it transforms our institutions into despot
ism like that of Runjeet Sing or DR.. Francha
1t saves great many nice questions, and
puts an end to great deal of impertinent
nonsense on the part of pestiIent fellows cali
led lawyers, who traitorously corrupt the
youth of the realm, who usually talk of ha
beas corpus and bill of rights, and such abom-


Unable words AS no Christian ear can endure
to hear After having armed the President
with the power OF doing whatever he deems
fit and proper, he proceeds to define the ends
and purposes to which he would have this
power directed and these are to suppress ev
cry newspaper, and to hang or Danish every
man, that opposes the Administration. AS
between the American and the Frenchman,
we think the former the greater artist. The
soil OF America does not mean to be eXcelled
by that of Europe, even in the production of
courters and sycophants. The genius of Mr.
Doolittle would seem to have been cramped
by the accident of his birth in land of lib
art hut II ic tho Of to
triumph over obstacles and difficulties, and he


is to be congratulated upon a course of events
which has enabled him TO manifest a slavish
subserviency to power which the creatures of
Louis Napoleon may contemplate with ad
mration and despair"


We may add that Mr.Doolittle has not all
ways manifested this slavish disposition or
expressed these abect views. Nor were his
better days very long ago. In speech de-
lvered in the Senate on the Cd of May, 1862,
he said:


Sir repeat that never before in this body, nor
in any legislative body the sun shone upon,
were there graver questions raised than these.
And yet, under all this responsibility, there are
gentlemen who, in their eagerness to press this
measure to vote, smile at constitutional scru-
Piles and responsibilities. Sir | am not one of
those ; | confess that can join fully in the lam
guage or my colleague, and say, when am press
ed to act upon questions involving such great
sponsbties, that do so with Il sense of appre-
hcnsion-not the fear of any man here else
where. for | know no master on earth. but the fear
that the presence of that God before whom have
taken an oath to support the Constitution | may
be pressed under the excitement of the moment,
when passion rules the hour, TO tample it under
my feet.


Mr.. President, we are in arms to-day, we are at
war, for what? 1t is for this very Constitution
to maintain, protect, and defend its supremacy in
every State everywhere. from Maine to Texas.
To sustain that supremacy, we send our sons to
the battle field, we stake all we have and all we
are and should regard myself wanting in man
hood, rs cowardly drinking from the performance
men are in the field fighting the enemy, meeting
danger and death in every form, | should not
stand here for the defence Of the Constitution by
every power God has given me. let it be assliled
from what quarter it may. The only fear | have


is that | may not defend it as should


Mr. President, that Constitution, let me say, is
just as supreme in reserving powers from this
Government as it is in granting powers to it
just as supreme in Withholding as in comforting
power. Ii this Government or any branch of il,
if Congress, the Executive, or the Supreme
Court, shall undertake to overturn its provisions
and to trample under their feet the rights reserv
cd to the States and to the people by it, it is just
as much an attempt at revolution and rebellion as
when the men in the insurrectonary States un-
dertake to tralnple under their feet the powers
which by it are given TO this Government. Either


is revolution and, if either succeeds it is an end
to cur whole system of republican government.
If the doctrine shall once prevail and be acqui-