Year: 1863




promise immunity from judicial scrutiny or legal
control to every petty provost marshal or subatern
oficer, whatever may be his invasions Of private
rights or his violations Of municipal and national
law


A FALSE AND UNOFFICIAL DOCTRINE.


We find in contemporary the following resolu-
ton, said to have been adopted by political Con-
vsntion in the State of Maryland:


Rssolusd That there ID no such thing in times Of
bellion supporting the National Government without
supporting the Administration Of the National
that the administration OF the National Government is
fded by the Constitution to the President assisted 10 his
several spheres of duty by the administrative departments
and therefore the of the President and the
rn policy Of the Administration should under the present
trying circumstances Of the country be sustained BY all
true patriots in spirt of generous confidence. and not
thwarted by capous criticism factious opposition
Z We are sure that we entirely agree with the
authors of this resolution in deprecatng what they
call captious criticism factious opposition"
regards the present Administration, and it is there
fore with equal surprise and pain that we mark the
antagonism into which they with the President
and with one of the " Administrative Departments"
when they afirm that in times Of rebellion there
is no such thing as supporting the National Gov
ernment without supporting the Administration of
the National Government" We are sure that per-
sons SO justly anxious to keep themselves far as
possible in unison with the Government, in all of its
opinions and in all of its departments, will hasten
to retreat from the unsound and unofficial position
in which they have placed themselves when they
read the following extract from despatch addressed
to our Minister in London, written by Mr.. Seward
and approved by the President, under date of last
November 10th, in which it is said


From whatever cause it has happened, political de-
bates during the present year have resumed consider
able degree, their normal character and while loyal Re-
pubcans have adhered to the banner Of the Union
party the Democratic party has rallied and made vgor-
GUS with view to the recovery Of ts former po-


ca ascendency. Loyal Democrat. in considerable num-
ber retaining the of Democracy from habit and not
because they oppose the Union classified BY the other
party as Opposition 1t ID not necessary for the nforma
ton Of our representatives abroad that should descend
into any examination Of the relative principles or policies
OF the two parties. 1t will suffice to say that while there
may be men Of doubtful political wisdom and virtue in
each party, and while bere may be differences Of opion
between the two parties to the best cacuat
to the Union and restore its authority yet il Is
not % be inferred that eher party, any considerable
portion Of the people Of ht Loyal states is disposed to
accept d. union under any c cum.ances, upon any
terms - her to be underspod that the people have
confident of the stability Of the Union that
tisan combinations resung their sway here they
do in such in all free countries In this country es
pecay it is habit not only entirely con- ient with the
Cons iutn essential to tie stability TO rsgard
the at my time ersting a. disiHct and
separabie from the Government itself and TO the
proceedi, gs of the oihynt the thought of disovalv
The other We might possibly have had quicker in
surpr, ssng the surecton If this habit cu have rested
little longer sbeyance; but, the other hand,
under obligations not only the integrity unity Of
the country but also it's inesmable and precious Cons
tuition N safy say that the resumption of the
previous popular habit does not tend to this last and most
important summation f at the time, conf
IDENTIFY expect, the Uui,n itself shall be saved


This is the true doctrine, and it is the doctrine
of the President. We do not ask the authors Of
the foregoing resolution to accept it because it is
true, for they may not be able to 1t, but they
can see what the Presidents position is, and they
will not fail to mark that the heresy to which they
have co conmitted themselves, inadvertently we are
sure, is one which, if not renounced, must subject
them to the injurious suspicion of differing from
the Administration in time of rebellion--an in
felicity which they will be anxious to avoid as
good patriots and loyal adherents of the President
10 all his measures and in all his opinions.


We are generally satisfied to embrace opinions
because they seem to us true, but 1t always gives
US great pleasure and increased confidence to find
ourselves supported in our views BY the authority
Of the President or Of any administrative depart
ment and hence it is that respect alike for truth
and for the Executive branch of the Government
compels us to note the divergence Of our Maryland
friends from the rule Of duty prescribed to them
selves in asccrtainiDg the opinions they should hold
on seresting political question to the iden-
tty Of the National Government and the Admins
tratien charged with its conduct. We are sure
they will be prompt to place themselves in accord
with the President by accepting the doctrine pro-
pounded 10 Mr. Adams, and by recanting that into
which they have been misled through an uulucky
ignorance to the official rulings on this subject


SIGNS OF THE TIMES.


In recent issue of the London Times We find an in
teresng article wine and ito consumption in past years
W. oLo xhaC C~lIn