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An Indemnity Bill

An Indemnity Bill image
Parent Issue
Day
12
Month
December
Year
1862
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Oñ Moadny, by a vote ol' í0 to !"'. tlio lltftmo p;tB-o(l tha bil! of Mr. Steven?, oi Pn., "to iiulciuniiy Piwident Lincoln and and other persons for suspending tlio privileges of the rit of Jiubeat eorjpu, and for uil other acis n .piir.uuni:i Ihereof." The bilí ' was put thi-oiigh u n dor ibe previous queütinn, and without debate, and we flre therefore lïnadvised as to ts detalie. mover of tho bill, howovcr, expressed a doubt of the auüiority of tliu President to suspend the writ of kabeas corpus except froin absolute neceasity during tho reoofes oí Congress; and vvlien Mr. Stevens doubts wo need not wonder tbat an inderanity bil) is necessary, and thut delay and discussion ara both prtvented. Probably some of the "other persons" aro in danger of having to answer before the oourts. In fact, the courts are giving evidenco that they foei tlie encroaehments of the exocntivo officera upou their plainly dcfinud rights, and are bocoming restive uuier tho wbolosalu system oi arbitrary urrosts io Stiltes ffhere the Ifiws can be cxecatod in regular'y est'ablisbed ways. - In the Sunato, on the 9th inst., the nght of tho Presiden to suspend lbo habeat corpus cama op inoidentally on a resolution of inquiry into arbitrary arrests. Mi'ssrs. Sherman and TrurabuH both denied the rigjit ol the President to suepeod the writ of habcas corpus, and oondemned the wholesale systein of arbitral y arresta. Mr. Wilson was in a " regrelting mood," but thought arrests had been neccssar.y. Mr. Siiennan said : He thought many of these arresta were great mistaks, and every arrest ought tobe reported to Congress, and the reasvn for it. lf this power was unlunited, tho governmcnt would become oppressive. Tho people huve bém exasporated at tho manner of these arresta and discharges, and it waa due to tho country and ju-tice that co man should be nrrested for light cause, and that tho causo and charges should be properly oxplained ; and that Congress had a perfect right to cali for all inforitiation, that they rnny go beíoro the people, and be able to explain and defeod these arretits. Mr. Trumbull eaid : lio thought these arresta had been unfortunate and impolitie. Judgef, and courts, ahd commentators have held tbat the power of suspending the writ of tabeas corpus was a legislad ve power. It is not i'ro'.n any sympathy vvith tiaitore that tb ere is great fêeling upon this subject, but becauseit is feared this i an cxpioího of an unnecessary and arbitrary power, and ho would say to his fiiend. Wilson, who gloried in these arrest-s, that there was very great danger ia thein. Wo havo long regarded the liberties ot tho whole loyal people in danger, a ;id we regard this retrogade movement on tho part of distinguiehed friends of tho administraron, with the disposition of courts to assert their rights, as auspicious. Let the rights of the people be preserved.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus