President Lincoln's Views: An Important Letter on the Principles Involved in the Vallandigham Case. Correspondence in Relation to the Democratic Meeting, at Albany, N.Y. |
Common terms and phrases
Administration ALBANY army arrests complained assert capital or otherwise circumstances which show citizen of Ohio consti constitutional and lawful courts of justice defined crime Democrats desert enduring stability ERASTUS CORNING EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT guilty of defined habeas corpus held to answer impartial jury insurgent cause intended more especially Jackson arrested lawful measure liberty of speech lines of necessary localities where rebellion Louiallier measure to suppress mili military arrests military law numbers Orleans otherwise infamous crimes peace through victory power were intended pretensions of arbitrary proceedings following protracted civil public meeting held public safety public trial reason than words rebellion or invasion regularly announced republican system resolutions proceed Resolved safeguards safety may require scenes of insurrection secured substantially soldier-boy speedy and public stitution stood the test suppress the rebellion suspension sustain the cause tary test of seventy-six tion tional treason trial by jury tutional unconstitutional Union Vallandigham writ of habeas
Popular passages
Page 12 - ... require them ; as well in places to which they may prevent the rebellion extending as in those where it may be already prevailing ; as well where they may restrain mischievous interference with the raising and supplying of armies to suppress the rebellion, as where the rebellion may actually be ; as well where they may restrain the enticing men out of the army, as where they would prevent mutiny in the army; equally constitutional at all places where they will conduce to the public safety, as...
Page 10 - ... is the provision which specially applies to our present case. This provision plainly attests the understanding of those who made the Constitution, that ordinary courts of justice are inadequate to 'cases of rebellion...
Page 8 - No one denies that they have so stood the test up to the beginning of the present rebellion, if we except a certain occurrence at New Orleans ; nor does any one question that they will stand the same test much longer after the rebellion closes. But these provisions of the Constitution have no application to the case we have in hand, because the arrests complained of were not made for...
Page 10 - ... at large to help on their cause. Or if, as has happened, the Executive should suspend the writ, without ruinous waste of time, instances of arresting innocent persons might occur, as are always likely to occur in such cases, and then a clamor could be raised in regard to this which might be, at least, of some service to the insurgent cause.
Page 12 - It is asserted in substance that Mr. Vallandigham was, by a military commander, seized and tried "for no other reason than words addressed to a public meeting in criticism of the course of the administration, and in condemnation of the military orders of the general.
Page 13 - He was not arrested because he was damaging the political prospects of the administration or the personal interests of the commanding general, but because he was damaging the army, upon the existence and vigor of which the life of the nation depends.
Page 16 - One of the resolutions expresses the opinion of the meeting that arbitrary arrests will have the effect to divide and distract those who should be united in suppressing the rebellion, and I am specifically called on to discharge Mr.
Page 8 - Would not the demonstration have been better if it could have been truly said that these safeguards had been adopted and applied during the civil wars and during our revolution, instead of after the one and at the close of the other ? I, too, am devotedly for them after civil war, and before civil war, and at all times, " except when, in cases of rebellion or invasion, the public safety may require
Page 5 - That this assumption of power by a military tribunal, if successfully asserted, not only abrogates the right of the people to assemble and .discuss the affairs of government, the liberty of speech and of the press, the right of trial by jury, the law of evidence, and the privilege of habeas corpus, but it strikes a fatal blow at the supremacy of law, and the authority of the State and Federal constitutions.
Page 13 - I be wrong on this question of constitutional power my error lies in believing that certain proceedings are constitutional when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety requires them, which would not be constitutional when in the absence of rebellion or invasion the public safety does not require them...