Itmayberemarked——first，thatwehadthesameConstitutionthenasnow；secondly，thatwethenhadacaseofinvasion，andnowwehaveacaseofrebellion；and，thirdly，thatthepermanentrightofthepeopletopublicdiscussion，thelibertyofspeechandofthepress，thetrialbyjury，thelawofevidence，andthehabeascorpussufferednodetrimentwhateverbythatconductofGeneralJackson，oritssubsequentapprovalbytheAmericanCongress。
Andyet，letmesaythat，inmyowndiscretion，IdonotknowwhetherIwouldhaveorderedthearrestofMr。Vallandigham。WhileIcannotshifttheresponsibilityfrommyself，Iholdthat，asageneralrule，thecommanderinthefieldisthebetterjudgeofthenecessityinanyparticularcase。OfcourseImustpracticeageneraldirectoryandrevisorypowerinthematter。
Oneoftheresolutionsexpressestheopinionofthemeetingthatarbitraryarrestswillhavetheeffecttodivideanddistractthosewhoshouldbeunitedinsuppressingtherebellion，andIamspecificallycalledontodischargeMr。Vallandigham。Iregardthisas，atleast，afairappealtomeontheexpediencyofexercisingaconstitutionalpowerwhichIthinkexists。InresponsetosuchappealIhavetosay，itgavemepainwhenIlearnedthatMr。
Vallandighamhadbeenarrestedthatis，Iwaspainedthatthereshouldhaveseemedtobeanecessityforarrestinghim，andthatitwillaffordmegreatpleasuretodischargehimsosoonasIcanbyanymeansbelievethepublicsafetywillnotsufferbyit。
Ifurthersaythat，asthewarprogresses，itappearstome，opinionandaction，whichwereingreatconfusionatfirst，takeshapeandfallintomoreregularchannels，sothatthenecessityforstrongdealingwiththemgraduallydecreases。Ihaveeveryreasontodesirethatitshouldceasealtogether，andfarfromtheleastismyregardfortheopinionsandwishesofthosewho，likethemeetingatAlbany，declaretheirpurposetosustainthegovernmentineveryconstitutionalandlawfulmeasuretosuppresstherebellion。Still，Imustcontinuetodosomuchasmayseemtoberequiredbythepublicsafety。