Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-02-24

my entire conviction OF the Innocence cftbaf
gentleman. l most sincerely lament that
his generous efforts in my favor should
have again disturbed the subsiding malice
of the general and l blush for human ma
ture itself, when see the guilty hand pre-
sent the poisoned chalice to the unoffending
lips ofinnocence.
The next morning, steady to my duty,
and not in the least discomposed by the ge-
nerars denunciation, finding that no return
had been made to the habeas corpus in the
case of Mr.. Swartwout, and the sheriff ha.s
wing informed me that ne had twice called
at the generals for the purpose of serving
it, but had been refused admttance, ap-
piled to judgc,Workman for an attachment.
He directed the sheriff to go once more to-
the general and inform him of the nature of
his business
On the same day, after dinner, as if it
werefhc necessary consequence ofperform-
ing my duty, capt Bradish, with troop of
horse, arrested me by virtue of an order
from gen. Wilkinson, unsanctioned by any
civil authority. After drinking a glass of
wine with me, he asked me whether L
would consider myself as under arrest, and
was about to dismiss his troop requested
him to shew me his orders, und having Pc
ruscd them, told him that an illegal order
''"S nv VI wi dilNt lldl COulu not COIlSl-
der myself as under arrest. i also express
sed wish that he would retain his troop,
observing that should be unwilling to shed
his blood, but that was prepared. then
remarked to the troop that / was unable to
resist them, and after few minutes was
conducted to the generals quarters, where
found Mr.. Ogden, who had been sent there
short time before. The general never
condesccnded to visit us, but as he passed
by averted his head, as if afraid to meet
the looks of those whom he had injured:
here npon the ground floor, in place in
fested.by rats, we passed the night together,
ana the next morning, before sunrise, in
order to prevent any generous effort from
beng made for our rescue, we were hurri-
ed across the river, to the miserable shed
which had just before been occupied by MIR.
Swartwout.
Upon my arrival there, / wrote two notes.
one addressed to MIR. Philip Jones, and the.
other to the collector of New Orleans-tho
former contained this objectionable sem
tence, Gas it regards myself, internally ALI
Is well, and l enjoy a tranquility of soul
which Is truly enviable and the other
concluded with the following words, "if
you have ever entertained f. vorable o.
Pinion of me, request that you will retain
1t, for pledge mysof to come out in the
sunshine of integrity" These letters,
am convinced, were never delivered, ana
let me add, that never received Mr.. Liz
vlngston's note or the supplies which he was
so good as to put up for me.
Here we learnt that Mr.. Swartwout had
been removed down the tiver to fort St Phi.
IMP, the preceding night. No person was
pc rmitted to visit us, and even the common
omces OF nature could not be performed
without the superintendent of a corporal
and file of men. We continued there a.
bout week, when we also were sent down
70 tort st. Philip, thence ! was transported
10 TINS city, without money, in a vessel bad
~ found as 1t regards sails and rigging, ex-
posed to the danger of a winter voyage, and
the inclemenCy ofthe season, described to be-
"a man of great art and address, and of
daring courage" prohibited the use of pen
and ink, and forbid to speak to any one
but commissioned officer
And yet all this has happened, not in tho
heart OF despotic empire, not at period
OF foreign war, or intestine trouble, but at a
moment of profound peace and domestic
tranquility-in country where the consti-
tuition ofthe u is the primary and trans-4
cendental law, where the writ of habeas
corpus has been given to the subject, as a
boon OF inestimable value in land said to
be reclaimed from servitude, where tho
civil power of the magistrate alone is felt,
and military force is a stranger; and lie
has happened too, under the eye of an A.
merican governor, appointed to his magis-
tracy by the president of the United States.
and one of the objects ofthis uhheard-of out
rage is Young member of the bar, ac-
quainted with very few of the inhabitants
OF New Orleans, stranger to their Lam
guage, without influence or authority of a.
ny kind, either to excite or aid in insurrecti-
on, and well known, as far as any know
ledge of him extends, to be from principle
attached to firm and energetic govern
ment, and utterly to detest ali the despica-
bic arts by which grovelling ambition would
ascend to power.
"Can such things be,
And overcome us, like summer cloud,
Without our special wonder?''
JAMES ALEXANDER.
Baltimore, Feb. Is, 1907.
NTIyCC