Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1814-03-24
Highly interesting Communications
COOS COUNTY, Feb. IS, 1914


The public sensibility is greatly excit-
[ ed in this quarter, in consequence OF out
RACES recently committed on several citi-
zens by military company stationed at
Stewartstown. The following may be re.
lied on as truth
On the roth of January last, Mr.. Brs-
SELL, was, without any precept or color of
authority, arrested by sergeant BUNKER,
| under the orders of captain Hodgdon,
commanding the aforesaid company, and
imprisoned in the block house, after con
timing him as long as they thought proper,
he was dismissed without trial or satisfac-
ton for the detention.
On the remonstrance Of respectable
citizen to the said Hodgdon against such
proceedings, Hodgdon observed that he
was acting under the authority Of the
United States, and that he should con-
ti'sae TO arrest all sueh persons as said
or did any thing diSrespedfut to tie army
or to the taos.
Since the above, a Mr. HANSON has
been arrested in the same manner, and
although no charge has been exhibited a
gainst him, Ike remains q prisoner an the
Fort.
Emboilened by the forhearance Of the
citizens, and in pursuance Of system,
which. unless speedily resisted, will rem
der the military power paramount to the
civil, this same captain Hodgdon, on the
9Th inst. ordered young man by the name
of COOPER, to be seized and arrested in
the store of his uncle, with whom he liv-
ed, in Canaan, Vermont he was then
placed under guard, and the next day ia
ken to the aforesaid block house as pri
soner, where he ROW remains. The uncle
applied to Capt Hodgdon to know the
cause of the arrest and detention of his
nephew Hodgdon replied, he should not
tell him any cause of his arrest and de-
tention; That he had him IN the guard
house and should send him to BurIing
ton, and 1could not Suffer him nor any
other person to see or speak NTH him
Some ofthe officers tamntingiy obserUed
thot they 1rere preparing hand cuffs and
irons to eonfne such prisoners
Again-on the nth inst. that same ser
geant BUNKER arrested a person by the
name Of HALL, in the employ of Mr. Tho
MAS EAMEs, and carried him a prisoner
to the Fort, where he is still confined.
On Mr.. Eames dem anding Bwnker's
authority. he said he had no precept,
that his orders uere uer5aI from the
captain, to take him dead or alice
The above are facts which can be duly
substantiated. Measures are now taking
by civil process, to liberate the persons
on whom this daring outrage has been
committed.
AMERICANS!
Once a recital like the foregoing would
have needed no comment---your
Jealousy did not slunber when your
rights were in jeopardy-your sensibility
was reused at the bare mention of stand
ing armies. The insults and outrases OF
a British soldiery in BosToN dwelt on
! your imagination, and animated every
son OF liberty to a prompt and manly
opposition against every attempt to render
( the civil power subordinate to the militia
ry The arrest of a citizen by military
force was hike electricity to the system,
and the punishmet of him by martial law
swelled your hearts, and nerved your arms
TO resistance.
PEOPLE OF New. ENGLAND.
Reflect seriously on the foregoing
mark the rapid advance of a military des,
potism. consider that the above recited
outrages have been committed by an of.
ficer of the United States army having
only single company under his com
mand-Are you aware that every thing
republican is becoming questionable at
Washington That Yankee ideas of equal
rights and unshackled commerce are scout
ed, and the circumstances against oppres
sive and unequal burthens are disregard
ed T?
Do you not perceiUe that the progress
| Of system acAich, unless immediate,
ty checked, rrW lay your republication,
in the dust I?