Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1828-02-14

Signs h nell "a friend to Law and Order"
gives thes following statement OF the trials Of
Arbn,bnot and Ambrister. II is justly asked,
IL il can be possible that man who acted as
General Jackson did in this case, can presume
| TO aspire to that distinguished station, winch
places its possessor not only at the head OF our
government, but at the head Of society
On the 10th April, 1918, General
jackson issues a general order reguir-
ing court martial TO assemble on the
same day at noon. for the trial of two
foreigners; and to sit Without regard TO
hours. The court assemblies at the APP
pointed time, and proceeds instan'er,
to the trials! The prisoners bad never
received copy of the accusations, nor
a list OF the witnesses against them!
The charges preferred against them by
Gen. jackson, are, in the highest de-
gree, frivolous and malicious The E.
violence is in violation of every rule Of
evidence; and is wholly exparte. AT
length, on the 2Sth, both trials being
ended, the prisoner, Ambrister, is, tpro
formal allowed till P. VI of the same
day to pare his defence, He is then
sentenced TO receive SO lashes, and be
kept ct hard labor twelve months. The
court then ION the same night adjourn
ed sine die, having altogether omitted
| any finding any sentence against Ar.
buthnot On the next morning, Gene
raj jackson issues a general order in
| which, notwithstanding this omission
he requires the prisoner to be hanged
before 9 o'clock that morning and not
withstanding the sentence against Am
brster which spared his life, required
that he be shot to death before the same
hourl-- md 10 justification of this two
fold murder, Of these outrages on the
laws of his country, on the laws OF pa-
tons and OF war, he alleges as ian es
tabIished principle oftbe law of nations"
position equally false and stupid.
1t may be recolected that the docu-
ments furnished by the Secretary OF
War relative to the trials Of the Militia
men at Mobile, after being on the Speak
els table for several days, were refer.
red to the Committee on Military AT
fairs, and ordered 10 be printed, about
week ago. Nothing further was heard
of the documents Two DAYS, 10 sue
cession, while Mr.. CHLFoN's resolution
| stopped up every avenue 10 the ear Of
the House, Mr.. SLOANE addressed the
Chair with view to obtain some infor-
nation respecting them, but was pro-
nounced out of order, When Mr.. 4.
SMYTH spoke on The subject of MIR.
CH1LroN's resolution on Wednesday,
he commenced reading letter from
Gov. Bount TO Gen. jackson, and on
being Intercepted, admitted that this
was one OF the documents sen, to the
Military Committee week before, and
orderedby the House to be printed.
Yesterday, Mr.. HAMILTON, the Chair
man of that Committee, rose for the
purpose mot Of making report, but of
giving so9e information, not on The at
thorit Of The Commmi ee, but in his
individual character, to the House
What was the information? Why, that
the Committee had been carefully en-
ployed in examining the documents, in
order to see i any more wsre required to
enable The psblc TO have full undcr-
standing efthe matter, and that, at their
next meeting, the Committee would be
prepared to return the papers to tie
Clerks table, }Or the purpose Of being
printed.
In reply to a question from Mr.,
SLOANE, Mr.. Hamilton further stated,
tina. the Committee would make a re.
port.
If all this has been done in a con-
sicentious construction of their duties,
and according to their understanding of
the order of the House, nothing more
can be said but that the Committee
have had views on these points which
are much at variance with the ordinary
practice of Committees. It is the FIRST
time, within our knowledge-perhaps
the first time since the Constitution was
formed-that. when information re-
ceived on the call of member of the
House, was ordered to be printed, and
referred to Committee, that Commit
tee, before they allowed the documents
to be printed, went into the examination
of the subject, in order to see if any
thing more was necessary to be asked
for
The real state Of the thing can scarce.