Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-10-24
Most Extraordinarily. Penelli, natur;

Most Ertraordindry-W PenelI, natural
lied citizen of the United States, was few days
ago delivered up to the French Consul General,
residing in this city, and by him shipped on
board Pilot-boat, chartered expressly for the
purpose, to Guadalupe.
We understand that the United States Dis
trict Attorney, Mr.. Price,-who has conducted
this business with the utmost secresy-when call
ed on, with view that legal assistance might
be given to said Penelli, before, with his hands
bound behind his back, he was delivered, in
presence Of the Deputy Keeper Of Bridewel,
(Mr. Kipp,) to the pei son commanding the Pr
lot-boat, refused to give any information as to
the place where he (PenellD was secreted from
all persons taking interest in him; or in regard
to the authority under which Penelli was seized
and delivered to the French Consul. w. Pencil
H. as far as we could ascertain, is charged with
having committed murder in GaudaIoupe on
the 10Th of July last. We know, from papers
now in our hands, that if legal hearing had
been granted to him, he could have proved, by
a receipt Of Captain Percel Fowler, of the ship
ST. Thomas, that on the 18th of June last he en-
barked as cabin passenger on board the said
ship at st. Thomas, for this place-that on the
10th of July last he leased the house No. 397 l-2
Pearl street. and on the 25th Of the same month
he was naturalized in this city, and has been
resident here since that time.
We are sorry to say that the whole transac-
ton looks more like kidnapping the person Of
Penel than legal surrender of him to the
French Government The spirit not only OF
our avs, but Of all our political institutions, has
been grossly outraged by Mr. Prices refusing
the information demanded by respectable c.
tizen, not merely as an acquaintance of Penelli,
but as a person charged with all his interests.
In consequence Of this refusal, no legal advice
could be afforded him, and this, in defiance Of
the positive text ofthe Constitution of the United
States, (see Amendments, &c. Article So "No
person shall be held to answer for a capital or
otherwise infamous crime, unless on present
ment or indictment Of Grand Jury" and of the
Constitution ofthe State of New York, (see Ar.
ticle 7, sec. ~ No person shall be held to an
swer for capital or other infamous crime un-
less on presentment or Indictment Of a Grand
Jury; and in EVERY trial on impeachment or in
dictment, the party SHALL BE ALLOWED COUNSEL AS
IN CIVIL ACTIONS"
What the Constitution guarantees to every CT
tiZen on an indictment by his natural judges. is it
not guaranteed to Us when foreign power is in
question?
Are we frcemen, governed by laws and a con-
stitution? or are we slaves at the disposal Of any
king who claims us? Shame on US! Let the
curse Of tyranny fall on u.s. if we sanction, by
our silence the principle that any of our cit-
zens, let him be the meanest, the most contempt
ible among us, can be dragged from our shores
without legal hearing, and be given up to for
eign tyranny.
We now call on the United States District
Attorney, Mr.. Price, not only in our name, but,
without fear of contradiction in the name of
every American who gories in the freedom and
personal safety, which our institutions, bought
at the price Of blood, seemed heretofore to qua
rantee; to state, by what authority an American
citizen has been given up to the king of France.
We call on him to show that Penelli has not been
kidnapped but given mp according to law or
treaty!-N y Amer.