New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-08-25
The BenutIes of Martial Law.


The following statements were communicated to
the Men. Odeans Bee by responsible and respect
able gentleman who vouches for the truth OF every
allegation and holds himself in readiness to prove
what he asserts:
POINT IsABEL July %, 1911
GENTLEMES: The communities Of this place and
Of the Brazos In state OF excitement have never
anywhere before witnessed al more infamous outrage
Just perpested by the uartermaser OF the BrszOs on
orr civil magistrates while prosecuting their otcid du
ties Every admits, as does the QusTtermssler him
self that the County OF Nueces is now portion OF
Texas subject to Its laws alone and by them protected
that martial law cannot exist without being hrst
declared, and that 1t can only be declared In times
Of the greatest emergency. We all know that instead
of martial law existing, the Commander oil
that post has expressly declared that necessity
exists for any, and that the martial law formerly
existing is superseded by the civil laws OF the
State. But necessity existing and martial law
absolutely declared the Commander Ot the place, and
not petty Qusrtermsster would be the proper Judge OF
our These unpalatabe facts. however do not nc
cord with the tyrsnDca views OF this Quarternastsr
who intoxicated with his brief command, has
mtlod excuses Of the most unpardOnsble character
He IL guilty Of acts, within the past month that DEFY
parallel In the history vi any Tree country lie mas
converted the men paid by our government as watch
men of public property into subveTters Of our liber
ties and into merciless tools 10 further his own des
poiic sway. With this unrecoguized police he arrese
/ aud Furnishes not only citizens but the sacred
persons of our msgstratss-he tries persons OF crimes
he the self constituted Judge and himself the sccuser'
Furnishes them without regard t. justice and In direct
violation OF our existing s~s-assumes the power OF
making laws and Of tranplng others and srrogates
himse the privilege not dared by ancient cOnquerors
of rszing tho houses of peaceful citizens and Ut Danish
lug them from their homes while, as If in mockcry Of
our imbecty, the emblem OF our independence our
own national flag fOats from the summit OF evory eeve-
ton To convince you gentlemen. that my excited feel
ings do not color the scenes of which am writing. 1
will enumera,e two of the most hsgrant instances
and call on every dsnerested citizen Of this place and
the Brazos witnesses of what here assert
In the places he RACED 10 the ground the houses OF
five pesceAble citizens (hshcrmen) and banished them
from the island without the slightest provocation, their
whole gull, consisting Ia their possessing arms, which
proven to be necessary for protection On an
other occasion slightly Intoxicated creating some
disturbance he had him arrested by his body guard
and while culprits hdads mere held he beat him over
the head and shoulders with iron stick I'LL the man
fell weakened by the repested blows and streams oil
blood gushing from numerous wounds But this, how
ever, sckening to contemplate, was not all The
man was imprisoned Heck and then banisned
hence from bis 0pH Hdtire STATE 10 NewOriesns.
would for the sake of humanity aud for our own nation
al pride that could stop here but cannot Another
similar TO just mentioned occurred few days after
and exactly similar in all It's atrocities that VIII
not by repetition keep you from the Growing act OF his
career Passing over his numerous petty violations OF
law now tina, act which has elected this state
men and given birth to the universal indignation mat
now prevails.
few DAYS since schooner came IN the Brazos
bar without pilot the half potage GOred by lds In such
cases was demanded by the regularly authorized Eliot
Branch this the Captain (aoVlsed
presume) refused The vessel was seized by our duly
elected and properly constituted magistrates and thus
remained for days Yesterday 10 the surprise OF
ALL the Quartermsster selected posse from his men
numbering some fifteen armed them with GOrerE
psRf uskes against The lao The land aud rh Pisto
IN one hand and his iron sick IN M Other seized and altar
uard Imprisoned and 70 foreign land Vera Cruz M
De,v Sheriff and kiS assistants and while they wert
in the power of his armed body brutay whipped and
knoc ked them several times with his stick.
This Is the outrage of which speak Was there ever
before auy such perpetrsted In country processing &c
be free There lie nothing 10 exonersIe the Quarter
master In these acts-he has combined his assumed pow
er with malicious and csrnsl disposition and Jealous
/ of the honor that detrscts from his command, hsi
avAied himself OF the Governments means to sstiAis
his reyeDgefa feelings and with daring hand Injuries
the innocent agents of those whom he cannot sssai
/ Petitions have been drawn up and signed by most Of
/ the citizens and forwarded 10 our Senators and tC
our Governor and other steps have been taken iC
insure immediate redress. The state OF excitement
has been 50 great that with difficulty the citizen,
could be- prevented from taking summary theii
respect for their injured have kept them from pro
ceedng 70 violence You well imagine their feelings
/ when Ia a few moments association OF the ciuzeni
of this place and the Brszos organized 10 protect
from inrsement the laws OF the State 10 defend the
citizens of Neuces county 10 their Just rights and above
all 10 shield from insult the sacred persons OF our So
lected magistrates IT, therefore In defence OF these
lust principles blood 10 shed on the head OF the GUAR
tsrmas,er and on his head alone will isll The eonse
rN'a