The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-11-13
CHRISTIANA PRISONERS - TREASON

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lash.
CHRISTIANA PRISONERS - TREASON.
The Christiana prisoners, it would seem, are
to expect less mercy from their countrymen
than the American prisoners from the Span
ish Government
A telegraphic despatch from Philadelphia
October 81, says "1he Grand Jury in the Uni
ted States District Court this morning returned
thirty-nine bills against the persons implicated
in the Christiana outrage, thus making in all
one hundred and seventeen true bills against
the prisoners for participation in this affair"
The editor of the Pennsylvania Freeman
says;s
"Mr. Ashmead the Attorney General, stated
in our hearing, the other day, that they would
be tried FIRST for treason If they wero not con-
victed they for at least part OF them) would
next 90 to Lancaster, and be tried Tor murder.
If not convicted of that crime, then they will
come back into the hands OF the United States,
and be tried on the indictments above named"
The prosecution in this affair assumes all the
features of diabolical persecution.
Ex-President Tyler lately wrote a letter to
the Spanish Minister at Washington, inter-
ceding for the pardon of the American adven-
turers, who attempted to overthrow the Span
ish Government in Cuba. And yet, that Gov
eminent did not intend to hang them-its
purpose was to confine them in the mines
These Christiana prisoners made no war
against our Government; the greatest offence
committed by any of them was misdemean-
or: while some of them, it is notorious, were
not present at the riot or in any way aiding or
abetting. But under instructions from our
merciful Government, they are to be arraigned
for Treason, the penalty of which is death. To
make sure of their blood, should this attempt
fail they are then to be tried for murder
Should this fail, then forty bills save one still
stare them in the face, carefully prepared by
the Federal District Attorney so as to hedge
them in on every side.
Does Mr. Ashmead act without instructions
The letter of Mr.. Crittenden, Attorney Gene
raj, to the District Attorney at Syracuse, en-
joining the execution of the laws there against
offenders has been published by the Republic
Not a word in it about Treason-a very decent
sort of letter, manifesting decorous regard tor
the majesty Of the law. 1t had been charged
that the District Attorney at Syracuse was in
structed to prosecute for Treason this letter of
Mr. Crittenden was published, apparently to
show the groundlessness Of the charge-and ii
appeared before the election IN New York.
II has been repeatedly charged that Mr..
Ashmead, in prosecuting for Treason in Phila-
delpha, has acted under instructions from
Washington The charge remains uncontra-
dicted, and no letter of instructions from Mr.
Crittenden appears in the Republic. Did he
not write such a letter Was the Christana
offence less serious than the Syracuse Was
the Administration asleep when the former was
committed? Surely if letter from the Attor-
ney General was required in the Syracuse af.
fair, much more was such a letter required in
relation to the Christians riot Where is that
letter. Whyisit unpublished! If itcontain-
ed no instructions to prosecute for Treason, its
PuphC"uoh "ouiu ~ ie'tSt ncuuit TIE Attorney
General of suspicion. Until we have a denial
of the charge we have right to hold the Ad-
ministration responsible for these infamous
prosecutions for Treason.
We call them infamous and Public Sent-
ment will yet sanction this denuncation.
Judge Kane's charge introduced new def
milton of Treason, unknown to our Constitu-
ton, repugnant to the character, the institu-
tons the liberties Of the American People
The Washington Union, the Pennsylpanian of
Philadelphia and the Washington Republic,
gave it prominent place in their columns and
commended it as a clear and conclusive EXPOSE
ton of the Law of Treason. They did not
know what they said They soon learned, from
indications which editors readily understand,
that they had committed themselves to doc
trines which would be repudiated even by the
Courts of monarchcal England and they sud-
denly betook themselves to silence. Not word
has since appeared in their columns about
Treason. Previously, the Republic was flaming
with defamation about Treason and Trsatorv'
but it now leaves Mr. Attorney Ashmeao "
bear the burden Of these Infamous ProSecu-
tons Better confess your errorA genue"e"
and confess that you did not know what you