The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-25
not less than one nor more than FIVE
years, at the discretion Of tho jury try.
ing the case.
Approved Feb. 10, 1852.
Mobile Herald te Tribune.
Arrest of Fremont,

1t appears that Col. Fremont has
been arrested in London for debt due
American on account Of supplies
for troops in California. His lettcY
complaining Of his treatment has been
laid before the Senate by DIR. Gwin
of California. Ion Of tho Baltimore
Sun, writes concerning such casss, as
follows:
DR.. Gwin seems to considb it as
new case, and attended with
aggravated circumstances OF insult,
unusually occurring in cases of arrest
for debt. In this he isAeertainly
mistaken. 1t is tho usual mode Of
arrest i'll London, and jalso in this
country. Precisely simifs cases have
occurred in London before, and may,
to any American, who may visit
London.
1T might happen to another Ex-
Senator the Hon. r. j. Walker, or to
the gentleman now with him,
any day, just as 1T did happen to
the former in Delaware and tho latter
and many others in Baltimore, before
the suppression of imprisonment for
debt in Ma'ylund. The same thing
happens in Massachusetts, where im-
prisonmcnt for debt exists in regard
to strangers coming there; and a
writer i'll the Sun, alleged, some time
ago that the same practice exists i'll
Virginia, under recent act.
All Americans who have ever been
in public or commercial life, have
claims of some sort or other against
them, whether we'll or i'll founded, and
if one of them visit London, it is easy
to send out, by the following packet,
or the same one, an agent, with
his note or bond, who will swear to
his signature.
This goes to solicitor, who
directs his clerk to cause the arrest to
be made, and in such manner as
to force the party or his friends to
pay the money immediately. Not n
minute is allowed by these Bow
Street officers to n person to procure
bail, for that would deprive them of
their fees. The person arrested is
taken to sponging house, and
subjected, as Col. Fremont states in
regard to his own case to the greater
indignity and plundcr. But this is
only the beginning of trouble, for,
after he has procured bail in the
mesnc process, he must employ law
yers and pay fees, and prepare for the
result of a trial of the case under
foreign jurisdiction. in Il foreign coun-
try; aud ut Il distance from his
witnesses or his resources, and ut
great expense. What has happened
to Col. Fremont might occur to
any other ex-senator or scnator-to
any American not protected by of
fetal privilege.
IF thoro exists any proper sentiment
OH this subject in Congress, they will
take measures to advise the executive
to enter into negotiations Immediately
with the British Government for
the future exception of American
citizens from the operations ofBritish
laws, whereby they may be there
imprisoned or held to bail for debts
which may be alleged to be due by
them, not in England, but i'll this
country. The only objection to this
is that it would be an infringement OH
the State Rights so dear to those
States Of the United States which hold
on to Imprisonment for debt with as
much pertinacity as if it was the
great charter OF their liberty. 1t
would, therefore, be necessary and
proper to limit the operation OF
the treaty to those States which have
abolished Imprisonment for debt, not
only as regards their own citizens of
other States