True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1856-09-10
Despotism in Europe and America.

llluStTalODS Uy CuC SOOI0 vi HuuuLOuI
might be produced, but we will be con-
tent at pfesen nj with placing before my
readers, two parallel statements in juxta-
position.
Id late number Of the New York
Tribune, we find. on first page, a letter
from a foreign correspondent. written
from Naples June Is, and headed Royal
Cruellies.' He gives details Of political
prosecutions before the Central Criminal
Court of Naples. Eleven citizens Of;re-
spectacle character ahd standing were ac-
cused, either from suspicion, or otherwise
through the malice Of police agent, Of
conspiracy for the subversion of King
Bomba's government and the obstruction
of his throne. .'.
1.-The defence has revealed strange do
ings when we consider that it is The
nineteenth century in which they have
occurred. The prisoners lin regard to
whom nothing has been proved except
theiryery innocence) have been subjected
to torture, morally and physically, in or
der 10 force them into making revelations.
One day they received each fifty lashes
and mark, these atroscites have not been
even denied by the Attorney General.
The writer further represents that the
unfortunate prisoners are at the mercy Of
a drunken Governor, who has the inspec
tion Of the letters written by them to their
families, and sometimes without cause
in0ictS upon them great abuses.
In another column, same number and
page where we read The above mentioned
details of European tyranny, we find a
letter addressed to Col. Sumner, by Gov.
Robinson, and other State prisoners. who
have been some four months in durance
vile, near Lecompton, Kansas. This
letter gives summary Of the outrages
inflicted upon Free State citizens in that
Territory, by the existing pro-slavery
powers, and under The authority or sane
ton Of the general government. The
letter thus mentions the sacking of Law
renee, and attendent scenes and circum-
stances;
1.-The Southern regiment are on hand,
and the people Of Missouri once mote
cross the line, wait upon the Marshal and
the Governor, receive the Government
arms, are enrolled as mill ia or posse
comlatus, and commence operations.-
All horses and other property of Free
State men are pressed in service (which
means stolen or plundered in their Ian
guage,) and the molly army proceed to
Lawrence, against the remonstrance and
protests of all good citizens, who volun
teered 10 secure the servl'e Of any legal
process in their town, if This body Of arm
ed depredators could be kept away
But this would not answer; there were
certain things to be done that even the
Governor and Marshal did not dare say
were legal. .'...
"All is quiet in town before the Mar
shal enters. He appears with few men,
arrests his prisoners, as he had been do
ing for several days before, without oppo-
sition, and then suddenly leaves. His
possee, under the direction of the Sheriff
who is indorsed in the message and pro
clamation of the President, then enter
disarm the people. lombard the envied
h otel and bum it 10 the ground, destroy
two printing presses, type and Office fix
lures, burn private dwelling, and pill
lage the town.
"This done, the ciUil possee is dismis
sed into guerilla bands that in(est tn,
Territory like the plaques of Egypt, com
miting all manner Of thefts, robberies
S murders and other outrages upon the Ere
Stale settlers, and i: is not till the people
Y driven to desperation, take vengeance
! into their own hands, and commence
i like warfare upon this government arme
4 &C posse that the President or his ap
+. pointees find any occasion for restrainin
!. the vilainy of their friends and partisan;
"All this time, every Free State ma
v suspected, or even charged with an oifens
/! without suspicion, is arrested, confined
II and sometimes put in irons and shameful
e y abused aud tortured; while murderer
e thieves, robbers, and every kind Of GRIN
e nals, are suffered to 60 at large, provide
}. always, they belong TO the pro'savery
!. Administration party; and not onl
IS suffered to go at large, but are promote
\, to or are retained in office under I'll
Government"
- What thinks the reader of the la
20 statement, above. American cilizel
" have always been indignant at the ver
= mention of political prisoners, under a
e. rest, and in confnnen, in the dungeon
q. of Italy or Austria, or the dark mines
70 Siberia. But here it is asserted th
9 citizens Of the American commonwealth
of suspected, or charged without suspicion
y. have been arrested, confined, and som
es times put in irons, and sbanefully abuse
10 and tortured, whilst thieves and murde
vs. ers, not only 60 at large, but hold off
4 under the government We blush tn
NJ ~ we should have lived 10 witness such
~ ~ state of things, in the limits Of Il
;s land. .....
20 Governor Robinson and his associat
he have been men of standing, and are re
oI ponsible for ther statements. Evidenc
or or in proof Of their general statement q
overwhelming.
%. One more particular it is painful to e
rb pose-but it is wanting 10 complete t
66e picture. Mention was made that t
re Neapolitan prisoners we're at the mer
N OF drunken Governor, who had the