The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-04-13
Mr.. sanborn's Arrests


The attempted arrest Of Mr.. Sasborn, OF Con-
cord, by U. S officials. to be carried as wit
ness before the John Brown Committee Of the
United States Senate, and his release on writ
ofha5eas corpus, was briefly stated by us in
oui last. The outrage is aggravated by the
fact that Mr.. s., II is understood, was ready at
all times to test the question Of the legality Of
the power claimed by the Senate committee. by
submitting to an arrest, with the understand
ing that the right should be tested on the writ
of habeas corpus. The attempt Of the United
States officers to make 1t under cover of the
darkness of the night, and BY the use Of deceit.
and with the object probably Of carrying him
out of the State, where the processes Of the Su-
preme Court could not reach him, makes It q
most shameful outrage. The circumstances
connected with the arrest are thus given in q
letter from Concord.
The quiet of this village was broken in on to-
night by the cries OF MURDER" and general
alarm Of our citizens ensued, who found, on
reaching the scene, a band of men calling them
selves officers of the United Safes Senate, hold
ing in the middle of the road one Of our best be-
| loved and most respected townsinen, Frank ID.
SanSorn, handcuifed, and without hat or shoes
on. IL seems that about nine o'clock these men,
four or FIVE in number, knocked Mt the door Of
Mr.. SanbOrn's house and on his opening the
door seized him, and without reading any pre-
cept or even giving their names, handcutied him
and dragged him to carriage in waiting on
the street. His screams and violent resistance
called his neighbours 20 the place, and prevented
their plan Of rushing him Oft without the
knowledge of his friends. Finding that they
could not with their united strength force him
into the carriage, rs he is a very tall, athletic
man, they held on to him, when, sooner than 1t
takes to tell of il, crowd Of the sturdy, honest
citizens Of our town OF every shade Of politics.
surrounded them.
The angry and excited crowd was reinforced
every minute. and urged by the sight OF their
townsman thus treated almost beyond endur-
ance, were barely restrained from m0bbing the
officers on the spot. His counsel, Hon. j. s,
Keyes, who. had been sent for, soon arrived, and
on demanding to see the authority for the vio-
lent proceedings, was shown the outside VI q
paper which il was stated was signed by the
Vice President of the United States. directed to
the Seargent-at-Arms of the Senate, and by
him endorsed over to one Silas Carlton, who
was the chief man Of those holding Mr.. Sam
born. The Others gave their names as Tarleton,
Coolidge and Freeman. and the carriage driver
was A. j. Foss, all of Boston. An application
was made by his counsel for writ Of habeas
corpus to the Hon. L. Il. Hoar, Judge of the
The Deputy Sheriff was sent for, and upon his
arrival the preccpt of the Commonwealth OF
Massachusetts was served by Deputy Sheriff
John ID. More, assisted by rs willing q posse
and rs eli ,ent ms ever aided service before.
Carlton, refusing to give up the prisoner, and
demanding copy Oft the writ, was taken oil OF
Mr.. Sanborn By the Deputy Sheriff so quickly
that he did not even miss his hat, which he lost
in the struggle, and at the command Of assist
ance the others were scattered rs quickly and
eilectually. Mr.. Sanborn was in the hands Of
friends before his own door, and was again
free citizen of Massachusetts,.
Being taken before the Supreme Court, on
the writ Of habeas corpus, Mr.. Sanborn was
discharged, on the ground that the arrest was
made by an officer toswhom the Sergeant-at-
Arms Of the Senate delegated his power, and
not BY the Sergeant himself The court held
that he could not thus delegate authority.
Among other statements in relation to this
affair are the following
Mr.. Sanborn's sister seeing the crowd sur
rounding the officers and her brother, and that
she could do no more service there, seized the
whip from the carriage and began belaboring
the horses in good earnest. hut one of the men
took the whip from her She then jumped into
the carriage to prevent her brother being put
INTO il, but she was taken out with more force
than politeness, having her clothes torn in the
struggle.
It is said that with two exceptions the dem
ocrats entered most heartily into the spirit Of
the people of the town. All were indignant ut
the manner I in which the arrest had been
made.
The Boston Atlas says:
The mode in which the attempt to arrest Mr..
Sanborn was made was most reprehensible -
Had he been n thief or murderer, or suspects
ed of any crime, the proceedings would have
been in keeping with the occasion.
When il is considered further, rs the exam
nation before the Supreme Court developed,
that these officers acted without authority, 1t is
impossible to restrain deeper Indignation mt the
proceeding. The intelligence ofthe affair spread
over the city and country, and produceda deep
excitement The disposition shown by the peo-
pie of Concord. the crowds which were in at
tendance at the Legislature while the subject
was before il, the applause which broke out in
the Court room ut the announcement Of the de-
csion, and the cheers which rang through the
street, are evidence that such proceedings can
not be persisted in.