The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-12-11
From the Richmond Whig, Dac. 3
THE COwARDLY DESPOTISM AT
WASHINGTON.

Il
vizier. We are given to understand, that the
perusal of it was not without visible effect
upon that impersonation of all human vii.
iainy. The twitchings of the muscles. and
his agitated manner betrayed, not perhaps,
any compun s5n, but a sense Of persona al in
security at the hands of the avengiag Ne
mesis
This letter is the most graphic sketch. yet
given to the world of the cruel and das-
tard!y tyranny, which the Yankee Govern
ment has established at Washington. Rus
sell, in one of his letters to the London
Iimes, mentions the expedient of "a,ye,t By tel
e9roph," which has been introduced by Sew
ard, something new and appalling, and
outstrippinS all the ingenious con van ces of
all the despotisms that ever existed. But the
incarceration and torture Of helpless women,
and the outrages heaped upon them, rs de-
tailed in this letter, will more shock manly
natures, and stamp the Lincolp dynasty
everywhere with undying infamy.
The letter tells its own tale, and may be
lied on ;s a true copy of the original, in the
hands of VIM. Il. Se ward:
WAsHIsGroN, Nov. II, 1851, 39S 10th st.
To the Hon. I'm. II. Sta1ard, Secretary Of State:
sIE: For nearly three months | have been
confined, close prisoner, shut out from air
and exercise, anu denied all communion with
family and friends
patience is said to be great virtue" and
L have practiceL il, to my utmost capacity of
endurance.
am told, sir, that upon your iPse Dirt, the
fate OF citizens depends, and that the sign
manual OF the ministers of Louis the Four
teen tn and Fifteenth, was not more po tential
in their day, than that OF the Secretary Of
State in 1861.
/, therefore, most respectfully submit, that
on Friday, august I'D, without warrant or
other show Of authority, was arrested by
the Detective Police, ana my house taken in
charge by them: that ali my private letters,
and papers OF a lifetime, Were read and ex-
amlned by them: that every law of decency
was violated in the search of my house and
person, and by the surveillance over me.
We read III history, that the poor Maria
Antolnette had paper torn from her bosom
by iawless hands, and that even change of
linen had TO be effected in sight of her brutal
captors. 1t is my sad experience to record
even more reyCitng outrageS than that, for
during the first days of my imprisonment,
whatever necessity forced me to seek my
chamber, n detective stood sentinel at the
open door. And thus for u period Of seven
days L, with my little child, was placed q b.
solutely at the mercy Of men without char
aoter or responsibility; that during the first
evening, q portion of these men became bru-
tally drunk, ard boasted in my hearing of
the mice times they expected to have with,
the female prisoners: anu that rude violence
was used towards a colored servant girl du-
ring that evening, the extent OF which l
have not been able TO learn. For any show
OF decorum afterwards practiced towards
me, was indebted to the Detective called
Captain Dennis.
In the careful analysis of my papers deny
the existence of a line had not u perfect rig ht
| to have written, or to have received. Free
dom of speech and OF opinion is the birth
right OF Americans, guaranteed TO us by our
Charter of Liberty-the Cons stitution of the
United States. have exercised my peroga-
| tive, and have openly avowed my sentiments.
During the political struggle, l opposed your
l ReOuDtlcdn sol I.
| preservation. | believed your success vir-
tual Qualification of the CCnsti tutioE and that
| 1t would entail upon US all the diretui cCnse
quenc-S which nave ensued. These sentT-
mentS have dou btless been found recorded
| among my papers, and hold them rather
| a proud record OF my sagaciIy.
| must he permitted tC quote from letter OF
yonrs, in regard to Russell, of the London
Tiaes, which you conclude wi tn these ldmi-
rabie word s: 9 Individual errors uf opinion
| may be tolerated, so long rs good sense is left
10 combat Them" BY way of illustrating
| theory and practice-here am !, prisoner in
sight of the Executive Mansion, in sight of the
| Gtpitol, where the proud statesmen of onr
| lOLd have sung their p;eans TO the blessings of
| our free institutions. Comment is idle
| Freedom of speech, freedom OF thought, every
| right pertaining to the citizen has been sus-
pended by what, 1 suppose, the President
| calls " military necessity 4 blow has
been struck, by this total disregard OF all
| civil rights, against the present system
| of Government, far greater in its ef-
| fects than the severance of the South
| ern States. Our people have been taught
| to contemn the supremacy of the law, to
| which all have hitherto bowed and TO look
| to the military power for protection against
| its DEGREES. A military spirit has been de-
| yeloped, which VIII only be Su ubOrdinate to q
Military DictGtOrship. Read history, and you
| will find that the causes which bring about
| revolution rarely predominate at its close,
| and no people have ever returned to the point
| from which they started. Even should the
Solthern States be su bdued and forced back
| into the Union, (Which l regard impossi-
| BILE, with full knowledge of their resources }
| a different form CT Government will be found
| nteiful to meet the new developments of
| national character. There is no class of So
| clety, no branch of Industry, which this
| change has not reached, and the dull, plod-
| ding, methOdlcal habits of the poor can never
| be resumed.
You have held mes sir, TO a mans account
| ability, and therefore claim the right to
speak on subjects usually considered beyond
| Il Woman's ken, and which you may class as
| "errors of opinion" l offer no excuse fer
| this long depression as Il three months i'm
| prisonment, without formula OF law, gives
| me authority for occupying even the precious
| moments of 3 Secretary OF State.
| My object is TO call your attention to the
| fact that, during this long Imprisonment, L
| an yet ignorant OF the causes of my arrest;
| that my house has been seized and converted
| into a prison by the Government; that the
| valuable furniture it contained has been
| abused and destroyed; that during some
| u
| greatly for want of proper and sufficient
| food. Also, have to com mplain that, more
| recently, a woman of bad character, recog-
| missed as having been seen on the streets of
| Chicago as such by several of the guard call
| ing hersclf Mrs. Onderdonk, was placed here
in my house, in II room adjoining mine.
| In making this exposition, have Il object
| of appeal TO your sympathles. If the Justice
of my complaint, and decent regard Tor the
| worlds opinion do not move you, should
but waste time to claim your attention on
| any other score.
may, however, recall to your mind, that
| but u little while since, you We're quite as
| much prescribed by public sentiment here for
| the opinions and principles you held, as l am
| now ior mine.
1 could easily have escaped arrest, having
had timely warning. ! thought it possible
| that your statesmaasbip might present such q
| proclamation ofweakness to the world, as even
| the fragment of Il once great Governman t
| turning its arms against the breasts of women
| and children. You have the power, sir and
may still further abuse it. You may pros
trate the physical strength, by confinement in
| close rooms, and insufficient foOd--you may
| subject ME TO harsher, ruder treatment thar
| ! have a1ready received, hut you cannot i'm
| prison the soul. Every canse worthy of sue
! cess has had its martyrs. The words of the
heroine Corday are applicable here " C'est ls
crime qut fnit Ia hoDte ri non pas Fechafaade" My
sufterings will aftord significant lesson to
| the women of the South, that sex or cond-
| ton is no bulWark against the surgipg bill
| lows OF the "irrepressible conflict"
The ''iroa heel Of pooer'' may keep down, but
| it cannot crush out, the spirit of resistance in
| a people armed fer the defence CT their rights;
| and tell you now, sir. that you are standing
over a crater whose smothered fires in mo.
| ment may burst forth.
1t is your boast that thirty three bristling
| fortifcations now surround Washington-
The fortifications Of Paris did not protect
| Louis Philippe when his hour had come
In conclusion l respectfully ask your at
tention to this my protest and have the honor
| to be, dc &c, &c.
l NJ