The national Republican., 1861-10-08
Caste at Fort Lafayette.

Treason is frequently regarded as gentle.
manly crime, and the person guilty oil 1t often
pretends to daintiness to which common
felons are forbidden to aspire. Hence the
traitors In the present rebellion claim ana re-
ceiye British sympathy, not because they d.
not richly deserve the halter, but because they
are gentlemen" The Tories of the Revolu
,ion made similar pretensious Rev. DR.. Duche
once wrote o letter TO General Washington,
urging him TO abandon he patriot cause on the
ground that he YVES gentleman. whereas the
members of Congress from New Englaud and
other Revolutionary leaders were not.
A gentleman Of this city, a native of South
ern State, having occasion to visit Fort Lafay
cite. was addressed upon this subject. lie
found there ninety-seven prisoners, divided,
like Hindoo society, into four castCs, each pos
,essing social status of its own.
When we first came here" id his inform
ant, we suffered much inconvenience, and Oar
residence was made disagreeable. We were
associated promtscuouSly together, not CLASH
fed, and were Contounded with the vulgar
characters whom the Government had eeen fl
to incarceratc with US. Gentlemen Of refined
tastes were compelled to associate with trader.
common sailors, ard the like; tn sit ut the sane
table. and eat similar foOd. It's now improved.
There are ninety-sevon Of Us here, and We have
been divided into groups aud companies, more
pleasanter.
Thus We have here number of sailors
They constitute two Cla*svs cH2 class j.
made up OF pirates outright, who enlist without
regard to principles ur { n-vQIenCgt. III,
other ia composed of snancn who have bC'
employed on vessels whicl were attempting u
run the blockade. They were generally q.
gagged upon the pretext ri being employed |,
the West India trade. AID bad no idea or know
edge OF being concerned IL acts OF this chu
acter.
Then tLer, Is Il third class the traders
These are purely mercenary, They have be-
arrested and placed here for such offences a
supplying arms aud munitions Of war TO tLt
rebels. and would seldom omit an opportunity
for traffic, If money was to be made, NJ matt'i
what was the character Of the business Gen
,lemen do not like to associate with such meI
on terms Of familiarity.
Among the geutiCmcr pr.S ut ere cS-Gov
ernor Morehcad, Mr.. Faulkner, Mr. Smith
Marshal Kane, the Police Commissioners %
Baltimore, &c. These are State prisoners, and
should be confined in u separate place. VIII
them are Others who belong to &. auU-ciass re
tpeetable men, but not moving in higher Gil
Ces. The member Of the Lee! g!5iaturc OF Mary
land aTe Of this character
As he was expatiaing upon this subject
Marshal Kane came along and invited our in
tormaDt to come aud see the l. g@!ature o
Maryland at nner. They were seated in "a;
apartment at II plain pine table. The 100 wa
bread without butter and coffee without mit
Each man had Gu cup, but no other tabI
service.
The lack Of these elegIHcies Greatly a2noy
The gentlemen at Fort Lafayette, ard the
are Of the opinion that they ought TO be in
INJURED in some " respectable" place Of contine
mtnL They W uld tolerate their condition {
Iurance il their instircts were better regarded.
n. 7. Post.