New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-11-28
TEHE ALEXANDRIA CAsEs.

cllcd pI Juubc IItchCi thc iioVVot """bo Nv
Alexandria, though why there should be any
delay about the matter is not stated. The
subject il one Of SO much importance that
meeting Of merchants has been held IN this
city in relation to it. They. naturally enough,
wish TO know, first, whether oil the rebels,
or rebel agents in Alexandria, whose notes
have been dishonored, are TO be allowed so
much time 10 run tie goods that no remedy
will be lct to the Northern merchant; and
second, whether as the army advances into
The Southern States it is worth while for
Item to hope for, and to take measures to
Iecoyer the three or four bundled millions, or
any portion of it, Of which they have been
robbed by the act Of Secession.
The Gaze on which proceedings were staid is
So very clear that if upon that the order
issued from the War Department in relation
TO the power of the Provost Court in civil
cases shall be sustained, our Northern mer-
cbapt1 may make up their minds that there is
no redress or succor for them at the South
TIL the complete restoration Of peace and the re-
hard upon some Of them who have hoped to
recover some portion Of the property Of which
they have been defrauded; indeed, there is no
Northern merchant who has money owing him
at the South, who would uot at the fret
flush. think that be should be entitled TO re-
cover it the moment he could lay his hands on
IT, or liz equivalent, ard bring the case before
any Court Of Justice, whether civil or martial
Especially may they think 80 when they know
very VOL that unless thoy recover immediately
on the taking Of TIE town where the debtor
resides, there will presently be no prop.
erty on which 10 levy, the debt become total
loss, and the case one pist mending by any
Court whatever. But We are IN duty bound to
remind these sufferers that there are great
many cases OF individual hardship in time Of
war-not to say in time Of peace-where qrea-
tons of legality are concerned, and as we have
all agreed TO consider that whatever the Gov
ernmeDt does is right, our unhappy friend, the
merchant, must cheerfully submit 10 b.. lofs,
and rather "cosset" himself, that il has fallen
to bis happy lot to show how entirely be can
approve of everything the Administration does,
though its net this time should happen to re.
iuce him TO begcary.
The points Of the case at AleIandria, which
serc submitted to the President aud bis legal
sdviser, and on which the order was given TO
he Provost Court 10 dismiss al civil cascs.
we're briefly the,e: There il Q firm in Alexan-
iria known as Wilmer & Co. ard George X.
Wilmer & Brothers; including two brothers
Wilmer at one time-and at another both those
perscns and one Slaymaker. To this house
Messrs Bowen, Holmes * Co. of this city aud
Morris l.. HGllowell & Co. Of Philadelphia, had
sold goods, for which they took notes Of the house
on time. These notes became due, and we're
d.honored. The New.York and Philadelphia
merchants went to Alexandria to look aiter the
matter, and found that the house was perfectly
solvent, so far as ability to pay goes, for il had,
beside other property, q store full of goods,
'ome portion Of which was the identical NOR
ehnndise purchased Of Bowen Holmes & Co.
md Morris l.. Iiallowell g. Co. Bat the
Witmera, it appeared being active traitors,
rad fled from Alexandria about the time of the
defeat at Bull Run, within the Rebel lines,
akng with them, or sending before, some por-
ion of their stock, sucb perhaps, as would
ell best al the South, or as could be most
,asily moved. TIE other partner, Slaymaker,
vas left behind in charge of the business of
he firm. lie acknowledged fully the solvency
,f the house and the indebtedness to the
Northern merchants, but as be considered that
he laws of the jeff. Davis Confederacy were
supreme over those Of the United States, he
refused 10 pay the debt which lie could not
leby, because an act prohibiting such payment
lad been passed by the Confederate Congress.
This argument failed to impress upon tue
sec the goods they sold upon the shelves over
he head OF the smiling nod logical Slaymaker,
he conviction that they were fairly and hon
,rably kept out of their money. But where
vas their remedy The Sheriff, the
Judge, and the Clerk of tie County, bad all
led about the same time that the hlessrs.
Wilmer had started fer Manassas and New.
market, and Alexandria had ever since been
Inder q military Governor and martial law.
IA looking about for Court, they found that
# Judge Freese, aud as it was created to sub
erve the ends of justice, and especially as
here were no other Courts in the place, they
brought their case before his Honor, the Pro-
'ost Judge. 1t was very simple one. They
aid in effect: "The house in which this man
: is a partner bought our goods; they not only
refuse to pay for them, bat they plead law