The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1861-10-17
Caste at Fort Lafayette.

From the New York Evening Post
Treason is frequently regarded as a gen
tlemanly crime, and the person guilty of
it often pretends 70 daintiness to which
common felons are forbidden to aspire
Hence the traitors in the present rebel
lion claim and receive British sympathy,
not because they do not richly deserve the
halter, but because they are gentlemen"
The Tories Of the Revolution made sim
liar pretensions. Rev. DIR. Dutche once
wrote a letter to General Washington
urging him to abandon the patriot cause
on the ground that he was a gentleman,
whereas the members Of Congress from
New England and other revolutionary
leaders were not
A gentleman of this city, a native of
southern State having occasion to visit
Fort Lafayette, was addressed upon this
subject He found there ninety-seven pris-
oners, divided, like Hindo society, into
four castles, each possessing a social status
of its own.
"When we first came here" said his
informant, ''we suffered much inconve-
nience, and our residence was made disa-
greeable. We were associated promiscu-
ously together, not classified, and were
confounded with the vulgar characters
whom the government had seen fit to
incarcerate with us. Gentlemen of refined
taste were compelled to associate with ira
ders, common sailors, and the like; to sit
at the same table and eat similar food
1t is now improved. There are ninety
seven of us here, and we have been been
divided into groups and companies, more
in accordance with our tastes, making it
much pleasanter.
'Thus we have here number of sail
ors. They constitute classes. One class
is made up OF pirates outright, who enlist
without regard to principle or consequent
ces. The other is composed of seameu
who have been employed on vessels which
were attempting to run the blockade
They were generally engaged upon the
pretext Of being employed in the West
India trade, and had no idea or knowledge
of being concerned in acts Of this charac-
ter
''Then there is third class-the ira
ders. These are purely mercenary. They
have been arrested and placed here for
such ofenses as supplying arms and muni-
tions of war to the rebels, and would sell
dom omit an opportunity for traffic if
money was to be made, no matter what
was the character of the business Gen
tlemen do not like to associate with such
men OF terms Of familiarity.
''Among the gentlemen present are ex-
Governor Moorehead, Mr.. Faulkner, Mr.
Smith, Marshal Kane, the Police Com
missioners of Baltimore, &c. These are
state prisoners, and should be confined in
a separate place. With them are others
who belong to sub-class-respecta
men but not moving in higher circles.
The members of the Legislature of Mary
are of this character"
AS he was expatiating upon this subject
Marshall Kane came along and invited
ouI informant to come and see the legis-
lature of Maryland at dinner. They were
seated IN an apartment at plain pine
table. The food was bread with out butter
and coffee without milk. Each man had
a tin cup, but no other table service
The lack Of these elegancies greatly
annoys the ''gentlennen" at Fort Latay-
cite, and they are of the opinion that
they ought to De immurred in some
respectable" place OF confinement
They would tolerate their condition of
durance if their instincts were better
regarded.