The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-07-31
MAJOR. GENERAL JOHN A. DIX,
1ldia,G, The Daa!arLa Of


Commanding the Department of Maryland
SIR am under the necessity of appealing to you to
twenty days, and which must be pardoned for
siderng most unwarraned and cruel. | aware that
in times of public danger instances of individual wrong
sometimes unavoidable but that to which have been
exposed seems wanon that the respect due your
character and position you will permit it
TO be continued On Saturday, the 8th instant went
with my son. in the steamer Nary Washington pay
visit to my relative, Mr. Tongue who resides in Calvert
county, the Patuxent river spent Sunday at his
house, and next day took the steamer, her
turn trip to Baltimore where have for several years
lived, with my family. am not of any circum-
stance which occurred board any period of
my life, to justify suspicion against The steamer
was ordered to stop at this fort her way and my
amazement, 1, together with Col Zarvona whom had
not, before that trip, seen since he was small
neither of whom I knew, were taken in charge
by file of soldiers, and all of us were con
| fined together in the guard house From that moment
to the present, have been vigorously confined there
without comfort but the little my friends have been
allowed to supply the way of provisions from them
have never been permitted to leave it. except for few
minutes at time, under the urgent
in custody Of an armed sentinel have, in vain applied
to General Banks and Colonel Morris inform me on
| what charge was held have offered to waive the
presumption of innocence to which any criminal is en-.
torily to them for moment of my life which thew
would say suspicion attached. have told them that
was, and so far as informed, vet, an officer of
the Government in the Custom House-tbat I have
large family, wife and nine children-entirey Deepen
dent upon my labor for support / have offered nv
parole, or any named security that would be forhcom
ing to answer charge which might hereafter pre-
ferred against me, but my appeals have brought
relief the promise of any. The Grand Jury of the
Federal court in session for long time after my
arreSt-ound many indictments against other parties
but against have reason to suppose that
any had the hardhood to attempt impicate in
the suspicion of crime but ANONYMOUSLY
deprived of liberty and family left the charity
of their friends Colonel Morris has intimated to me
that IL l would take oath of alegiance
prepared by him, would be released, as others have
been who arrested at the time But although
have not, and have never had and never expect to
have any purpose which would be thwarted by such an
OATH respect rebels against any right how
ever high his position, to treat like guilty
pected felon. was arrested without cause. + claim a
freemans right to be discharged without conditions
am old man, and have committed antici-
pated the commission of crime against the United
States At the moment of my arrest esteemed wor
thy to hold office under the Government. No
truthfuy charge mel believe has falsely charged
me-wh being recreant in my humble sphere to public
private duty. Under these circumstances do not
permit myself to doubt that you will forbid my being in
generated by the department under control
fusng to take oath, which has right, legally
morally, to require of me.
Relying confidently your ofjustice, and ear
nestly begging you give my your early attention
I m ful1v