Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-12-19
MRS. Greenhow,s Pro,e.,.

Mrs. GreenhOw,s Protest.. s.-
The Richmond Wing publishes a letter from
Mrs, Greenhow, who was recently arreated at
Washington on q charge Of completely with tho
rebels. The letter Is dated Washington, Nov.
II, and Is addressed to Secretary Seward. Il
opens thus;
ST-For nearly three months I have bean
confined close prisoner, shut out from air and
exercise, and denied all communion with family
and friends.
Patience Is said to be great vittue. and
have practiced 1t TO my utmost capacity of en-
durance. r'..-r
am told, sir, that upon your ipss dirt the
fate OF citizens depends, and that the sign man
ual OF the ministers Of Louis the Fourteenth
and Fifteenth was not more potential In their
DAY than that OF the Secretary Of State In 1861.
Therefore most respectfully submit that on
Friday, August %, without warrant or other
show Of authority, Vas arrested by the de.
tective police, and my house taken in charge by
themj that all my private letters aud papers Of
lifetime were read and examined by them:
that every Law Of decency was violated in The
search OF my house and person, and by the sur.
veillance over me. -,
She then nsrfates her grievances:
We read In history that the Door Marie An.
toinette had paper torn from her bosom by
lawless hands, and that even change Of linen
had to be effected in the sight of ner brutal
eaptors. II is my sad experience to record even
more revolving outrages than that, for during
the first days of my imprisonment, whenever
necessity forced me TO seek my chamber, de-
tectiye stood sentinel ct the open door. And
TINS for period of seven days II, with my lit
tie child, was placed absolutely &C the mercy of
men without character or responsibility; that
during the first evening, portion Of these men
became brutally drunk; and boasted in my hear
l ing of the "nice tines they expected TO have
with the female prisoners; and that rnde vio-
lence was used toward colored servant girl
that evening, the extent Of which I have not
been able to learn. For any show of decorum
afterWard rraeticed toward me, was indebted
to the detective called Captain Depuis. riG
In the careful analysis Of my papers deny
the existence of line had not perfect right
to have written, or to have received. FFeedo N
Of speech and of opinion is the birthright of
Americans, guaranteed 10 rs by our charter of
liberty--the Constitution Of the United States.
have exercised my prerogatiye, and have
openly avowed my sentiments. During the DO
litical struggle opposed your Republican party
with every instinct Of MISREPRESENTATION / be-
lieyed your success q virtual Modification Of
the Constitution, and that IL would entail upon
as all the direful consequences which have en-
sued. These sentiments have doubtless been
foundrecorded among my papers, and / bold
them as rather proud record of my sagacity.
Inasmuch as she Is "held to man's accounta-
bility," Mrs, Greenhow demands mans privi.
leges: gar. ogsge
Igi1I must be permitted to quote from letter Of
you're, In regard to Russell, of the London
Tines, which you conclude with these admira-
BILE words: Individual errors of opinion ma
be tolerated, 90 long as good sense is left 70
combat them.' By way OF illustrating theory
and practice--here am 1, q prisoner In sight Of
the Executive mansion, In eight Of the Capitol,
where the proud statesmen of our land have
sung their p@sns TO the blessings Of our free To-
stitutions. b Comment is idle. Freedom Of
speech freedom of thought, every right per.
tanning to the citizen, has been suspended by
what, I suppose, the President calls military
necessity A blow has been etFuck, By thia
total disregard Of all civil rights against the
present system of governments, far greater In
| its effects than the severance of the Southern
Stites. Our people have been tanght 10 oon-
tenn the supremacy of the law, 10 which all
have hitherto bowed, and TO look to the militia
ry power for protection against Ice DEGREES. A
military bpitlt anhB 0oOu uoVetOpeug WulOu Will
only be subordinate to military Dictatorship.
Read history, and you will fud that the causes
which bring about revolution rarely predom-
mate at It's close, and no people have ever re-
turned to the point from which they started.
Even should the Southern States be subdued
and forced back into the Union (which regard
as impossible, with full knowledge of their
resources), o different form of government will
be found needful 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, plodding, meth-
odical habits Of the poor can never be resumed.
3 You have held me, sir, to mans acoounta-
bility, and / therefore claim the right TO speak
on subjects usually considered beyond wo-
man 3 ken, and which you may class a. "errors
of opinion" IOffer no excuse for this long d.
greasioD, as q three months imprlsonment,
without formula of law, gives me, authority for
Occupying even the precious moments Of Sec
retary Of State. ela9a
| My object is TO call your attention 10 the fact
that, during this long imprisonment, J am yet
ignorant OF the causes Of my arrest; that my
| house hae been aeizsd and converted into pFis-
on by the Government; that the valuable fur
niturs Il contained has been abused and destroy
ed; that during some period of my imprison-
lment have suffered greatly tor want of proper
/ and sufficient food. Also, have TO complain
that, more rscentiyra q woman Of bad character,
recognized an having been seen on the streets Of
Chicago as such BY several Of the guard. call.
1 ing herself Mrs. 0nderdonk, was placed here
! in my house, in room adjoining mine.
She concludes as followe; 80
The siron heel Of power" may keep down,
but Il cannot crnsh out the spirit sof rsalsianc6
lpf q people armed for the defense of their
/