, 1861-12-10
From Our Own Correspondent I

f~4%t'l
WASHINGTON. Dec. g. 1861,
! The debato in the Senate yesterday on the
condition Of Washington jail, tho imprison-
ment Of fugitive slayes, and kindred subjects,
was peculiarly interesting, and noticeable us
the first discussion Of the session III that body.
1t Was quite unexpected on all hands, Sena-
tor Wilson, who introduced it, intending
merely TO submit report Of Mr.. E, J. Allen,
m officer Of the Government, OH the condition
Of the colorcd persons in the jail charged with
no crime, and to move that the Jail be c1npticd
Of such persons.
In addition to several items which I noticed
in recent letter, Senator Wilson stated that
one Of the persons confined there was free
boy from Pennsylvania, who came here with
the fifth PENNSYLVANIA regiment, and was found
in the street and sent there. Another boy,
working for the public service here On the
railway, was taken up and put there. Ono
old woman WAS sent there by the wife Of a for
mcr Senator, Mrs. Morton, Of Florida. She is
owned in Richmond, By dis1oyal person, and
she was sent to Jail to be kept until the war Is
over. Another had been the slave Of g former
officer Of the Senate, now Captain in tho
rebel army, who had likewise sent bis chattel
to the Jail for safer keeping until the close Of
the war!
Mr. Hnle rose to remark upon the adminis-
tration Of justice generally in the District OF
| Columbia. "Therc is not," said he, "on the
| face Of the earth community, calling itscn
civilized, tllat has /: worse administration o1
| Justice than this District, and from that ex.
ccpt no tribunal from The Supreme Court, up 0,
] doscn as you choose to take il, to a lnagis
t tzatc's court.''
Senator Fcsscnaen followed in a few yogent
| remarks ending as follows:
! t.1kuow it has been said in come newspaper:
| that Congress had nothing to do but get tosethe
and make provision for the war: and adjourn. dc
| not como here with any Euch idea ithsaE re hat1
&c ns Set5fe e. dad tRs
and SIS is 90 e2
abusce in the District Of Columbia, and particu
larry in the city of Washington, we shall hare &C
| conpished much. trust that work viii be Sc
| about, and set about directly. am unwilling tha
the capital of the country shall any longer be
scene Of oppression upon any class, no matte
what, or upon a9E man Ct whatever color. - let IL
=: But with reference to runawayz, nlen who hav
escaped from rebel masters, if the abuse which b.
| G-tA nt1oEAN tA~N>N~ ~ -
anywhere, wish now to say, before the country,
for this matter has excited some interest,", MOI on
IN or armes but elseHheIenat ians Jor 3gaas e s
5ng{he 'nost Gn7lRe1astlcs 70 thsm ~heneTef II g
be done legally and constit9tionally and there a
lew instances. tfnst IN "alcn oota tnsse G cono a
tons will not be ioundt to agree IN reference toth
matter.
54ow npth1ng o. me aets @ Mnae1 t nase oet pes
stated hero this morning except from fhese stal
rfents; but certainly the subject should be lookt
; into here, and not only here; but elsewhere; a!
r Congress. necessary. should express decided
it's opinions upon it. I an ready to express min
t not only in my place here. but wherever it may
necessary to express them Ihtnk The question
one arhicA cannof De fan,pc7ed or t'zJfed acith a
= Ionge7: IN ris1o Of tAe a7airersdt opinion of
country. It Is well. perhaps. that we should bee
d here: it il d tangible point but hope 1t will
followed up to any extent that may be necessary
J. order to accomplish the purpose
G Charles Summer closed the discussion will
W. '
C few clear and DECISIVE remarks rs 1ollo"s;
d H. p-os;ao,+ +bo con.+o, from, ssoina baa M;
W. ~ ah,,saa ~ {p hn intic;arv IN th;s n;.tr;ct
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