The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1861-10-10
WAsnIN9r0N,s WARNINa.

According TO the theory Of Magma
Chorta, "every Englishman's house is
his castle" yet our revolutionary faith
ers. when the public safety demanded,
boldly entered the houses of the abut-
tors Of their enemies and took from
them the implements Of mischief The
Continental Congress, from time to time,
adopted stringent measures for the san
p ession Of their scditious words M d
acts They were not allowed to say d
word or perform an act iBimical 70 the
public good, without Instant punish
ment or wholesome restraint, and as
early as 1777 the mild and consijeratc
Washington, in a proclamation, thus
warned them:
"In behalf Of the United States, by
virtue Of the powers committed TO me
by Congress, I grant full liborty to all
such as prefer the interests and protec-
ton Of Great Britain to the freedom
and happiness Of their country, forth.
with to withdraw themselves and fani
lies within the enemy's lines.
Such a permit from General Scott
with a wholesome alternative. might rid
the loyal States Of many treasonublo
sympathizers with the rebellion, and
materially reduce the number of tho
treacherous peace party" who are sim
ply traitors in disguise.
ACTION OF STATE LEGISLATURES.
In the course Of the war fir indepen.
dence the several State Legislatures
passed numerous acts for the punish.
mont Of the sympathizers with the enc
mics Of the country. In Massachusetts
they could be arrested under magis
trate's warrant and banished, unless
they could take an oath of allegiance t,
tho Whig cause. The select men o.
trustees Of towns could prefer charge
Of political treachory in town meetings
and the accused, if convicted by a Jury
might be Immediately banishod into th,
region occupied by the enemy. Man,
persons we're subjected to these penal
ties in that State.
Rhode Island passed laws still NOR
severe against the tories Any person
who should communicate with the min
is'ry, or their representatives, or VIII
should pilot armed ships of the King
or who offered supplies to the enemy
forces, might, by law, be pun shed b
death and confscation of estate. Their
were also special acts passed in tha
State, by which the property of certai
persons named was coD6scuted and Sc
Iquestered.
In Connecticut, speaking, writing o
acting against the doings of Congress
or the Assembly of Connecticut, sub
jocted the offender to the penalties O
disqualification for Office, the seizure q
his arms and Imprisonment. For fur
nishing the royal troops with supple
or personal aid, the offender might b
punished by the coniscation of his es
tate, and imprisonment for q term no
exceeding three years.
In New Hampshire similar laws wer
passed, and under them a large numbe
Of tories, former citizens of that Com
monwcalth, were prohibited from enter
ing within her borders, and the estate
Of about thirty residents were confs
Gated.
In New York, those who were or
posed to the Declaration of Indepenc
cnce were prohibited from practisil
law in the courts, and their estate
might be con6scated. A parent who's
son Joined tho enemy was taxed min,
pence on the pound of his estate f
each and every such son. County Con
mittees were authorized to approhen
and decide upon the guilt of all person
who should be accused Of correspon,
ence with the enemy; and they had II
power to punish them with imprisoi
ment or Punishment
The Legislature Of Virginia provide
by law that certain tories should
treated as aliens, their property to
sold, and the proceeds to be phccd
the public treasury. They, also, +
law, forbade certain persons cntcrir
the bounds Of that Commonwealth, ar
subjected them to penalties for the vi
lItlou Of the command
New Jersey passed several acts f
the punishment Of tories, suhiectir
them to imprisonment and forfeiture
estates.
THE TORIES OF PENNsYLyANIA.
Many tories in Pennsylvania we
punished in various ways by law.
| 1875 the Quakcrs orthat CommonweaI
published their "tcstjmony" against {
war. A similar course was pursued I
them ia other colonies. The Goncr
Congress finally deemed il necessary
recommend the Executives Of the scvC
! al States to watch the movements of n
eminent "poace party" That bodv al
recommended the government of Pen
sylvania to apprehend aud secure {
persons of eleven of the leading Qua
s ers Of Philadelphia, This action
; Congress was on the recommendation
committee of that body who report
that the "testimonies" and the "unifl
tenor of the conduct and the conver,
p ton" of number of persons belongi
to tho Society OF Friends, or Quake
l and their known disaiFection to
American cause, made them dungero
} citizens. They reported also;
: "phat when the enemy, in the mon
Of December, l77G, were bending III
p progress toward tho city of Philadelph
a certain seditious publication, addre
p cd: To our friends and brethren in
2 ligious profession in these aud adiao,
. provinces, signed John Pomberton
y behalf Of the Meeting Of Sufsrir
D