Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-07

A SINGULAR REPoRT.-In the course of his
speech on the condition Of the Washington Jail,
&c, recently delivered by Senator Wilson, he
introduced a report on the subject made by Mr.
J E Allen, q detective from the West In Gov
eminent employment here, made TO the Proves.
Marshal which is full Of monstrous statements ut
terly destitute Of foundation; showing that its
author has suffered himself to be imposed upon
by crazy abolitionists on the one hand, and run.
away slaves on the other.
We have no space TO- day IN which TO analyze
this report at length. We may however briefly
point out the fact that the very basis of his state
rnent IL wholly unfounded-bis allegation tina,
runaweys committed to the Washington Jail a,
such, are sold for their Jail fees II legal title "a
tnem be not established by some claimant. All
that 10 news" here. No such thing ever &C
CURED In this District. Our laws, that have e1.
listed Tor centuries, require the arrest and detsn-
non Of vagrant negroes, especially runaway
Nearly all who now runaway from their owners
set up the plea that they were employed by their
masters In military service against the Union, OF
course. That plea on their part is 10 proof Of
The fact. Wherever the fact may be made ap-
parent, Of course their incarceration Is Illegal,
and those who knowingly ordered 1t or aided 1,
should be punished. But in at least nine out OF
every ten cases where negroes have been impris-
oneo Is runaways here Of late, they were la,c
Js't 20 Imprisoned. That the Jail itself Is dis
gfsee 70 civilization, IL no less true than the fact
NAT Congress alone 10 responsible for its con.
dition.
hf Aliens sweeping aspersion upon the magis
RATES and county officers is wholly without justi-
neation Ia fact. That Is to say, he charges all of
nsm alike whereas most Of them are as correc,
mso a. any In any community. That he aIso
charges the same crimes upon our municipal DO.
loe-vho have nothing whatever to do with the
arrest Of runaway NECROSIS proof positive tina,
ne really knew little or nothing Of the subject on
which he made his political sensation report
IL should be remembered that existing Lau
makes It the dizzy Of county officers to take va
grant negroes Into custody, and of mag istrstes to
comm Them to jail IL they reasonably suspec,
them Of being runaways; or to the wor khouse /,
taey cannot give security that they Will not be.
come tar upon the community. The law iu
honSaveooldlng Illinois Is even stric:er upon
them.
Until Congress may alter the law here In thi,
PARTICULAR IL Is the Tlain duty Of the Judiciary Il
continue 10 enforce IL, unless Its operation be sus
pended by express dictation Of the General Gov
eminent, under the plea Of military necessity o,
The times, upon which President Lincoln has n
lave, very necessarily, assumed Functions which
are neither more nor less than those Of dictator
shiP. In all such cases we have sustained hi,
action, because We have known II to be patriotic
and requisite for the preservation Of The State
We have no fear, however. that he will extend
mat policy to the mere purpose Of working GU,
zoe ends and aims Of naked abolitionism.
we may not inaPPropriately add that we know
M j. Allen To he a very expert detective Off
Ger, and that he has rendered essential .eryic. to
zoe Government in the discharge OF his legiti.
MAZE duties But In assuming to father a bal.
oeiasn abolition report, chock full Of buncombe
sna loose sentiments for facts, he has appeared
si'oeetner In new, and Inappropriate. role