Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-07-31

ARREST or Mr.. Isaac g. MILLER Editor of
the Evsning Star: 1 ask a sufficient space In your
columns that I may render some service to an in
iured man. In your local notice Of I" the discov-
cries made by the Select Committee of the House
of Representatives, investigating the condition Of
the various Departments" you saw there was
"ample testimony Of the sympathy Of certain
employees at the United States Arsenal with the
rebellious States, and Of their hostility to the
United States Government" and that Isaac Miller
and eight other Of those employees were arrested
and committed to Jail by Justice Dom.
Yes sir; here in the capital OF this fire.. Govern
ment in the middle Of the nineteenth century, an
aged citizen, who for nearly forty wears has
served the Federal Government with the utmost
fidelity, who has spent that period of long, use
full and Christian life at the post assigned him in
that Arsenal with an unceasing and faithful de-
votion to his duties that has obtained for him the
highest encomiuns from those under whom he
has served, was suddenly seized, marched like a
felon to the common jail, and there incarcerated
as though he was a thief or burglar
He was not permitted 10 kno7 the accusations
against hiln, nor who had preferred them; but in
the quiet performance Of his public duties, he
was petrified with establishment at the announce
ment that he was prisoner, and that without
ball or manpriZe be must, like a thief or a va
grant enter behind the prison CRATES. Suddenly
torn from tender and devoted familv-ignO-
miniously stripped OF the domestic associations
and the united domestic worship Of family
altar, at which he had nightly commuDed with
his Maker for almost generation, he, at an age
exceeding the scriptural limit of three score years
and ten. was compelled for once to address that
Being from the damp dungeon of criminals
And how was this wicked and cruel persecution
papers as though he was mere vagabond, under
the significant caption, "IH jail, land the pub
lie who have been thus informed Of that arrest,
shall also be informed of his release, and Of the
outrage that has been committed upon as loyal
citizen, as true patriot, and as pure Christian
as has ever adorned the community ana the
church.
1t has resulted wholly through the black plague
OF American politics-ofl ce-seeking-place hunt
ing. Application had been made for his removal
from the position which ne has worthily, and
so prohtablv to the Government, filed through all
the changes and vicissitudes of party and political
fortune The application failed because Of his
value to the Government But the savage ferocitv
OF political lust knew no limits The disappointed
applicants awaited themselves of the necessary
secrecy of the inner chamber of a Congressional
inquest, and there, by means Of that gigantic
iniquitg, false swearing, gave him the cowardly
and dastardly stab which the highwayman deals
to his unsuspectng victim. They swore that he
had justified the assault upon the U =. troops in
the city OF Baltimore on the 10Th of April-that he
had asserted that the aggressiOnS upon the South
had been such that they were driven to take up
arms against the GOvernment-and that he had
reJ2iced at the disaster at Bull Run, and wished
for like result In ali future engagements
Not one of the creatures who swore to this dare
to meet their victim face to face and repeat th:ir
perjury. he has not only not used the language
ascrbed, but has never uttered a sentiment from
which any such inference can be drawn Through
out the whole contest, bis loyalty to the Govern
ment has been as firm and mistaken as that Of the
President himself or the General-in-Chief Of the
army Like the true Christian patriot which he
has always been, he has adhered with answering
hdelity to that Government to which he has been
so valuable.
His hOnOred pastor the newly-elec.ed Cha plain
10 the Senate, In company with other near and dear
relatives and friends, promptly commenced the
task Of restoring this persecuted old gentleman to
MS nome and family. 1t was at once ascertaine
rom the committee that even the test mony KEN
did not contain single allegation which could
Lead to bis arrest, and that the committee were
surprised and COMPOUNDED by the measures which
had been resOrted to. They promptly informed
the justice of this fact, and stated that the onlv
question that could arise out of that evidence was
whether the accused persons should be kept in
the employ of the Government.
After much effort the case was investigated by
the military authorities, and through Gen Mans.
| held the Justice was informed that they knew Of
no cause for the detention Of any of the accused
in custody; and directed him to act entirely under
, the directions Of the House Committee This
committee, Indignant at the bare imputation that
they had caused the false arrest, promptly refused
TO give any directions In the case; but inst as
promptly informed the Justice that they had
never for moment conceived the idea that there
was the slightest ground for arrest or for any pro-
eeeding beyond fair and impartial investg alton
as 10 whether the accused should be retained in
the employ Of the Government Finding that
Mr.. Miller had been arrested and was detained
by purely g false tmpTisonnsnt.D be was after
something more than days incarceration, re-
leased from the prison.
Thus has man, who, by a life of undertaking
Integrity, OF transformations modesty, and Of sim
cere piety, richly earned for himself a character
as sPotless as the falling snow been subjected to
| cruel and inhuman persecution-to degrading
and humiliating indignity, that has broug ht sor-
row ana distress upon a heart stricken family
purely through an insatate greedness for employ
inent which the Government has found SO faith
J fully attended in his hands
AS TO the allegations made by means of this
cowardly skulking behind the necessary secrets
Of the committee room, Mr. Miller dcfes his per-
| suers He dares them to meet him in an inveStI.
ganOn, where they will have TO confront L m
he denies them in the aggregate, and in detail
They have not the weak foundation of any basty
or incautlous expressions, which even their wick
cd and greedy inagnations could torture into the
slightest semblance Of what they have alleged
Permit me to add, in conclusion that this ia
written by one who has left the Injuries Of home
to take the hazards Of the war for the mainten-
ance OF the ederal Government, and whose 10y
alty has Tor lis foundation a hearty, undeyiatinU
and may say, industrious support of the Repub-
llcan organization from the hour Of its birth-and
an enthusiastic support Of its policy for period
extending many years anterior. 1. MT.
THE Fenwick's /" Chase Guards'' held a special
meeting last night, at Temperance Hall MIR
Wa Young, of tina regular army, being called to
the chair the names Of nearly forty volunteers for
three years, or during the war, were announced
as being already on the roll. A spirited patriotic
address was made by Mr.. Parsons, of New York
urging all to rally around the stars and stripes
God and justice being on their side A resolution
declaring Ii 10 be the desire Of the Chase Guards
TO have Virginians, Marvlanders and Washing
tonians, and all who are exiled from their homes,
to enrol under the banner of the Chase Guards
was passed; when the meeting adjourned to meet
on Saturday night, for the purpose Of electlng
officers.
THE SOCIETY Of st. Johns Church, for the aid
of the volunteers Of the District and other soldiers
was formed at the instigaton of the rector, 1.-THE
Rev. smith Pyne. ID. ID at a meeting held in the
church on the 14th Of May at which ne presided
The Secretary reports, that since that time the
society has distributed about 2, 300 havelocks to
the District and other volunteers, and large
number to the L 3 Army Also I2O garments
OF various kinds to the volunteer soldiers Nest
of the work has been given to the poor Of the par
ish, and paid for out of the church fund thus re-
lieving the wants of many families A large
number Of garments are still on hand for dIstri-
button