Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-12-13
SCATEEING LETTER TO WILLIAM
~.
WASHINGTON November u. f-af
H- 10Th street.

a- I6a >.r.
y. 'e Hau. w. d. Seward .-etrv of Star,
SIR: For nearly three months have been
confined, a close prisoner, shut ont from air and
exercise, and denied all communication with
family auC friends.
ann told sir, that upon your iyse dirit Tue fate
OF citizens depends, and chat the sign manual Of
the ministers Of Louis the Fourteenth and Eff.
Leenth, was not more potent in their day, than
that of the Secretary of State u l~6I.
] therefore mos. respectfully submit. lhat ON
Friday, August 23d, without warrant OF other
show OF authority, | was arrested by the detec-
tive police, and my house taken iu charge by
them that every law of drCeucy was violated
IN the search OF my house aud person, and by
the Surveillance over me.
We read in history, that the poor Maria An
toiuette had % paper torn from her bosom by
iawless hands, and that even a change of linen
had to be effected in sight OF her brutal Capt0rs.
1t is my sad experience TO record even more re-
voting outIages than that, for during the first
days of my Imprisonment. whatever necessity
forced me TO seek my chamber, q detective stood
seutiue. at the open door. And thus for period
of seven days /, ~ita my little child, was placed
absolutely at the mercy of men without char
acter or responsibility; that during the first evcu-
ing a portion Of these men became brutalIy
drunk, and boosted in my hearing of tHs 'uiee
time they expected 10 have with the female pris-
oners; and thHt rude violence was used towards
a cOlored servant girl during that evening. the
extent of which [ have not been able % learn.
For any show OF decoTum altrrward ~practiced
towards me-, I was indebted to the detective
called Capt Dennis.
In the careful analysis of my papers [ deny
the existence of a line l had not a perfect right
TO have written, or to have received. Freedom
t| -W#.,E and HH Frrfrivr e.. HT. ls.T.s-r. I'D
Americans. guaranteed 90 as by our cha ter of
Iberty-tIe Constitution of the United States.
! have exercised my pre-JCltivr- and have openly
avowcd my sentiments During the political
struggle, ] opposed your Republican party with
every instinct OF self preservation. ! believed
your success "a virtual notification of the Cou~.f-
tuition, aud that u would entail upon o., all tine
iireiul consequences which have ensucd. These
sentiments have doubtless been found recorded
among my papers. and / hold Them as rather a
proud record of my ssgecity.
] must be permitted TO quote from a letter OF
yours, Ia regard 20 Russell gfthe London Times
which you conclude with these admirable words
Individual errors of opinion may D. tolerated
so long as good sense is Left % combat them.
BY way Of illustrating theory and practice-herJ
am l, "a prisoner IN sight of the executive man.
sion, in sight of the capitol where the proud
statesmen of our land have sung their uraus e.
the blessings Of our free Institutions.
Comments idle. Freedom of speech. free.
dom of thought, every right pertaining to Oh,
citizen, has been suspended by what, suppose
the President calls a military necessity A
blow has been struck, by the total disregard o.
all civil rights, against the present system O
government, far greater in is effects than Oh,
severance Of the Southern States. Our peopl,
have been taught to ccu,emu the supremacy o
the law, to which all have hitherto bowed. aul
to look 70 the military power i5r protection
against las DEGREES. A military spirit has beer
developed, which viii only be subordinate 20 3
military dictatorship Read history, and You
will Hud that the causes which bring about
revolution rarely pged0miua-e ut is close. am,
no people have ever returned 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 "a fail
knowledge Of their reSCurces,) q different form
OF government viii Zoe found needful to- meet tL.
new developments of national character Their,
is no class of society. uu branch of industry
which this change has not reached, AMI tbedlI
p.oddiur, methodical habits Of the poor caI
( never be resumed.
You have held m.. s,l. TO- q mans s|o-auu..
b.ity- and ] Therefore claim the right 10 speak 05
subjects usually considered beyond a woman
ken, and which You may class as errors o.
/ opinion. ] offer 100 excuse for This long dl
g.essi0u, as 70 three months Imprisonment, with
ont formula OF law, gives lua authority for 0ccu
/ pyiug even tho precious moments OF % ~acrerary
%. STATE.
Ny object is to call your attent.outo the fact
thl, during this long Imprisonment, ] am We
ignorant of the causes of ny arrest; that ms
house has been seized and converted iutoa prison
by The government tina. the valuable fnrniur.
: p. .-.t.HLAN |H. HL.H Inn. MI H. a--H Oh