Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-21
TIE CASE OF U. s. MARSHAL LAMoN,

sailed upon the floor OF the Senate with charges
ending and intended to iDjure him as an officer,
and bring him Into disrepute among his fellow
citizens For such wrongs no redress or remedy
can be obtained by any legal process. He stands
in the attitude Of man struck at without being
allowed an opportunity to repel the blows. He
Is entitled 10 be heard; and 1t is object to do
simple Justice to popular and efacient public
oaccr by the presentation Of facts In our posses
sicn which entirely vindicate him from all the
charges preferred, and exhibit the malignity Of
Ihel- authors.
These charges wers made by Senators Grimes,
Of iowa, Hale, Of New Hampshire, and w ilsOn,
of Massachusetts,. With the motives Of these
Senator'S In ma king this attack we have now no.
thing to do. The first speech of Mr. Hale in ref
CrCnce to Col. Lamon indicated that the purpose
was to strike at sOmebcdy-anybOdy connected
with the administration who is not ''tOo high or
toe low, - and the Marshal Of the District was Sc
lected initial point, with the hope Of event
ually hitting "a little higher and little lower to
reach some others"
The charges against Col. Lamon can be shown
by indisputable facts to be not only unjust ald
uncalled for, but absolutely without foundation.
They were doubtless preferred by Senators on In
formation they believed to be correct, but the
gentlemen who pronounced them in the Senate
chamber are censurable at least for making an as
sault upon Federal officer without notice of the
charges or afOtding him an opportunity to repel
theIE, and to show conclusively that they were
without shadow Of foundation, aud pure fabrl-
cations Of unscrupulous personal enmity and ma
lEnant envy Of his ofnciaI position at the Federal
Captl.
This assault was begun on the 10th day Of jan
uary last by the Senator from Iowa with the dec
lara hat nrSi had hoon 20
the Jail and unable to ASCERTAIN the reason of
his incarceration, and that session of the Grand
Jury had intervened but the man was still In Jail
The Senator added ''upon going to the record
found that an order had been entered in that case
dated on the 9Th Of December, directing that the
prisoner should be discharged; yet the order had
not been carried into execution. He should have
been sent TO the aims house, which we have pro-
vided, ." sc. The "white man. here alluded to
Is Robert F. Bealc, whose following affidavit
will fully exp ain the reason why he remained in
the prison
District Of Colombia, Washington County, TO
lrIf Il. Robert Beale, native OF Essex county,
in the State Of Virginia, but for several years
past residing in the City Of Washington, do, on
my oath say, that some time in July last, was
committed to the Jail in this county under false
charge Of larceny, and being unable TO procure
bail, was detained until the Grand Jury met In
December last. was thsn informed there was
bat being then sick, having no home or friends,
or any one 10 whom l could go, and whom
l had any claim, the Marshal permitted me to re-
main In Jail, and have ever since remained here
dependent entirely on his bounty, but at liberty
10 20 when and where please. | am still unfit
- 90 out, and have clothing except what has
been furnished by Mr.. Lamon, the Marshal, and
other charitable persons. r. F. BEALE,
Subscribed and sworn to by said Robert F
Beale, In the jail Of Washington County, d. c.,
this 18th, February, 1862
WM r. WOODWARD, Justice Of the Peace.
This is all sufficient, but we would ask the
Senator, Where is the aImshouse 80 zee have pre-
vided -. Is there any such institution in this Dis
trict! We are ignorant of its locality. Senator,
xhere Is it,
Among other charges against the Marshal, the
Senator said ''Mr. Lamon has paid no attention
to 1t the jaiI) until Of late and now only to make
an order prohibiting the admission Of all per-
sons &c In ali candor, we ask the Senator II
the Marshal was not right IN making this order =?
The safety Of the prisoners and the public good
required it. In the present insecure condition
the Jail, no precaution should be omitted to pre-
vent escapes, and to exclude improper inter-
course with prisoners charged with treason, mUr-
dsr and other crimes
II cannot be assumed that the guards Of the
gail should know every Senator and Member OF
Congress. At such time as this the keepers OF
the public prison In which are prisoners charged
with the hi CHEST crimes should look well TO the
security Of these criminals. Besides the militia
" authorities have given orders to the Marshal to
allow no one to converse with military prisoners
without special permit from the Secretary OF
War, Secretary OF State, the Commanding Gene
raj or the Provost Marshal, When II is remem-
bered that previous to the adoption Of the meas.
ures Of the Marshal complained Of by the Senator
rles saws knives, chisels and other implements
TO aid in escaping from ths Jail, had been found
in the cells and in the possession Of prisoners
the necessity will be recognized for the prison
guards 10 be furnished with some means Of iden
tfying tn persons who ought to be admitted e
visit the prisoners, and more appropriate Of
effective regulation for this purpose could havs
been adopted by the Marshal, witho 1t requiring
every one, without distinction Of persons, to pro
cure a permit from himself.
This regulation In regard to the admission OF
Senators and members Of Congress was made To-
the purpose Of facilitating their access to thi
public prison, mot to obstruct it, and to enable
the guard to recognize the official standing O
such visitors. 1t isindeei questionable whethe
the Marshal was not In error in making this ex
ception in favor Of Senators and Representatives
Under existing circumstances he should reouir
all person Whatsoever to procure permit from
himself While the country Is involved in cIyi
war, and the military prisons are in his charge, 1
may well be doubted II he has any right to Civ
even members Of Congress indiscriminately &C
cess to the prison.
In his desire to accommodate these public Off
cersf he has assumed power and granted privi
leges for which he IL liable to censure by tn
military authorities, and by the public whose In
,erests he 10 delegated to protect. Under the ex
listing state Of Affairs In this District having beel
ordered by the military authorities not to perni
any one whatever TO converse with military pris
oners committed to his keeping, the admission o
even Senators or Representatives In Congres
renders him liable to trial and punishment by th,
military powers
Net long since Charles James Faulkner was
a mong the prisoners In this jail. The Marshal
would have been inexcusabe, and even liable t.
be shot, for allowing even members Of Congress
TO have free access and conversation with such
prisoner Yet the Marshal Ia violently assaIled