Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-09-15
The Case Of D. A. MahOny aaa d,
Steward.


ASoANWIVN OePts Ss
EDrros HERALD AS many Of your
readers will feel an interest in learning
what has taken place in relation to the
senior editor, l send the plain statement
Of facts
On Friday the 22nd alt, was in
formed that he sad Mr.. Steward, the
Editor Of the Constitution and Union,
we're in the old Capitol prison. and on
application to the Military Governor Of
the city, was permitted to visit them.
l there found Marshal Hoxie, by whom
they he'd been brought here. On my
asking the cause Of their arrest, they
assured me they had never been in
formed, and appealed to Mr.. Hoxie for
information. He referred me to the
Provost Marshal, in whose office be in
formed me The charges would be found.
repaired to that Office, bus was told
could not see the charges without the
order Of the Secretary Of War. then
applied to the Secretary having such
matters in charge, and was told that it
was contrary to their rules to grant this
PRIV ilege, nor was l able by the most
earnest effort to obtain any relaxation
of this rule.
l told the Secretary that these men
declared themselves innocent OF any
CRIME, and that l fully believed their al
legation to be true, and asked bin
whether there was no way to release
innocent men from q loathesome &nd
uncomfortable prison.
Let them show themselves not gull
ty, said be.
or what? was my enquiry. The
question caused some hesitation, but he
soon replied Let them show that they
are not disloyal.
Am to understand that disloyalty is
the charge against them !!
lie stated that he did not know what
the charges were. Finally after great
deal of like conversation, he suggested
that l might prepare case, and that II
would be considered.
| accordingly prepared a statement
of the case rs believed the truth to be
| from the information that had receiv
ed from some facts within my owl
knowledge.
This matter: was referred to the judge
| Advocate Of Volunteers, upon whom
called on Monday the 25th. He promis
ed that the matter should be investga
ted without delay. He said that thu
Secretary was intending to have mil
itary commission to act upon these ane
other similar cases, and the whole mat
ter wonld be disposed Of before the enc
Of that week.
| have called upon him twice since
that time. TIE state Of things on tb'
other side Of the Potomac is the reason
iss'gued for postponing the investigation
OF these cases.
In my last interview with the judy,
| Advocate, which took place on yester
| day, l frankly told him that it was tn
opinion of the prisoners and thei
friends that the arrest and Imprisonment
of these gentlemen was wholly for pol't
zeal reasons, and intended to act upol
ne approaching election in our State
that MIR. Mahony was candidate
or Congressional his nomination
was looked Tor previous to his ar
rest, and that it would probably b
the effort Of those who had been insti
gated this arrest, to retain both thes
gentlemen in prison until after the cleo
ion. | st ated to him that neither b.
nor the Secretary were supposed to hav
been actuated in this matter by wis
to operate in this way upon the low
elections, but that we believed they wer
unconscionsly made the instruments b,
which designing or inscriptions mel
at home were intending to accomplish
their purposes by working upon the ar
prehensions of some of the more TIM
voters of the State and thus prevent
fair expression Of opinion at the cleo
ton in October. He promised to US
MS best exertions to bring this matte
to a bearing at the earliest possible me
'nent, and in this l have no reason t
doubt his sincerity.
| The o ly fact which has come to m
knowledge tending to induce the belle
that the authorities here were lending
themselves to the politicians at home i
this matter, is, that the Provost Marsh,
} refused to allow Mr. Mahouy's letter az
, cepting the nomination to pass throug
the mails. This would not probably hav
been known had l not obtained q pc,
~onsl interview, when Mr.. Mahony il
formed me of the fact with hi> ow
mouth. do not believe the Secretar
Of War will approve of this conduct, an,
| intend he shall know it.
l think the prisoners condition is 9
comfortable as could be expected in
prison crowded to OVERLOOKING, and
hope they msy soon be restored I
liberty.
Yours, &C., SIGMA.