Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1862-08-08


the sides rise at a sharp angle. When
ironed and her machinery put in, her
guards will probably not be over one foot
above the water. Being much smaller,
she will be far more manageable than
Merrimac the first Her guards were
about six feet above the waters edge,
The ram was well beaked, reaching about
four feet above the deck, and extending
out six or eight feet.
Although her armament was of course
not yet on board, its character was no
secret. The entire public having access
to the vessel, it was easy to be seen what
number of guns she was to carry, as well
as their approximate character. From
other information, however, can state
that she will carry che bow, one stern
and three side guns. They are to be of
the same description as those which are
mounted at Fort Darling, their ability
to pierce our iron armored vessels hav-
ing, in the attack upon that fortress, been
exemplifed at least to the satisfaction
of secesh. The balls to be used are steel
pointed, and were being made on the day
of our departure, as well as previously
She is no doubt completed by this
time, aud ready for offensive operations,
as a very large gang of workmen were
employed upon Der. She is the pride Of
the Richmonders, who rely upon her for
the defence of the city as much as upon
their armies 1t is boastingly declared
and universally believed by them that
d" size UiH sioeep the james riCer." While
this is undoubtedly bombast, it is certain
that she has one feature of formidableness,
not possessed by Merrimac No. l--her ar
NOR plating extends belo,g the cater-liae.
Singular enough, her crew is to cou.
sist only Of the old crew of Merrimac
the first. The men were quartered on
Thirteenth street, few doors from the
/" Examiner" Office, in a building styled
The Sailors Home"
The Arrested Maryland Members.
Many months ago several members of
the Maryland Legislature were arrested
upon charge of being concerned in a
plot to carry Maryland into the line of
secession. 1t was claimed that Mr. s.
T. Wallis, one Of the members, had pre-
pared an act Of secession, to be passed at
the ensuing session. The Government
professed to have intercepted this docu-
ment, aud to .haye the original in the
handwriting of Mr.. Wallis in their pos
Session Hence, the members suspected
Of fayoriug it were arrested at their resi-
dences in the night by military force,
and carried to Fort Henry; afterwards
they were removed to Fort Lafayette
and since that time to Fort Warren
where most of them are at present.
About two months since, Recerdy John-
son, q Union man, and friend of Mr.
Wallis's prored from his knowledge OF
Mr.. VS. handwriting that the ordinance
ras a toyye,y, and We see it stated that
there is a strong probability that it was
prepared by some clerks ia one Of the de-
partinents in Washington On this mis-
taken inference from a fact, which turned
out not 20 be fact, the members of the
Legislature have notonly been arrested for
few days only, but detained in prison
for many months. The Government
since the discovery, has tried to get rid
Of the odium of the transaction by offer
ing these members their freedom upon
giving their parole, but majority Of
them have refused freedom upon such a
condition; and the following manly letter
from Mr. w G. Harrison to Secretary
Stanton, explains fully the ground of re-
fusal:
FoRr WARREN, Feb. y, 1862
Hon. EipiH IT. Stanton,
ISecreta,yof Var:
SIR As member of the Legislature
of Mary Wand | was taken from my dwell.
ling house at midnight of the 18th OIL
September last, by the military police Of
the city of Baltimore, and have since
been iucarcerated in several prisons, and
now nearly four months in this one Of
Fort Warren.--I was told my arrest was
BY orders from Washington. | refuse
any release, except an unconditional one,
because ! will no. seem even to acquescc
in an act which has violated one Of the
most sacred bonds Of our Government
(utde Art 4th, Amendments to the Con
stitution) have been arrested in de-
fance Of law, punished without charge OF
crime, or trial and judgment Of my peers,
aud will not sanction the insinuation
which parole affords, that any charge
has been made or proved, warroutiog
what has been done
Respectfully, W. @. HAERTsos.
Upon this array Of facts, which the
Government cannot deny, can there be
any justification for the detention Of those
now in custody? Have they no rights
under the Constitution?
If it can be shown that hey are trai-
tors, there will be no dissatisfaction at