Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-03-15
TmF "LRrTREs DIX CACueT.g


The New York Hoyid an able Republican
organ, thus speaks Of the ietires do eae5et, which
for a number of months were issued by the
State Department: 1t says:
3. Patiently as the people had submitted to the
( summary procedures Of tie State Department IN
arresiing on mere suspicion Of treason, and con
fuing Tor weeks and months without trial, they
still felt it to be deep public misfor tune. IL
was in direct conflict with the guarantees Of the
Constitution, was most dangerous precedent
Z for future times, was effectively used as a taunt
and a reproach by the Confederate President,
and was taken by the powers abroad as a virtual
/ acknowledgment that the Constitution of the
republic was not adequate TO It's own protection :;
and as proof Of the desperate condition Of the
Federal cause.
''The lettreS de cacRct were au unbeard Of thing
/ Ia any country not ruled by despot. Meier
/ before, since the harons exacted Magma Charta
at Runymede, did the Anglo Saxon race submit
/ to such an assumption Of power. The fact, ex-
traoTdinary as it is, is inc0utroyeTtibe that the
American Secretary of State has exercised the
/ power in immuriug American citizens without
Judicial warrant or trial which neither Charles l.
/ or ames IL, in the utmost stretch Of his royal
/ pTeJogatlYe, ever burst attempt though the one
/ did arbitrary acts which cost him his throne"
/ The Albany argus has the following in regard
/ to two gentlemen of that State, who have lust
/ been released from Fort Warren
/ letter from Boston informs US that the Hon
| J K Flanders, late judge, and the Hon f d
Flanders, late clerk Of franklin county, are re-
! leased from confinement, and are on their way
/ home. They were arrested on the 22d of Oct0-
/ Der last, at their residence in Malone and car
ned suddenly off to Fort Lafayette, and then TO
| tort Warren, where they have since been con-
{ nned. There was no charge against them. no
proof OF ottense, and they were refused an exam
isation into their case. The only authority Of
the marshal was telegram, signed VIM h
Seward, Secretary Of State
/ When the deputy marshal was interrogaied as
I TO the arrest, and when the prisoners would be
| released, ne replied they would be kept in con
hnement til. after election" 1t was expected
doubtless, b. these who instigated the arrest,
I that some political advantage was to be gained
either by the terror it would create or the resst-
ance it might elicit
1t failed in both these respects. Nor have the
malignant natures which gloated in the exDec
tation that these upright and patriotic citizens
would humiliate themselves ia order TO escape
punishment been gTatifed. They have not
stopped, even 70 leave the prison doors. They
walked forth erect aud undaunted; while it is
their enemies that cover in the consciousness of
guilt toward them.
1t is noteworthy fact that Wm r. Seward,
some thirty years ago, when he was pursuing
that system OF lnhamlng the minds of men to
hatred and injustice toward each other, which
he calls politics, and made anti masonry the pre-
text procured the enactment of q statute max
ing it criminal in any one, officer of Justice or
otherwise, to carry any citizen Of New York
out Of the jurisdiction Of the State, either upon
any writ or upon any DTeteuse of authority from /
a legal tribunal or otherwise.
HE statute stands unrapesled 10 confront its I
author and its violstOr
The Argus, in noticing the effect Of the lettres /
de eachet which have been abolished By Secre-
tary Stauton's advent, thus alludes to the case /
of the brothers Flanders:
They never as ked for pardon, OF even for re-
lease, but only for a trial. They were willing to
meet say accusation before any tribunal but
they were denied this and kept four months in
prison without being permitted to know of what
they were accused, or 10 purge themselves
by evidence, Of the charges which malignant
men had in secret made against them. They /,
were arrested and carried off at night off the /
direct route Of travel, in such a way as to cut |
OF all appeal to the courts Their release nov .
is tardy and imperfect act of justice, and we I
trust that the arm of the law viii not sleep till /
their vindicstion and that of others grougfuly /
accused shall be complete