Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-07-30
LAMoN AND THE WASH.
INGTON JAIL
The Marshal

ter Of Senate resolution Of February s.h last in
curing ssinio the condit n and management of
the Washington jail, sets to rest the fact tha, the
majority report OF the abovent med COMMITTEES
was not the hight eide Of that question.
Ii was void OF that & ignity, fairness liherallty
imp2Ttiality, thOrouThncss, aid vein Of common
justice which should always characterize inves-
legations by the Senate Of the United Staies-,he
Highest tribunal In the nation. Z. bore evil
dences, on the contrary, Of undigniHed haste In
the making up, Infamous In It's research for facts
apparent malice, in studiously avoiding 10 men,
uon important facts that ,rsrf put IN evidence:
illloerality In the construction OF such fragmcn.
taty testimony IS the majority was pleased to
Ieier TO; Partially, In dealing malicious blows
at an Individual for the single purpose of over
throwing him, when, had they been governed
oy that fair play which should characterize the
humblest courts In the land, and which 10 &C.
knowledged amongst honest men everywhere
their report would never have seen daylight
their word would not have been questioned and
they would have been saved from the brand
which tive honorable Senators-Meors Hender-
son and kennedy-now fastcn upon them In Of
hcially expressing their views upon the same
subject.
In spirit Of malicious hatred against Marshal
Damon than from any love or real sympathy for
the poor prisoners" has always been the belief
and expression Of disinterested and impartial
POOpiO hO anew Oil IdCu. MAKE such q
declaration, however, without Official support
would be considered an absurdity by those who
never investigate, but believe all they read, be-
cause II 10 printed. But Senators Henderson and
Kennedy, who have examined all the testimony
put in evidence before the committe, relative to
the condition and management of the jail in this
District, declare that they " decidedly dissen.n
with the majority so far as they may be construed
(the minority 'thinf there Is Just ground for
Criticisn upon the course Of the proceedings of
the majority committee;n asserting az a reason
that the whole investigation, 1t appears in the
report OF the majority wears the aspect OF a con-
certed attack upon that officer, provoked by an
order given by him for the security Of the prison
confded by the law to his authority and response.
billy; which order has been verV unreasonably
construed into an Intentional offense to Congress
or to some members Of the Senate or House of
Representatives" The minority declare what is
legally the fact, viz: That large discretionary
power should be given the Marshal in manapin1
the prison; they not believe that this discretion
has been unlawfully or maliciously exercised;
and they assert that the reasons given by the ma,
joriy a, the basis Of the opinion that he has done
so, "ls plainfe unjust and inadmissibleD
The committee thus wisely declare:
Indeed, we are not prepared to clai m that the
mere fact OF being Senator or member OF the
House OF Representatives, without any special
commission or duty derived from the BODY Of
which he is member, entities him to a priv.
legged entry into the prisons Of the United States
Whensoever, upon his spontaneous motion, he
may embark upon voyage Of discovery In legis-
laton, or from OLIVES OF any other Sort political
personal, or other, may desire to be admitted 10
such prisons. The present state Of the country
II considered for a moment In this connection
VIII suggest ample and conclusive objections to
such official privileges. The mere fact
OF being Senator or member Of the House, or of
holding any other office OF honor or trust under
the United states, does not distinguish the indi-
Fidual, In respect Of power or authority from the
CrrmOn mass of citizens, except In so far ds his
ONCE, under the law, expressly confers or neces
sdTlIy Implies such power or authority Now, a
member OF Congress, az such, has no power or
authority, or duty In respect to the jail of Wash
lngton county than he has In respect Of any other
matter or thing in the District OF Columbia,
which is the subject Of that exclusive lcgisI
non" which the Constitution grants to Congress
over that District But itwould be monstrous to
INSERT that each member OF each House 10 author.
lied, Of bis own will, to enter, pry into and in.
,pect whatsOe yer establishment or place to which
this power Of Legislation applies.
he very resolution under which this repoft "a
made recognizes cur view Of the matter since
1t raises committee OF the Senate, and confeTs
upon II, In formal manner, that power of
inquest which, as against the MARSHAL, 10 a.
,ulned to belong to every individual member of
Congress
1--WE have thought 1t proper to express our
views upon this matter, from considerations of
Oficer.
looming now 70 the Conclusions Of the majority
Of the committee, we remark: That a, 10 the
'dJscts ard aHadsQEIcteS Of tks jail 5xtIdt z -
We entirely agree that they save 100 rnrue,o,s
md rncor,igi5Is to admit Of my remedy less tko,.
pkgh than t1s frscttoB Of an sHttreLy nstc one >
Majority report, psgcG)
Heartily adopting this language, we have TO
observe, that the fact here avowed IS the KEY 10
aud complies vindica. Ion OF, the rigoIS,- rule
adopted bY the marshal In respect OF the sdulis-
sion OF persons to visit the pTisonersn
Inc majority charge thai "yrtsoHerS of both
Sezes toe's huddIed together > The minority de-
etc -
tnat there is noteven ga pTstsnSe of az IN the t,st-
irony Ihls 10 bold language and does not re.
neG5 wen upon the majority Of the committee
Inc minority, upon a thorough Investigation
assert the opinion that II the Marshal has Q BOD
subordinate Officers II Is not reasonable to uire
OF MIN STRICT personal supervision and special
difecuon OF every prisoner; that 1t 10 perfectly
clear, upon the whole evidence, that Marshal
Lamon had no personal knowledge OF the nIsc.
lice OF "coboing," mode Of punishment admin
istered by his subOrdinates and az soon as he did
ne caused IL 10 he discontinued; that the food
furnished the prisoners wos as good as the market
affords, and, "upon the whole evidence. - saw
we minority, 1--WE repeat that tcs sec no ground
Tor lmpeaching the integrity, fidelity capacity or
humanity OF the Marshal. We regard the testi-
mony which the committee have acted on. even
il the highest credit be accorded to IT, an not nee
essarliy or reasonably affecting him with any
cuipaolllty. Bkt noe hare not been able 10 shut
our eyes TO ths crtdcnt bias AID unfriexdLiness
"
The following extract Of the minority report
spears for itself and vindicates the Marshal:
=" The report Of the majority states that there
are TWO prominent and well founded causps Of
complaint against the condition aid MANAGE
ment OF the jail, one Of which pertains to the
personal unntness OF those having charge of II,
and the other to the inadequate Recommendations
OF the structure itself for the decent conf nement
Oh tne prisoners committed TO it,
we have expressed our views briefly upon
ootn these points in general terms. AS to the
nthess OF the pers M having charge of the
Jail, we have seen no specific evidence affecting
any person except Duval and the taller. Wise,
VINO was removed by the marshal. This oficer
also discharged Duval, who was a guard. and
appears now as a witness or him the commit
zee say, at page 5: Why're should have parted
win MI. Duval does not appear, unless Il was
IN the way OF punishment for the performance of
humane and creditable act,
1.-The explanation given by the marshal ira
port, page ~ IL Is follows
- ~ may here be proper for me TO state tbatat
the same time / learned Of the perfidy Of this
man puval, In arresting fugitive slaves for the
apprehension Ice, also learned that he had, In
more instances than one, taken none from mill
dIy prisoners, spas ct a., In the Jail, for his
tnHtnee 10 procure their release from imnrison-
mcnt" then Immediately discharged him a.
ON Improper person to be about the iail.,D
Iioof OF these charges IL appended to the re.