The national Republican., 1862-02-21
LOCAL NEWS.
DsSsnee Of Marshal Lamon.

MN, und0r th0 influence O1 whtCh an unHlS0
and unjust measure, affecting his oflioial posi-
Ition and reputation, has been hurried through
the Senate Of the United States, take the lib
Following & ssatsmsns Of Of tho fsots upon ths mis-
apprehension Of which this legislation has been
rounded:
! On his assuming the duties of the ofaos Of
Marshal, Mr.. Lamon found the Jail Of this Dis.
quarter Of century. He found II In the pos
session Of certain odoiAls who prOfese0d loyalty,
and against whom no well.founded charges had
been preferred, and subject tO established
l,rison regulations. He also found in operation
those enOlnng the apr ehens0n, detention,
and rendition of runaways. ln short, ne found
IN his department an established routine which,
Us is usual In sach cases, he was unwilling at
The jail itself is suoh as Congress has provi.
He'd, and the laws and regulations referred TO
those which has or
Fkrsss has not attempted TO repeal. It is there.
,ates Of tho Marshal In the failure Of any. log.
station or Of any Instructions from the State
Department, should feel II TO be their duty TO do
,,s they had always been accustomedt 9 DO In
The matter Of the apprehension and detention
n runaways. The karshal 10 strictly an exc.
,atiye of,oer whose duty is simply 10 execute
hem or not and without reference TO the fact
hat they are or are not popular. But In point
of faot, Marshal Lamon has not directed nor
!esn personally cognizant Of the apprehension,
| known or sanctioned any abuses Of authority
n this matter. 30 far from this, he has per.
haps strained point Of duty In oautioning his
laiclals, lest 10 the present temper Of the pub.
Try, thsy should make themselves osieious in
be discharge Of what Is always an obnoxious
iuty.
While Il Ia indeed true that the olicial head is
sspousble for the odioisl acts Of those under
pini. yet this responsibility only. attaches to
BIN when he is apprised Of the dereltction Of
he latter, and refuses 10 afford redress or to
,unish the dellnquents. Otherwise, the posi-.
ion Of the higher officers Of the Government
rould 10 perilcus one in the eItreme, as
very days developments Of the rssoslity Of
salciai subordinstes sufficiently establish. But
he right TO be informed Of the misconduct Of
's subordinates in onics, SO that he may be
bIe 10 sanction or repudate their aots--by
shich he alone becomes responsible for them
,as been utte rly denied to the Marshal of this
district By his Congressional arraigners, as
sill be seen By the subioined afidavits and the
il evisoerating his oiaee, which has been
ktates.
But though arst notified of the acts Of his
Iubordinates by his arraignment for them, he
no, hesitate at once , to rspudiats ths% sIc5
hey werc brought to his ofioial Cognizance- e.
y disnissing from his employ msnt the parties
npliCsted, Duyall and Wise.
;xtraot Of affidavit from J. Il. Wise, who has
been required to resign his chice:
The order Of Secretary Seward to discharge
bed out 10 the letter BY the Marshal, and Mr..
Phillips, his deputy. and no attempt WAS made
n any manner to evade It.
And d. further state that the present Mar.
hal, Col Lamon, Was ignorant OF the fact that
ny negroes were arrested By myself or Mr..
hival, and those that were arrested, were ar
ssted without Col. Lannon's authority or
nOwledgs. j. h. Wise.
nsrRICT or CoLrxslA,
County OF Washington, TO wit:
Subscribed and sworn to before me- this 18th
ay Of fabruary, 1852.
THOMAS Z. DoNR,
Justice Of the PeaCs
for tbs County Of Washington, d. &.
Extract from affidavit OF J. A. NcGOwan, \ sub.
ordinate OF the Marshal in charge Of tbs
iail:
81 far as I know or have means to form q
idgment. no disposition has been exhibited by
he Marshal or any Of his employees 10 evade
he order Of Secretary Seward for the dis:
harge OF persons committed rs runaways, and
n the contrary. know II has been promptly
xecuted. JAMES A. MC(iowAH.
sworn to and subscribed before ms this 18th
ay "i February, 1862.
D. w. fEhuUSufI JustiCe'
As 10 tha regulation requiring members OF
ungress W obtain An order from the presiding
iicer Of the House ~ which they respectively
elOns, In order 10 visit the jail, this was rem.
cred absolutely necessary BY the discussion
'hich has awakened so much interest In this
atiOnal prison. Curiosity .mOngers from every
art Of the country thronged the jail, as II /,
as museum, and evin0ed the sympathy
hioh had been excited BY congressional ora
,ry and by the penny .a.liners OF the press, by
s.N t. kA 49, he
IMPLEMENTS By which they would be able "a
fect their escape or 10 assail their keepers
any OF those visitors palmed themselves of
members Of Congress-, and II was not until
stop I % 10 such in.trusiOn, t6.t the Regulator Ras
n question, which has called forth no much
tdlgnStion, was established.
The sutjoined. sfadavit Of r. +. Bsale effect
|odsrn Bsstils, about which such sensation
k.s been gotten up, viz: the alleged confinement
white man for more than year after his
tscharge By the proper authorities
tsrEICr op CoLrsBIA,
Washington County, to Wit.
I, Robert BeAle, native OF Essex county, ia
ee State Of Virginia, but for several years past
bsidlng In the CITY OF Washington, do, on my
|,th, say that sometime IN July last, ] wal
bmmltted to the Jail In this county under a
lss charge Of larceny, and being unable Il
Focurs bail, WAS detained until the grand jury
at In December last. was then Informed
kere was no charge against me, and dis
harged from jail. but being then sick, having
home or friends. or nny one to whom 0oulG
b, and on whom | had any claim, the marsha
PRINTED mo 10 remain In jail, and have evel
pee remained here, dependent entirely on hit
Punty, but al liberty TO 60 when and whore
ease. am still UNIT to 10 out, and have NJ
Iothing except what has been furnished by Mr.
kmOn. the ularshal, and other charitable per
kns. n. i. BEALE.
Subscribed and sworn to by said Robert F
tale, 10 the jail Of Washington county, D. 9.
us 10Th February, 1852.
WV. r. WOODWARD,
Justice Of the Peace.
ISuch, Mr.. Editor, arc the facts upon whiol
i've been based one Of the most extraordinary
ssaults ever made upon public man In thf
Puntry.
Communicated
Mr. DavaPs Reply 10 " "LoolSsut."
INN. RpIroR: Being opposed to newspaper
l,ntr | lAfo