Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-11-29

AIS secretary Of War orders
s'ibat al persons now in military Gus
tody, Who have been arrested for dis-
couraging volunteer cnlistments, oppos.
ing the DRAFT or otherwise giving aid
and comfort to the enemy IN States
there the GRAFT has been made, or the
quota Of volunteers and militia has been
furnished, shall be discharged from fur
Their military restraint.
The doors Of the bastiles OF the iand
swing back upon theis hinges and thote
who have been held in illegal bondage
are set free. They were all arrested IN
the most arbitrary manner, without the
saoction Of Law, without written war
rAnt-simply upon the word OF mil
tary .yrant-simply as the Emperor oil
Turkey or a Russian Gar would pro-
cure an arrest. They we're denied all
the rights granted to them under the
constitution, and among there the right
OF trial. Day after day were they
prom sed hearing in the civil courts
but the trial never came. Then 1t was
proc a,med to them that they we're all
TO be tried before a military court. Inns
was better than no trial at all to the
prisoners, and they earnestly looked lor
the coming Of the hour by trial by
court martial. But that day never
came. The evidence had been exam
ined by the antocratic powers, and Moth
ing was found therein that could even
be warped or twisted into treason
against the country. All through the
entire catalogue was the ranssck made,
and treason was not found. The rep
RESERVATIONS Of the malignants who
SOUGHT the arrest OF these men were
found to be only base slanders--pur.ly
the work Of political or military spite.
Nothing was left to he done but 10
give the prisoners their freedom again
and the order went forth. Month after
month had these men been held in
bondage, their business and in many IT,
shameless their families greatly suffering
through their forced absence. For all
the ipdignities offered, for all this lo's OF
time. and outrage of false imprisonment,
no restitution is to he made. The act ci
acting them free possesses no merit
whatever Setting them free without
atrial, as was promised them is but a
repetition OF the outrage-but heaplng
insult upon gross injury. 1t is an arbl-
trary and oppressive denial Of one q
the inalienabIe right of even the lowest
aud most degraded. The villain who
murders his victim in the street in open
day, in presence of scores of witnesses
is by our Constitution, entitled to tina
even where the trial wonlc
see.n to be snperfnous.
Bat it is right that the murder e
may demand "A right that cannot b.
taken from uim or withheld without al
overstitch of authority which of itself i
treason. Tacse are men who have beer
thrown into dungeons as traitors-a
telons, charged with the basest crime
knownt to laws of the land, yet they art
not allowed a trial to clear their skirt.
of the imputation. Despotism could g
no further. Contempt for the laws o
the land and the rights of citizens nevel
assumed more positive and hagtioul
form.
More than this, these official wretches
trembling in their shoes lest the object:
Of their oppression should feel them
sel!es driven to prosecute their prosecu
tors in the courts, compel them 10 take
as the price of their release, a solemn
oath never 10 visit the arm of the law
upon their heads !; eompels them IL
swear accomplishment OF last means
they possess through which TO Obtain
redress. The cup of Official iniam,
ovcitiows.
The prisoners are now on their Wa,
home. The people denounce the opet
alton that has oppressed their fellows
with atterances loud and deep. The
day OF retributi1n is sure 10 follow
Such enormities never pass wilton
proper compensation, sooner or later
Let the instigators and the consumator
OF this national outrage beware. Tie
ground wherein they stand is but
she'll; underneath 1t is q Volcano:
see,hing lake of indignation which er
long will swallow them up.
STATE BANK OF iowA.-The consoliGs
ted Statement of the assets and liabiI
ties of tho various branches of the Stat
Bank Of lows makes the follonin
showing
Safety tund........ ......f 222.5s0