Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-12-19

Very much has been said, and not with
out show Of reason, against the summary
arrest and imprisonment Of persons residing
OF being in the loyal States who eyinee too
openly and actively their sympathy with
the Shareholders Rebellion. We have
hitherto pointedly condemned those arrests,
on the assumption that il cannot be difficult
10 loyal communities to indict, try and con-
Wet overt traitors 10 the ordinary legal trib-
unals. We confess that some recent occur
Tences have rudely shaken our faith in the
souudness ofthisassumption. From among
these we will only addnce the trial Of An
drew J. Houston before the U. s. District
Court lately sitting al Indianapolis. Hous-
ton was clearly proved to have last Summer
piloted a small party Of rebel guerrillas
over from the Kentucky side Of tho Ohio 10
Newburg, Indiana, where he resided, and
where they proceeded forthwith TO pIunder
the q. s. Hospital at that place-he know
iog that thero was no Federal force there
but few score ofsick in the hospital, whom
they paroled. OfcOurse, the rebels would
not have yeutured over but for the informa-
ton and guidance thus traitOrousIy afforded
them by this Houston; and yet four Of the
jury refused, in defiance Of the clearest
proof, to convict him! We should like 10
know what our "cOnserTative' eotemporar-
les would have the Government DO 10 such
cases. Our course would be to proclaim
martial law in every infected locality, and
send all such Copperheads as this Houston
at once before a drumbead court martial
composed Of thoroughly loyal military men,
try them in short meter, and shoot them
directly after conviction, giving each full
hour to make bis will and say his prayers.
Such policy, fsmly pursued, would ssrs
the lives Of ten loyal men for every traitor
thus summarily prevented from doing fur
ther mischief
Let US further illustrate BY the case Of
George P. Kane, ex-Marshal Of Baltimore
Tbs man cannot deny that he-tbe even
ing after the massacre Of the Massachusetts,
volunteers 10 the streets Of Baltimore, and
when all connection between the Free North
and the Federal Metropolis had just been
traitOrously broken at that plsce-tele-
graphed TO leading Secessionist at Fred
eTiek (Who soon after led band Of Mary
land traitors tOjoin the rebel forces in Viz
ginisl as follows:
~Thank yoa for your offer Bring your
men by the first train, and we will arrange
with the railroad afterward. Streets red
lsith Maryland blood.
"Send expresses over the mountains and
valleys Of Maryland and Virginia for The
riHemen to come without delay. Fresh
hOFdes lof Union Volunteersl will be down
upon Us tomorrow (tbe 2Gih) We piH
fight them and tehip them or die.
GEo. P. KANE"
This was bat one Of a series Of demon
siratioDs By this MarshaIof Baltimore, each
Of them proving him a malignant traitor in
fnil communion with JEFF. Davis and Beau
regard. On the strength of these, he was
arrested and inearcernated for months, but
finally set free without trial or indictment.
HereuPoB, be writes and publishes letter,
boiling over With abuse Of "Mr. Secretary
Seward and bis hired miuions" said Sec
retary having, according 10 Kane, made
him special victim" heaped upon him all
manner Of accusations which be knew 10
be false" aad thereby merited iihe con-
tempt Of every honest man and woman in
the land, &c, DC.
We do not like the Basiile mode Of gov
eminent. We think that n better can very
generally be relied on. Yet, IL we were
asked 70 say whether it would be Of any
use to try Kane before fairly selected Bal
timoTe jury, we should have 10 answer in
the negative. There would probably be a
majority FOR eonyietiDg him; bat It you'd
Be hard 70 keep the paBnsl entirely clear Of
-DeDoerais7-tbst Is. Seeessionisfs--and
one Of those SOnId suffice 70 save him from
eoBvieiion- But II Gov. Seward can fulIy
Vindiezts himself from al completely 10 let
ting this traitor loose 10 serve his two mas
teEs, JEFF DAVIS and Satan, We think Il will
not Be difficult 70 Justify vh.syyer part the
Secretary may have bad 10 his arrest and in
T. IFi5uus.