Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-10-22
Arrest of Dr. Horton.

We copy the following from the Fort Wayne
Times (opposition):
A day or two since We were informed that DR..
T. Horton, of Button, Wells County, in this
State had been arrested by order of the Provost
Marshal and taken to Indianapolis. DR.. Horton
being n prominent citizen. were induced To
make some inquiry into the causes and manner of
his arrest. but failed 20 obtain anything like
satisfactory account thereof until yesterday, when
We obtained from good and reliable source the
following startling facts:
few days prior to his arrest, the Doctor at
tended meeting in one OF the townships IN his
county which was addressed b. the Republican
candidate for State Senator. At the close of the
meeting a recruiting officer present made an
effort 10 obtain volunteers, but failed To obtain
any DIR. Horton commenced addressing the
crowd IN attendance, and said among other
things, that the people although entirely loyal
and in favor of vigorous prosecution of the
war, we're reluctant TO volunteer since the Presl-
dents emancipation proclamation. He expressed
himself wholly in favor OF vigorous prose
cution of the war for the suppression of the re
belion. Our informant avows that throughout
the whole of his speech, the Doctor did not utter
a single disloyal sentiment. anything dsre-
spectful OF the Administration; it is true. says
our informant. that he literally skinned the can
didate for Senatorial honors, aud that is the head
and front of his offense.
A night or two previous to the election, about
the hour OF midnight. person rung the bell at
the doctors door, who upon inquiry informed him
that some gentleman. whose name we have for
gotten. had fallen from his carriage and broken
his leg, and lying at house mile or two
out OF town in critical condition.
The doctor. not dreaming of any harm intended
towards him, hastily dressed himself and started
off with his kidnappers, who after driving "A short
h..
In the name OF jnstice, what sort Of times have
we fallen upon? What has become OF the wise
and wholesome laws framed by our fathers for
the protection of the innocent and punishment of
the guilty. Has liberty already taken her flight
TO distant clmes and lett nothing but the ter
roT and despotism of the days of Danton, Marat
and Robespiere? We wholly unable to re
alze such state of affairs. and would most as
suredly not believe it if it came to Us through any
other source.
We have ever advocated a strict adherence to
law and order. aud deprecated everything in the
nature of mob law; and however hard and op-
pressive law might be, still it is better TO yield
obedience TO il and seek redress through the only
channel provided by the Constitution. But the
manner and cause of the arrest of Dr. Horton is
not only contrary to all law, but without para
lei in our history. 1t can not be possible that the
authorities at Washington are aware OF the gross
abuse OF the power practlced by the Provost Mar
shals
We have always. and still believe the Presi
dent kind-hearted, benevolent man, disposed TO
intict injury and oppression upon no one. And
We are compelled to believe that in the limo
cence of his heart he invested these petty and
malicious tyrants with the unlimited power they
seem to possess. Could he have foreseen that
these men would take the authority with which
they are clothed to work out their personal ami
lso5a bn
would never have invested them with it; or learn
ing it, will he not hurl them back into the %
security from which they never should have been
takenI For what purpose was it that squad of
Dragons sent to Button the day of the
election il not 10 overthrow the people? No one
ever pretended that there any danger of an
outbreak among the people, or that the life and
property OF any person was IN danger. The
civil authorities have always been competent and
able to enforce the laws and maintain order.
Why then these gross and terrible outrages? 1T
DIR. Horton was really guilty OF any crime, why
was he not charged with it, and arrested in ac-
cordance with the laws in such case made and
providedY The courts are open, the civil law is
not inoperatiye what earthly reason then can be
given for this outrage? While we most earnestly
beseech the friends of the injured man to become
guilty of no wrong, but TO render a strict and
ready obedience to every law and TO preserve the
wise them at the earliest possible moment to lay
before the President all the wrongs and oppres
sions of his officers, and we have doubt but
that he will delight in rendering them ample jus
tice.
The President not help to that his
pension OF the writ OF habeaS corpus in the most
loyal State OF Indiana, is wanton outrage Her
people have f0cked rounG his standard bv hun
dreds OF thousands, and upon every battle field
they have poured out their blood like water, to
save mis- tottering seat in Office On no occasion
have they hesitated to obey his every call and To
render obedience TO his every requisiton; her
courts open without even pretence OF insur-
rection in the State or inability 10 administer the
laws. Why then has he treated them migrate
fully. inhumanly, suspciousy and unjustly, as to
suspend the writ OF speedy and fair trial? The
only solution that il is possible to give is that he
has been preudced against our people by wi, ked
and designing scoundres, who sought for an op
portunity to work out private malice under pre-
fences OF law, which they were too cowardly to do
on their own responsibility.