Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-12-16
20 WALL STREET, NEw YoRK.l
naoomhar 10 1859


Ma, EDITOR: For come weeks, and especially
sinoe I saw In the STATE:MAN that his fellow
citizens had sttested their belief of his wrongs
by nominating him 70. the House Of Represent
stives, have felt desire to visit the Hon
Edson B. Olds, Of Ohio, nov confined as polit
| ical prisoner in Fort Lafayette
AS made. my way through broadway
thronped with les thousands this bright winter
morning. one could hardly carry hia thoughts
from the thofoughfare go busy, go smiling In
the free sunlight Of heaven, TO the lonely,
water Qirded, fortified, is,and-prieon where
DR.. Oids is confined. But ! did divert ny
thoughts to call mp the "reminiscences Of what
/ had known of him In the pass It wss easy
for me to recolIeot bis ability In debste--for
as boy, perched among the cobWebs OF the
old State House gallery, had witnessed the
force with which be, the brillianey with which
McNu]ty, and the logical skill with which By
ipRton, In the Ohio Legislature, years ago, com.
bstted the incipient stages OF the fanaticism
which now consumes the country, itwas easy
for me to recall his politics, for his Democracy,
although much more published and widely
known. probably does not differ from that In
which / was reared. II was easy for me to re
call his age and reflect how lily calculated he
was to endure the rigors of incarceration among
strangers In foreign climate utterly unlike
that Of his inland home, for the silvering of bis
locks keeps pace With that Of my own fathers.
Il was easy for me to picture to myself the dis
trese Of his family--fcf his son was my fellow
student at Yale College, and there Distinguish
ed by bis ability as scholar, and bore from
thence heart where generosity was unaffected
BY the narrow political tenets which too much
lnfest that loved home of learning. Add 10
this that he 10 from Ohio, about which, as the
State Of my birth, cling and ever Will cling the
strongest feelings Of my nature, and sufficient
reason 10 shown why before reached my office
l was thoroughly engrosaed in the welfare OF
Dr.. Olds -
Therefore, 1t occurred 10 me 10 ask the com.
rsny Of q leading Democrat of New York, and
| from him first to learn where We should apply
for the requisite permit Of admission Ht
readily aeBented TO the request TO accompany
me, and mentioned MIR. Police Superintendent
Kennedy's office 90 the probable place where 3D.
mission to the prison could be secured. And
really aif--so
"strsngs u the use Of our necessities
Which makes vile things precisus,"
that | was inclined TO take IL ss high privi
lepe that BY the expected gracious consent o.
| the Chief of Police chow French-how mon
| archical-hoW hateful all this Bounds) | might
look upon one who 1t is quite generally thought
to be suffering "for opinions sake" But,
before undertaking the journey to the distant
Office of Mr.. Kennedy, fortunately pstrolman
assured me that not his superior, but Mr.. Sim
con Draper, Provost Marshal Of New York,
vas the proper person to throw open TO us Fort
Lsfaystse. Accordingly Isepaired to Mr. ORA.
per's banking Office. There, although the
Provost Marshal was absent ct Washington,
was quite politely told that If hewefe present
he could do me no good, but that at the Office Of
United States Msrohal Murray, still farther up
town, could be served. As had never ex-
pressed myself very freely. on the subject Of
brinsmade arrests or othef aupposed arbitrary
acts for which no person 10 particular s to beheld
recognizable, I went boldly Into the Marshals
presence as thought. Butit proved that here
too I addressed but subordinate, who cour-
tanuslv aatisfied me that not even Marshal
MURRAY could aid my honorable friend and my.
aelf II; making our way into the stony depthe
of the ocean.bound tastlle. He told me that
,pithout an order from tie Secretary Of War al
Rashiaeton, II inss out Of the question for ana
peyson % sateS Font Latsyats to see those con
fined there. Now, sir, by actual test last sum
mer. Il required nineteen hours for me 70 reach
WaehInaton from this cityi with the railroad
dslaya Of winter u would require mere. Mr.
Stanton. surrounded as he ID by the unarmet
portion Of the inert army lying about Washing
toni mean the place-men, the contractosa
the su.lsrs, the court-martialing or court.mar
tIaled members OF the retired list-Would like
10 be almost as inacceseible as the tort itself
I am safe therefore In saying It would take one
who had just q common place, unimpcrtant er
rand of kindness (fer 1t wee not bis politics nol
curiosity to know "Ssosessry of State,
hat simply the remembfances l have mentioned
and the fact Of his being an Ohioan which ~
trsotsd me toward the priscnst), whose commu
nIoation contemplated cutting no mans thioa
3, freeing no man's negro--it would take suct
An one 8 week TO reach she presence Of the Wa
Secretary. Or should one attempt to accom-
uliah bis purpose BY letter, the uNproftabl'
mi,aiye, being laden with no pecunisry or polit
ic.l profit to any one Of the Junto ct Washing
Tan. vould probably reach the uaste pape
brsket before u did the chisi'e desk. Pfscti
salIy therefore 70 me, TO aoy Of those interested
in him, TO every one but his jsilor, the KEY q
Dr.. Olds's gloomy priscn lies ten days awal
from me place Of his conanement, ! will as
some that the Secretary would be open TO al
appeal; that hearing Il was the case OF Z
man who stood high in the public councils
al Ohio, while the Secretary still perseyeret
In tho Obscure bnt honorable beginningl
| M his profession, she would lelent, ana
| ths, the Requisite order would Re given