The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1862-12-19
Arbitrary Arrests.

Very much has been said, and
not without show OF reason, against
the summary arrests and imprison
meDt OF persons residing or being in
the loyal states who evidce too open
ly and actively, their eympaty with
the Shareholders Rebellion. We
have hitherto pointedly condemned
those arrests, on the assumtion that
it cannnt be difficult in loyal com.
muuitics to indict, try and convict
overt traitors In the ordinary legal
tribunals. We confess that some
recent occurrences have rudely sha
ken our faith in the soundDess oi
this assumption. From among these
we will only adduce the trial of An.
drew j. Houston before the United
States District Court lately sitting at
Indianapolis. Houston was clearly
proved to have last Summer piloted
small party OF rebel guerrillaa over
from the Kentucky eide Of Ohio to
Newberg Indiana. where he resid.
ed. aud where they proceeded forth.
with to plunder the U. S. Hospital
at that place-he knowing that there
was no Federal force Ihere but a
few ecore of sick in the hospital,
whom they parollcd Of course,
the rebels would not have ventured
over but for the information and
guidance thus traitorously afforded
them by THE Houston; and yet four
Of the jury refused in defiance Of the
clearest proof, to convict him! We
should like to know what cur ICON
servative' contemporaries would have
the government do in such cases
Our course would be to proclaim
martial law in every infected locsli
sy, snd send all such Oopperheads
az this Houston at once before a
drumhead court martial composed
OF thoroughly loyal military men,
try them in short metre, and shoot
them directly after their conviction,
giving each a full hour to make his
will and cay his prayers. Such a
policy, firmly pursued, wonld save
the livos OF ten loyal men Tor every
traitor thus summarily prevented
from doing further mischief.
Let us farther illustrate by the
case OF Geo. p. Kane, KIM arshal
Of b Bsltimpre. This man cannot de
ny that he--the evening after the
massacre of the Massachusetts, vol.
unteers in the streets OF Baltimore,
and when all connection between
the Free North aud the Federal Me.
tropolis had jus, been traitorously
broken at that place -telegraphed
to a leading Secessionist at Ffeder
ick (Rho soon after led a band OF
Maryland traitors to j)in the rebel
forces in Virginia. "a follows:
"Thsnk you for your offer. Bring
yonr men by first train, and we will
arrange with the railroad afterward.
Streets ie1 with Maryland blood.
"Sand expresses oyer the mount.
aims and valleys Of Maryland and
Virginia for the rifem n to come
without fail. Fresh hordes OF Union
Volunteers will b. down upon IA to
morrow Che Doth We will fight
them and whip them or die.
GEO. T. KANE.
This was but one OF series Of
demonstrations by this Marshal Of
Baltimore, each OF them proving
him a malignant traitor IN iull com
muuion with jeff Dlvia and Bean
regard. Ga the strength OF these,
he was arrested and inc rcerated Tor
months. but finally set free without
trial or indictment. Hereupon, he
writes and publishes letter boiling
over with abuse Of MIR. Secretary
Seward and his hired minions"-
said Secretary, having acc 1rding to
Kane, made him Especial victim" "
heaped upon him all manner of &C
cusations which he knew to be false
and thereby merted the contempt
Of every honest mar and women in
the land, g., &c.
We do not like the Bastile mode
Of government. We think that q
better can very generally be relied
on. Yet, il we were asked t. say
whether it would be OF any use to
try Kanc he ore a fairly selected
B sltimore jury, we would have to
answer in the negative. There
would probably he majority fol-
convicting him; but it would be hard
to keep the paunel entirely clear oil
"Democrats"-'that is secessionistt
and one of those would suffice
to save him from conviction, BuI
il Gov. Seward can folly viudicate
himself from all completely in let
ting this traitor loose to serve hi'
two masters, jeff. Davis and Satan
we think it will not be difficult t(
justify whatever part the Secretary
may have had in his arrest and in
internationally Y. Tribune.
SEVEN MONTHS IN DIXIE.
Tho Kav Weat Mean Ern of No