Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1862-12-16
a. was unable to SOC low a. r..

NH, t"uaetscn, n 3 APE inens1tv OF this
peop!e ~ors s.tnit lpo. : sec,r.,;nm
.'"' ! saw 20 { WA unable .o~n1aEsr j
"" 'As Prt:ide,'t could f.. i"uct
rH!':h Commanded hin ~ the nY"' N
'a,ihfh!Iy e-e1.' s'r ,Hat 90 lawa
AS O 7au .E.vi"ia!o l3. ! fundamental
.u::D ,Anl, and iS'J ST.. | was
,hcr mrable To SEC r.ow, upon the
,ry Of upLollins thu Constitution, / waa
under All obligation Is support those who
we're daily lnAnifssting their contempt for all
it's provisions. Nor could | conceive how
this Government Nv Il any existence whatever
outside Of the charter which established it.
All these political opinions had the ahso-
luto right to entertain and promulgutc. |
choose to refer to them here because they
constitute the offences for which am undsr-
going punishment. Notwithstanding tho fact
that many thousands OF persons in the North
ern States entertained and expressed these
viows within IL twelve month, the AdInliiistra-
ton determined that it was criminal III lnc Id
continue to hold and utter them, aid has
| therefore, arbitrarily inflicted upon ne tho
indignities and wrongs which i have NEIL
toned.
Although no direct oilcr hus beon made ~
nlu To release lie upon any terms whatever,
| nevertheless presume that mine WAS Ole OF
The cases which either your proclamation Of
February l4th, or you order OF February
eth, was intended to Cover. Now as | call
not accept a conditional discharge, coupled
with 4 gracious amnesty for offences which it
is assumed I have committed, and az | must
equally refuse to appear at the bar Of an ire
sl,onsible tribunal to justify my rights to the
Ordinary privileges of citizen Of Maryland,
it is due to myself, ut least, that I should state
tho reasons which-impel me to the course I
shall pursue. To the principles which govern
my action now ! shall appeal when, in the
future, l seek redress and enter upon my own
vindicatiop.
It must be obvious to you, sir, that I can
not consistently with my own self-respect
accept any such conditional release rs il re-
lcrred to in your proclamation, or avail my
self of such amnesty. as | was drsrotically
deprived Of my freedom, I can make no CON-
promise TO regain it. AS [ am punished
merely for venturing to dissent from the theo-
ries and policy Of the Administrator, I need
and will ask no pardon. Nor even if ] should
accept the terms mentioned, would | have
any security that | would not Immediately
after my release be again subjected TO precise
ly similar outragcs to thuse which ha o al
ready buen inflicted upon me.
AS the Administration has once determined
that |, by expressing my political sentiments,
was giving " aid aud comfort to the enemies in
hostility 10 the United States," | could only
escape a re-srrest by consenting to forego or
conceal my opinions. This | will never Tor
one instsnt d.. l deem it to be my hounden
6i,t., m AafanH RI tba i,cf n-ipi1arn n,3
right TO which, as en- American citizen, | was
born, and | shall do so until am deprived of
these by some known and fair process of
law!
Nor can you fail readily to comprehend
why | decline to submit myself to the juris-
d!ction of the strange tribunal which is or
ganized under your order of February 9th.
| recognize no such judges Of my guilt or in
nocence, of my loyalty or disloya!ty, under the
Constitution or laws Of the land. The courts,
both State and Federal, are in the unobstruct-
ed exercise Of their several functions in Ma
ryisnd, and they could long since have exam
ined and disposed Of any charge which might
have been preferred against me. In them,
snd in them only, will ! meet my accusation;
and while they arc closed to my demand for
justice, | 5hal! decline to defend myself before
any Star Chamber Commissioners Whoniso-
ever.
Such, sir, ar. the motives Of my present
action, aud rs thu rights which ! seek Lo up
hold are not dependent. upon the alleged ne
~cessitics of the Administration, or upon The
fate Of battles. my convictions cannot 30 nj
tected by the supposed urgencies Of the one
or the results Of the other. 1 shall continue,
then, to vindicate them as | best may, with
the consciousness that after the decisions, the
inlsehoods and the passions Of the hour shall
have passed away, my course will DO APP
proved by every honest man who has been
educated in tho knowledge of the privileges
and duties of an American freeman.
| have only now to dsnsnd, at your hands,
8 prompt release from the imprisonment 10
which | am so injustly and arbitrarily cub
jectcd. remain,
Your obedient ~nervaGt,
+. Il. Howard.