Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-08-30
From The Patriot a. Union
From The Patriot Uni0n.
Return OF the Publishers and
Editors Enthusiastic Recep-

When Calico was thrown into the
dungeon of the inqulsition for promulga-
ting the heresy that the world moved, he
whispered in the ear of one of his friends,
sit moves, nevertheless" The publish
ers and editors Of the PATRIOT AND UNION
were dragged from their homes and their
business on the 9th of August, and under
a military escort taken to Washington
and thrown into military prison. 1t is
nntnecessary here to revert to the cause
it is sufficient to say that after being in.
carcerated until the evening of the 22d,
they obtained a hearing, at which no
charge was produced, and no accusor ap.
peared, and that hearing resulted in an
immediate honorable dscharge-the per-
sons composing the tribunal acknowledging
the arrest to have been made upon frivo.
lous grounds.
Returning to their homes, they chose
Saturday evening as the time, to avoid
any manifestations on the part of their
friends, but the intention ofreturnng thus
quietly was frustrated by one of the most
flatterng receptions. The car had scarce.
ly reached the depot, and the announce.
ment been made that the party had
arrived, than they were surrounded by
friends who made the welkin ring with
enthusiastic cheers. In a very few nom.
ents the crowd, which was small at first,
swellcd to hundreds; procession was
formed which escorted the exiles to TIT
homes. Both sides Of Market strectwere
lined with ladies and gentleman, and the
men who went out of the city under an
escort of soldiers, returned amid the
plaudits of the men, and the waving of
handkerchiefs by the ladies.
Arriving at the house of Col. Mac
Dowell, the crowd which must now have
numbered early thousand men, called
loudly for that gentleman, when he
mounted the stops and addressed them as
follows, being frequently interrupted by
the most vociferous cheering:
Friends and Tellow-citizens On the
9th day Of August, at an hours notice,we
were marched from this city under an es-
cort of cleaning bayonets to the Railroad
Depot, and from thence taken at W ashin.
ton city, where we were imprisoned, +,
without hearing, for sixteen days, for
what reason | will not now state, as you
all know it. Through the intercession
of friends, and our own exer,ions, we
secured hearing last evening at o'clock,
when, strange to say, we were confronted
by no accuser, nor was there even a
charge made against us. The pretext
upon which we were arrested was most
summarily disposed of, and an honorable
discharge given us. Applause.
Although mortifying as it was to leave
home as we did, and unjust as the whole
arrest was, this spontaneous welcome
more then compensates for all we endur-
ed, or the indignities we suffered Zap.
plause.] This is the proudest hour of
my life. 1t proves that we have the
endorsement of our citizens
[Cheers and applause.] 1t shows that
they have a strong appreciation of con-
stitutlonal liberty, and are opposed to
crushing out the freedom of speech or
muzzling the press. Destroy these in.
alienable rights, and the word liberty be.
becomes a hollow mockery-a sounding
brass and tinkling cymbal,a rope of sand,
delusion and lie Prolonged applause
and cheering.
We do not know how our arrest orig
mated, because no accuser had the tenn.
ertiy TO face us. We claim TO be loyal
and law.abiding citizens, and there is
nothing upon the record to prove to the
contrary. We have our own opinions,
and these not conflicting with laws in ex-
istence, we will maintain at all hazards
and on all occasions, regardless of the
denunciations of cowardly traducers who
stand behind the screen. We maintain
that we have done our duty as loyal
citizens, and the evidence of this is in
the absence of a charge or even an ac-
cuser.
Fellow-citizens-a day of rettibution
will come-a day Of fnal settlement-and
after it will come a pay day. Let us
bide our time. Let US be true and loyal
to our county and our Government, and
we have nothing to fear. Our imprison-
ment has been an experiment, and l
think, from this enthusiastic demonslra-
ton and the general feeling throughout
the State, our enemies, as we'll as our
friends, must admit that it was a failure
that it has not only not resulted in any
practical benefit to those who brought it