The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-08-06
COMMUNICATIONS.
Mr.. w. II. MerrilI-His arrest at st. John,
New Brunswick.


To the Editor Of the Press:
Allow me to state a few facts in relation to
my visit to ST. John and arrest while there
Some persons have taken occasion TO say some
very foolish and very false things perhaps to
crafty some petty feeling or because they have
been misinformed.
In the outset, let me say that do not re-
gard it as wicked or unchristian act to talk
with aliens about enlisting in our armv and
encourage them to do so, and before conver-
sed with any persons there about the chance
In the States, l asked lawyer there who stat
ed that 1t would be an offence to enlist men
but he did not consider it violation of the
statute to talk with men on the matter and
tell them of the bounty, DC. On Wednesday,
July 22, A. NJ, / was arrested without war
rant or complaint legally made, and gave bail
for my appearance next morning in the sum of
$400 dollars. On getting back TO my hotel in
the evening, my landlord who joined me in
bonds for that sum, wanted me to put a thou
sand dollars in his hands to secure him. which
did not choose to do, not considering him
good for that sum, and went back to the sta
tion house. Another charge was trumped up
and presented next morning; when appeared
before the Court | employed counsel who
fought the case until Saturday. when the case
was adjourned until Monday at eleven o'clock,
A. NJ, taking bail for my appearance at that
hour. Ascertaining from reliable sources that
some six more complaints were in preparation
for Monday, and finding the Court indulging
a deadly hate against all Yankees, a synpa-
thiser with the South, and outraging all law
and even decency in his rulings, determined to
put me under heavy bail so to send me to jail to
lay until November term of the Supreme Court
with the risk of extreme fines and imprson-
ment-as the Judge is allowed to impose both
under the foreign enlistment act without limi-
tations-I deposited with my bondsmen suf-
ficient sum to indemnify them against all loss,
which course / believe is honorable and on
Sunday night left That thus secured my
bail | refer to Hon. Mr.. Seely and Mr.. Lester,
OF st. John, and to Captain Coyle, of Portland,
who happens to know the fact. Further,
sent for the American Consul to advise me
about council, bail, &c, who utterly refused TO
give advice, stating that il was very delicate
matter, and he did not wish to get mixed up in
1t, and that If had violated law ought to be
punished. / told him should object to any
representative Of my government upholding me
In wrong. but as a Consul il was his duty.
and as an American, it was my right to advice
and | sought it as stranger. / simply wish
ed TO be dealt with according to law and not
against law, and 1t was his duty TO see that
was fairly tried, and that my rights as an
American were respected. He still declined ad-
vising me at all and retired.
Afterwards when sick in the station house
and seeing no prospect for fair dealing sent
for him again to tell me what to do, but his
worship did not deign even reply. Perhaps
the green boy from Ohio as he Is was incom-
petent to advise and acted upon his conscious
ness OF that fact. A State OF Maine man
would be Tar better for that post. Now in
view OF all this of which abundant proof is at
hand was not justified in getting back to
lankee land as soon as might be notwithstan-
ding the pressing invitation to remain.
These worthy functionaries into whose
clutches l fell for time have no objection to
privateers and blockade runners being fitted
out and manned in their port so in love are
they with the South, but every man that hates
secession, loves freedom and encourages aliens
to enlist under our dear old flag is hunted
and dogged by them to the utmost of their
ability.
will conclude what have TO say now as
may have occasion to speak publicly on this
matter IN detail-with referring to statement
in the st. John Freeman by a man who spurns
the tyrrany of a rotten chief, God-forsaken
rum soaked old ex-lnayor sitting as Judge pro-
TEN. advised by Micby who happens to be
solicitor general representing what the liberals
call there Smasher govarnm ent where might
contends with right and innocence is trodden
in the dust. Some of the people have their eye
on those usurpers and abusers of power as the
following will show:
to the spirit of the British Law, "eyery man
Is presumed to be innocent until his country
ma him guilty." the tocum tenens of the
Tohce Magisterial Chair has in his suDerior
wisuom, suppose, quite subyerted that good
oid maxim IN the case of an unfortunate stran-
ger VINO was lately most outrageously deprived
oi ms iiperty py the notoriously celebrated
To any unbiased person who attended the
examination, the proceedings must have an
peared as they really were ludicrous in the
extreme. In the Chair dispensing iustice sat
w. o. Smith, with his nonce fdes Icbotes bv
his side, coaching him up in the law and eyi-
dence in regard to the Foreign Enlistment Act
and suggesting such questions as he thought
would insure conviction. Really things must
nave come to strange pass when the paid
serednt Of the citizens, instead of attending
10 tne business for which he receives SO large
saiary = allowed to loiter about the Court
noo'h and exercise authority which even the
acuns magistrate, despite his strange notions
OF Jaw ana justice, would not take upon him
sen. NOW that the Intercolonial Railroad
oupoie mas burst, and that the powers that be
are al loss ior some great measure, ii would
DE Wen II the hoerdt Government were To
turn their attention to the CHIEF and mass an
act during the next Session to define his dnties
as from appearance he seems To be clotbeJ
with unlimited powers both as peerer and
judge. As It would be premature to 90 into
the merits of the case while the outraged in.
dividual is on his examination. l shall defar
any further remarks until the Police authori.
ties shall have succeeded in accomplishing
wnat seems to them labor of love--the CON-
initial of the prisoner.
Exense me, Mr.. Editor, for so much, could
no. wen say less and give any clear idea of the
'ac,s. Yours, w. p. MERRILL.
Portland, Me- Aug. Sd, 1863.