North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-05-18

the District Court previously obtained, and
| the express enactment of Congress.
| In the trial of causes in their courts-mar-
tial they openly declare that they will not
proceed according to law or the Constitu
ton of the United States, but will not act
upon their own opnioIs without regard te
the law.
| In the enforcement of their arbitrary wills
which must of necessity be unknown to the
accused until he is arrested, their subordi-
mates have by their orders shot down cit-
zens in the streets, and committed many
other offenses against the acts of Congress
and the territory.
They have closely confined citizens for
days, weeks, and months, whipped them
with horsewhips, and otherwise tortured
them to make confessions of crimes, and
have condemned them to hard labor, loaded
with chains and balls and then released
them without any charges being made
against them, or their being informed of the
cause of their Imprisonment and punishment.
Others they have removed from their bus-
ness and homes and they have prohibited
all from travelling from place to place upon
both public and private business.
| Having arrested citizens, they have neg
lected to give anV information of such ar
rests to the proper departments at Washing
| ton and by that means the Secretaries of
! War and of State are unable to furnish the
lists Of prisoners to the judges of the territo>
| ry for trial, or relief upon habeas corpus, as
provided by law.
Being suspected of offenses and peCuli ito ms
they have arrested witnesses against them.
a@ removed them from their homes, to pre-
vent their testimony from being taken by
an officer of government sent to inquire into
their conduct.
The subordlnates have refused obedieu &C
to the writ Of habedS corpus in words not
proper to be written, and, with full know-
edge of.the facts, the Generals have not dis,
approved of the acts.
They have by force taken away the prop.
erty of citizens without compensation, and
resisted with arms the writ of replevn to
retake the same, when issued from TIE Dis
trict Court of the United States.
Well informed of murders and robberies
committed by Indians near and at their posts
and headquarters, they had threatened to
chastiso the informants. and taken no steps
TO punish the Indians or protect the citizens
from their aggressions :; and while reporting
to the War Department that they have Sc
verely punished tie Indians and subdued
them, they well know that these have never
been so hostile or committed such during rob-
berries and murders since this territory was
conquered by the American arms az at the
present time; and when citizens have traced
the Indians to their lairs and offered to
guide the troops to them, these officers have
refused to follow them, or give supplies to
citizens to conquer then.
They have received money upon trust apG
! applied the same to ther Uwn private uses,
and refused to refund it or to make any resti-
tuition 70 the cestHi que trust.
They have taken upon themselves to deter
min upon the probable guilt of citizens of the
republic of Mexico and to return them to
that repuHlie, in violation OF the treaty with
Mexico; and have entered that republic with
armed force and arrested and carried off per-
They have committed crimes of various
kinds againts the laws Of the United States
and the territory, and defy the courts and
officers or Justice to punish them.
They have destroyed the military posts 20
Gated OH Government and Indian lands and
built up at the expense.of thousands, perhaps
millions, of dollars TO the government, and
then quartered them mselves in rented hou ses,
where they live IN open prostitution with
the women, and in not few nean ces drly-
ing husbands from their BEDS in other sedu-
cling wives to desert their homes and faxiiIIes
thus depraving their commands and them
selves and rendering all unfit for service.
They have set up in New Mexico militia
ry deSpotism worse and more oppressive than
the worst and most cruel tyrants of any coun-
try had ever established and threaten citi-
zens with Imprisonment and death who dare
oppose their unjust and oppressive measures;
and all that is done when no enemy is
near or any necessity exists for their coD--
duct.
The people of New Mexico are dumbfound
ed. and dare neither complain nor give evil
dence while there remains a possibility of
their being liable 10 answer TO these tyran-
nous usurpers of their rights and liberty
Under threats Of being treated as traitors to
the government they have been compelled by
fear to petition to have martial law made
permanent ever them. To resist these usur-
pations and violat ions Of the laws and rights
Of the people is in vain to attempt here while
thev command the armies Of the United