The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-11-09
From the Bradford Argus
Read ! Read

THE following extract from q letter from
Csc. D. ScoTT, formerly of This place, and
Tor a long time Principal of our Common
Schools. and now of Reading, Pa. will be
read with painful interest. Mr.. Scott is a
highly intelligent gentleman, of unquesiion-
ed integrity and veraciiy, as all who are
acquainted with him know, and what he
says is entitled to the fullest credit. Here
him j.
READING, Oct. 81, 1864.
= ] wish now to state what | know
about the most imam ous outrage that has
yet been perpeirated in Pennsylvania /
allude to the facts connected with the COL
umbia county arrests. Friday night Ia Of
those released stayed in Reading. ] will
relate the account of aktsir treatment as told
me by several of the men. The most of
them were seized in the morning before
breakfast. Some were no. yet fully dress
ed before The whole party was hurried to
Philadelphia. In the evening, for the first
time since the preceding day they tast ed
food. Forty-fve were placed in a cell in fort
Mif1in, about so by Is teet, under ground,
the walls wet and the den so dark that in
cloudy whether, nothing could be seen
without q candle Criminals, in all jails ]
know anything about, have beds or cots TO
sleep on these men were deprived Of so
great a luxury, and compelled to lie on
boards until within a few days previous TO
their ~relerse, whea twe were given them.
They were allowed but one blanket each.
Their Giving" consisted of pork, bread
onA o1GA O,oo,ollv koof -. e.,
ished. Frequently The meat was spoiled.
Some, perhaps, would stop here in this mar
ration but the consideration of delicacy
shall not proven, me from telling the worst
part of this horrid affair. They were COM
PEELED to eat and sleep with their excre-
meet in the same room During the first
two weeks sickness brought on by a change
Of food, water, Sc, caused them TO fill a
tub the size of a half barrel, twice a day
This was emptied into the bay, and from
the bay, their mdduy, filthy water was
pumped for coffee and drinking. One of
the victims died a few weeks since in a
hospital near the Fort. He was an old nan
" nth beard and hair whitened with the
frosts of So winters. Another is nearly dead,
and seve raj are sick with the diarrhea.-
One also has been a soldier and bears the
marks of battle.
The men were very intelligent, and bore
every appearance of candor ard innocence.
Their time in the fort was occupied a good
deal in reading their Bible and singing
hymns. They were mostly, if not all, plain
farmers. | heard no such talk abou, re-
venge as would be heard from many thus
treated, and they only spoke when address.
% doubt all or either OF them would be
willing TO make affidavit 10 The correctness
of my statement.
What has these men done that they
should be subjected to such barbarious
usage? The fact that after 81 days of such
incarceration, they wsre released without
proues fhot they committed no crime Can any
one claim that these proceedings we re le-
gal? 1t there be any such ] would refer
;hem-to say nothing about the Consti.u-
ton o. the u. S to Sec. 22, Art. 9, of our
State Constitution, which says, the"Military
shall always be subordinate 10 the civil
power" To Sec s, which says, "The
right OF Jury trial shall be inviolate" To
Sec. 9, which requires a speedy t:ial."-
Viewing the matter with regard TO these
references is it not plain that these men
should have been tried before your former
iownsmen, Judge Ewell1 AT all events
who can justify 81 Gays of such incarcera-
lion without triaI4
The affair happened in part, doubtless,
10 crafty the spirit of certain Columbia
County abolitionists. know many of the
fanatics there 10 be extremely malicious
Col. PioIleti was defeated probably by these
and other arrests. Men were seized cleo
lion day before voting. and retained one or
more days, while many others fearing the
ho uors OF Fort Miffln, kept from the sight
of soldiers who where riding about the
streets. This is but one OF a host of SINH
lar outrages that have been perpetrated in
different parts of the Country. Lincoln has
established the system o: things producing
such results, therefore be is responsible for
the results. If these internal acts are pre-
sisted in much longer, The people will use
all the power God has given them to be-
come free. Yours truly,
GEO. D. SCOTT.
Hpefing in MaiuVIlle