The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1864-07-30
Col. Charles L. Weller arrested BY the
Military

Yesterday evening, about six o'clock,
as Col. Charles l.. Weller was at his home in
this cny, with his wife and children about
hm, he was visited bv detachment Of ~
soldiers from the Provost Guard, ten Of
whom were disguised, and two Of them dress.
ed in military toggery, under command OF
Major Wright, son of General Wright, and
Major Van Voast, Provost Marshal. Major
Wright knocked at the door, and the sum.
mons was answered by Mrs. Weller, who de.
manded his business. He said that he had
an order from General Mcdowell for the ar.
rest Of Col. Weller. The Colonel then pre-.
sented himself, and was arrested lie asked
time to eat his dinner, as it was waiting on
the table, but was refused. He then asked
the privilege of bidding good bye TO his fam
lily. This favor was graciously accorded him;
but the military stood sentry at the inter.
view. The Colonel made a few needful prep
arations; was escorted to carriage in wait.
ing at the door; was driven thence to Black
Point, where boat was moored, and then
taken over the bay to the grim baslile at Al.
catraz. 1t is said that Col. Weller was ar
rested for counseIing armed resistance to the
draft, in speech which he delivered at Sc.
quel Hall on Thursday evening last July list.
Ii the sneaking spy who swore out the war
rant, made affidavit that Charles l.. Weller
counseled armed resistance. or any kind OF
resistance, to the draft, in anything he utter.
ed on that occasion, lie committed per Jury
of the blacklist and most danning descrip
ton. We were present that evening, and
the speaker gave utterance 20 no such senli-
ment. lie told his hearers that, if the draft
should come, it wonll be better for them to
volunteer. The reporter of the american
Flog WAS present during the meeting; but as
he appea to be a gentleman, we can scarce
ly believe that he would make oah to such
flee yesterday, and in company with another
gentleman, made a critical examination of
the Flays report of his speech. lie said
that in some things he had been correctly re
pore; but many things had been wretched
" distorted, aud made to convey an entirely
different meaning from what he had sald.-
This arrest, followed quickly upon the heels
of the arrest of the venerable Bishop Kava>
nagh, has created Il profound sensation in this
city. When it was known to the peaceaIde,
aA abiding democrats OF San Francisco, this
morning, that one of their number had been
carried to Alcatraz, for exercising the God.
given right of free-speech, there were angry
nurmurngs of discomfort heard at every
street corner, and few inconsderate men
brea'hed defiant threats of retaliation. But
cool headed men gave countenance to moth
ing of the kind. Several proposed that a
meeting be called on the Plaza to peaceabv
protest against this invasion of citizens
right to the freedom of speech. And all
good men unite in denouncing the arrest as
arbitrary. iyranical and unjust We had al.
most forgotten to say that Col. Weller is
Chairman of the Democratic State Central
Committee; that he was Postmaster in this
city Immediately before the appointment OF
Mr.. Parker, and that he is an honorable, high
minded gentleman in every relation of life
S. +. Democratic Press July 90.