Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-30

ment of Col. Richard /. Jacobs, Lieutenant
Governor Of the State Of Kentucky, and Col.
Frank Wolford, one Of the Presidential electors
of that State particularly by whose order they
were arrested and imprisoned, where they are at
present confined. and what offenses are charged
against them.
On the following day Tuesday NJ Powell
called up the resolution for consideration. when
Mr.. Wilson, OF Massachusetts, urged that prior
ity should be given to a'bill pending in the Sen
ate. which had for its object TO secure the free
dom OF the wives and children OF all negroes who
have been or NAV be mustered into the military
or naval service of the United States Mr. vii
son however, finally waived his objections TO the
consideration Of Mr. PoselPs resolution, which
was thus bronght before the Senate for final &C
ton.
Mr. Howard. Of Michigan. having objected to
the consideration OF the resolution on the ground
that it proposed convert the Senate into a
sort OF InquisitOn 10 use it, power in the en-
f9rcement OF inquiries into matters which per
tain exclusively TO the Executive" Mr. Grimes
Of Iowa, objected TO this view IN the following
terms:
The Senator from Kentucky, representing
his State, says that two men in that State have
been arrested, and he knows not for what they
have been arrested. lie says that they have
been spirited away, and he knows not whittier
they have been carried Is it not our duty TO
make some inquiry in regard 10 q question of
that kindf Are We going to be entirely indif-
ferent to the liberties OF the people of this coun-
try!
am not sent here. Nj President, for the
purpose of sitting with nv arms folded in ST.
lence and in quiet. and giving no vote in favor
of an inquiry of this kind. have no doubt that
when the inquiry shall be pursued properly,
there will be proper vindication of the officers
of the government. / have no sort of question
that these men were properly arrested, and after
the statements that have been made here by the
Senator from Kentucky, | am anxious that this
resolution shall be adopted in order that they
be thoroughly vindicated and am satisfied that
the inquiry will vindicate them. But if il be
otherwise--if these men have been improperly
arrested-then it is the duty of the Senate to sa
so, and TO put It's seal OF Reproduction upon those
who have thus improperly arrested them.
Mr. President. trust that this Senate Is not
going to sit quietly by, and when charges are
made here by the Senator representing a State
of arbitrary conduct the part of any OF the
officers OF this Government. refuse 10 make any
inquiry, because it Is claimed that TO do so
would be proceeding Of quasi judicial char
acter Ii is one of the prerogatives OF this body
TO protect the liberties Of the people of the
States and the rights and interests OF the States
themselves
Mr.. johnson. of Maryland. supported the reso
luton OF inquiry, and instanced similar cases Of
arbitrary arrests which had come within his
knowledge but which be believed had been un
dertaken and enforced by military subaterns,
without authority of the President and some
times without his pFivity until it was too late 10
countermand them. In illustration of these
statements he said:
Congress passed, some two wears ago, I
u.
in a measure, to the principal Injustice which was
the result. and sure to be the result, OF these mil
itery arrests; and in all cases. provided fo- by
that act, where the parties were not liable to
military control. the persons charged were TO be
handed over to the civil tribunals. and. if in
dictment was not found within limited period
they were TO be discharged
II speak knowingly when say to the Senate
that that law has been altogether disregarded in
Maryland. and that il has equally been disre
gardcd within this district Men without nun
Der have been arrested. and have been handed
over, not 10 tbe civil tribunal for trial, but 20
military commissions. and have been convicted
and sentenced 20 the pententary, and are now
some OF them, suffering under those sentences.
"Those military gsntlemen--l speak not Of
the President of the United States-seem TO
think that they are under no obligation at all to
obsorue the civil laws not only not bound TO
observe the civil laws of the State. where they
happen 10 be located at The time, bat not bound
to observe the laws of Congress and they not
only assume Jurisdiction, but know. If know
anything of law. that they have ttom time TO
time, AMI indeed constantly, convicted upon eyi.
dencc that would not bo received in any court Of
civil jnstce IN the country
" But | rose more especially 10 state a case
which will show the Senate che great extent 10
which this usurpaton OF authority has been ex.
tended AZ the late election in Maryland, when
the question before the people wns whether the
constitution framed by the convention Who had
that subject under ,heir consideration should be
adopted by the people or not a gentleman OF
Caroline county, Union from the beginning OF
this civil strife, aud Union still, offered TO vote,
and took the oath prescribed. every one of them.
answered every question propounded 20 him. but
was refused and he sued the Judge OF election.
as he had n perfect right 20 do. The military
commander In Baltimore, by some persons imme
ately In the neighborhood where the fact occur
red. being informed OF IL, the gentleman was ar
rested, having committed 10 onense at all unless
&c that be an offense) sueing the Judge for refus
Ing 10 receive his vote. brought 10 the city OF
Baltimore. thrown into prison and kept In prison,
but his friends were not permitted TO see bin.
asd have not been permitted, ~ believe, since
20 see him. This is Que case
- i no last election ia our state Tor membofs oi
the Legislature resulted 10 the choice Of a ma
iority OF citizens who were called Democrats
There was a majority OF two IN the Senate OF
Maryland Que Of them, elected from Que of
our counties eaid 20 be tlmld man. was threat
cned With arrest " be did not resign, and he re-
signed. But that LETT majority still In the
county OF Somerset. where Democrat was
elected, receiving majority OF between three
and four thousand votes. he received very po
lite letter from the General IN command, asking
HIN 10 substance whether I've thought IL was
right that he should take his seat 10 the senate
OF Maryland. as he had raised a rebel flag In
April, 1861, upon bis own premises lie replied
10 til have the reply by me-courteously de-
nying the charge, protesting that II was alto
gethcr false, asking permission 10 satisfy The
Major General that Il was false. saying that he
would come up nj any moment 20 lay before him
the proofs which no said he had 10 establish the
fact OF it's falsehood Md the reply 20 the re-
quest was u file OF soldiers aud his arrest and
be was brough, TO the city Of Baltimore. thrown
into the most loathsome dungeon. which had
been formerly usfd as q mere slave pen. wlthou,
bed clothing 10 lie upon. and the next day
without inyestig on and opportunity FOR de
fense. he was SET. south BY order Of the MajoI
General.
Mr. Powell. VIII the Senator itom Msryland
/ allow me to ask who that major general was Z
| Mr.. Johnson Major General Wallacs. The
President was Informed OF II, aud az the time h'
was informed oft he MAS told tia, the order hac
not been executed lie Immediately sent dis
patch requesting that nothing more should be
done aud the answer TO the dispatch was that th'
man had been sent South already.