Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1864-12-21
CLEARFIELD, PA, DEC. q. 1864.
THE ST. ALBANs CASE.

The 81. Adams murderers and robbers.
who were apprehended in Canada some time
since have been discharged By the Canadian
authorities on plea of illegality in their az
rest. The circums ances attending the ar
rest may be stated briefly as follows: Ever
since the commencement of the war, our
Northern frontier has been threatened with
invasion By rebel refugees in Canada. but
our Government could not plant cannon, nor
dispose Of a military force for the defense of
the border without compromising It's honor
Certain rebels took advantage Of this cir
cumstance and passed over the frontier line.
went 20 st. Adams. and committed an array
Of crimes which. for horror and diabolisn,
challenge the darkes and most cruel barbar-
ism-having shot FIVE persons, two fatally
robbed three banks, stole some Thirty hor-
ses and much valuable property. and then
took refuge IN Canada Subsequently they
we're arrested at the instance Of United
STATES officers. and held for examination. 4
crEwd Of witnesses we're On hand TO give
theiT un1oEtted testimony against the prs
oners- Il vas discovered thai the first war
rant for the arrest OF the mur3ereEs was Il
legal, and il vas set aside. Another was OBJ
tained from Justice CoURsAL. who. after q
delay Of one month. pretends 10 have dis
covered that he too had issued warrants l.
legally. because he had not received any
warrant from the Governor General who
only could assume Jurisdiction IN the case or
authorize the Court - to do, and hence he
has discharged the prisoners on all the war
rants. They are now at large.
As soon as the action Of the Canadian au-
thorities was announced in New York. Gen
eral Dix. believing it to be his duty to pro-
tect the citizens along the border in his mil
iIary district, issued proclamation, Of which
the following passag Is the essential part;
'.AIl military commanders in the future
are therefore instructed, In case further acts
Of depreciation and murder are attempted,
whether by n.araudeTs or persons acting uu-
der commissions from the rebel authorities
At Richmond, to shoot down the perpetra-
Tors If possible while In the commission Of
their crimes, Or y It Je aecessHry, ruth a
tielC TO their capture, to cross the J0u1,dGry
beticeeH tie United .StGfes and CdRddG. .sajd
commanders are hereJy directed to pursue
them ,Chereref trey Dlny take Tetuge, and II
captured they are ItHdeF no circumstances tn
be surrendered, but are TO be surrendered to
these headquarters for trial and punishment
by martial law.
That tbs order, or one equally comprehen-
sive and determined, was eminently neces-
sary and proper, no patriotic man viii dis
pute. IF rebel refugees make Canada an
Asylum, and the officers Of the provincial
government viii permit them to invade our
territory and destroy the property and the
lives of our people with impunity, then it
becomes our duty to protect ourselves; but,
IN doing this, it does not necessarily follow
that we must cross the line, and invade the
territory Of our neighbOr.
One other point may be worthy of men
ton. The conduct of Judge Coursal, in the
St Albans case, would indicate that there Is
= decided inclination on the part Of some of
the Canadian officials TO involve England
and the United States in war, or else they
have very reckless. disregard for the peace
and safety of their own citizens How long
collision between the two sections, remains
10 be demonstrated; but one thing is GER
tain, that sooner or later the rebels and their
,sympathisers in Canada will succeed in pre-
cipitating war upon US, unless England
will tskeimmediate and prompt measures to
prevent these marauding expeditions from
being fitted out In her dominions, in the fu-
ture. However much collision might be
deprecated, yet it is the duty of our Ma
tional government to protect the lives anG
property of It's citizens against destruction
and invasion. even though it should involve
us in another war with Great Britain. We
sincerely trust, however, that the two pow
ers may come TO an honorable understand
ing as regard the impending difficulties, and
that the calamity of war viii be ayerted.
The consumption Of gunpowder by our
sauadrons in service, and fer experimental
practice during the last year, required sup