Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-12-02
NUMBER TWENTY THREE.

A NKw MILITARY ORDER NEEDED.-The
thieves who dashed into St. Adams FRONT he
Canada border some weeks since have put in
u defence in the shape of commissions,
signed by Mr.. Seddon, the rebel Secretary OF
War. They claim to be soldiers of the &c
/ :. A, and, as such, demand the rights of
I prisoners Of war allowed by civilized nations.
! Their leader alleged that the expedition
was not organized in Canada. Whether
they will succeed in getting consideration on
these terms from the Montreal courts, re-
mains to be seen They were tracked by the
Vermont police, and arrested BY the aid of
the Canada authorities as thieves; and no
presumption Of any other character has en-
tered the process of their detention, that We
are aware o. Ifthe commission handed to
the Montreal court by Young. their leader.
be genuine document, the rebels are giving
a very wide construction 10 military usage
We shall look for the next burglar or bank
robber who may be put on trial in this city
70 pull Confederate commission out Of
his boot lining, and claim to be a prisoner
Of war. of course he will be entitled to IA
tons, clothing and exchange, according to
the usages of civilized nations. We shall
have no more Jack Sheppards. but it will be
Colonel, or Brigadier, or MajOr-General
Sheppard
The administration has thought it neces-
sary to send a special messenger TO Montreal
10 ascertain the exact circumstances of this
case Ii the intent was TO notify the Cana
dian authorities that our Government will
not allow felons 10 take refuge under "COn
iederate COMMISSIONS it Is perhaps well
enough. though it would have been better in
our judgment to have gwen that hint to the
British Minister at Washington, and TO leave
the rest with the Canada police and our mu-
tual engagements for the delivery of felOns.
From he fact that the messenger was a clerk
in the State Department and personal con-
hdant Of Mr. Seward, there appears room for
inference that we shall have some important
diplomatic correspondent" on the subject.
No person OF ordinary undiplomatic sense
can doubt tor an instant that Young and his
associates are thieves, and nothing else. As
little likely will he be to doubt that the rebel
$ government" would, if it could, slip q
. commission into the pocket Of every
thief that is brought TO the bar of our Court
OF Sessions. lt has attempted to throw its
" commission round all the massaeres by
the Indians in Minnesota and elsewhere in
the West When it has put out homily
on amenities Of civilized warfare it has dis
avOwed responsibility for the atrocities of
gGerilas and bushwhackers, If these made
their escape: but If arrested it claims them
as soldiers, and threatens to hang our officers
in its hands il they be not treated as prison
ers of war.
We trust that the farce Of belligereney ON
the ocean. OF which the British government
Is the author, Is not to be repeated by the
British provincial authorities in their treat
ment Of felons on land. We are neighbors
for that and it is especially 20 be desired
that the present amicable aspect of affairs
between the TWO nations shall be jealousIy
guarded against fresh offence.
We are not 70 act IN matters like this as
if We conceded some ground for doubt
whether We are nation, and an equal men,
Der with any other IN the family Of nations
Our government is now a unit N itself as it
regards constitutional right and history
The people, in their majesty, have Just made
that declaration. and there is no question
left unsolyed affecting our nationality. of
which other governments have any right to
take eOgnizance, especially with an unfrlend-
ly purpose.
What Is wanted. If anything. is simply
new military order providing summary pun
ishment for ell persons who shall assume to
take shelter under a " commission from
any power that does not possess an acknow-
ledged nationality. We suppose our local
laws against all sorts of felony are sufficient
Tor such cases.-N. y. Ere. Post, 22d.