Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-03-23

councils protesting axains. tao bill before Oon-
gTese, was presented to the-cornnlittsa. and it
law srossdes % s sns 'p for al Wae aavs any,
claim to the right Of suffrage IN tae eisy Of
Washington.
The Senate Committee, without expressing
an opinion, promised 20 give the i-atser due
consideration.
While there some other matters OF interest to
the city were discussed.
The fund for eniistmer.s having been eX-s
haustetl, authority from Congress was asked
for the city 10 issue stocks for $500, COO, redeem
able In ~ years. II is believed that Congress
will promptly grant the power asked. An In.
crease OF pay FOR the police was als2 urged and
metwith favor, The inadeqns.cy OF their present
pay being conceded. ars-a
An IMPORTANT DsCIsIoy.--Judse w vile has
delivered an opinion in the case OF the United
States sgt the property of VIM. Shields, seized
under the provisions OK the con ascation act of
July IL, 1892, which presents come interesting
Shields it appears, was native of Virginia,
and resided here up to about April, 1861, when
remained until August 1861, when he m ade his
appe arance in Baltimore. His property here
being seized, he defends it. and alleges that as
he has done no reasonable act since the passage
OF the conhteation act, his property should not
be sold.
The opinion OF Judge Wvlie states that
Shields was evidently an enthusiast in the
canse OF the rebellion, and in April, 1862, he
abandoned his residence and fed with other
traitors TO join the enemies Of his country at
Richmond, leaving his dwelling In charge OF
his sisters. During his residence in Richmond
he kept up a CORES pondence with his friends in
this city, through the medium OF the British
ccnsulstes there and In New York, when the
covers We're taken off and the letters for warded
TO their addresses. In letter to his brother in
Vermont, dated Richmond, October IL. 1861,
Shields uses the following language:
sour Army OF the Potomac IL in three coll
, unps. Gen. Jos. L. johnson, commander. 10.
chief; Beauregard commands the first division;
. SpS,tth 81 = ~
York, and splendid officer, commands the
second division; and Van Dorm the third; Geo.
Lay, Inspector general. You know them all,
l believe. They could take perdition, almost
and rs Washington is next this side OF il, would
make short work of that. But 1t is not oar
policy. IL the girls would leave W.. could
ample sequestration fund. Bus.their presence
Keeps me out OF it. wish they would move
South. As it is, shall put in a claim for the
whole suount, together with the house they
liveIn. have not given them instructions TO
rent or sell for fear 1t would initiate against
my claim. have friends in the Court OF
side. As shall lose nothing in W., wish n.
tnsssy would take 1t, and the store. too.
"fou must have reign OF terror in your
country, 10 be sure; and l should judge from
what read, copied from United States papers,
tina, you never hear the truth. The Lord have
mercy on you all, l say. Your liberty seems
want, " hat have often told you, pure and
uncefiled religion amongst you
One OF the intercepted letters to his brother
contained A slip cut from d paper acknowl-
| edaing the receipt OF money for the benefit OF
sick soldiers. among Others containing the fol-
loving. 80 -.- g.
From VIM. Shields, Washington. D. g..
$780, 'This acknowledgment is signed by
Roher' Msrtin, Supt. Depot Army Com" Y.
!; The claimant, TO NEE. this evidence, nus In
; the dispositions Of his brother, John Shields,
and Rev. q. &. Meador, his brother iu-iaw
! who represent that his object In going 10 Rich
nj rat rpa ~ ft,sa
excitement and turmoil which he iorssaw was
shout 10 come upon him if he continued in
Washington and state that they ara ignorant
OF his ever having committed any act OF kos-
tility 20 the Government OF the United States
ne proof OF his trfa in 1861 Is al,soi utely
conclusive, and his adherence to the enelny in
giving them aid lad conf fort. Is Clearly proved
under his own hand, AZ well as by other Of his
acts, equally we'll established.
| jCdge Wylie remarks that the term "ad.
| hsrins to the enemy; giving them aid and com.
fort,'' WAS nported into our Constitution and
Laws from The English statute of treasons, t25th
Edward Sd. chapter s. and adopted with the
construc'ion pat upon 1t by the English courts.
srea3oosbe correspond nce with the en-
snnJ has been held to amount to the offence Of
| treason In this case Shields not only corres.
ponded with the enemy, but actually went
over 10 the enemy, and contributed his money
and support and encouragement to their aid
and comfort Id, wss moi an incomplete aud
frustrated puFpo~e but WAS carried out and
accomplished
The claimant places his defence exclusively
spon The prospective character OF the act OF
treason Of his conduct, fby implicationl We. he
denies that subseG Ientiy he was guilty OF any
one Of the charges contained in the In Information
In order 70 MAKE uut his case he har filed a
certificate from {" Her B-ittanic Maesty's Act
ing Consul" for the State OF Virgins, which
csr.!1es that the bearer thereof Mr.. William
es o. 10 nsl In the
late In Richmond. Virginia, during the last
twelve months. also certify thai Mr. Win
Lam Shields as Fever been IN the service of
the So cailPd Confederate States. Date Of Ger.
uhcase, 18th August, l7S2.
This certificate. the judge decides, Is no. OF
the siis htes. sequence IN respect to Tho
Issue u the letters of the claimant, showing
tha, the Cons uiatH had made use of at the very
Time covered by tie certificate ia aid OF the re-.
had never been in the service. it does not deny
tna' LIE was achering 10 their cause. giving
them aid and comfort a-f =
In q plain ana aggravated case like the pres.
ent, OF adherence and aid and comfort 10 the
enemy ia the year lsGI, the court is bop Ii i to
presume u continuance by the clkimsnI An the
sam. course OF reasonable c1nduct. :, long as
he faiis to return in good iaith 10 hi allegiance
20 tse I nited States.
The case o: the claiman, fall under the 9th
section OF the act OF 18th July. 1882, chap. lG5.
That section provides, in distance, that II
any person in the rebellion. states, alter the
passage OF the act, being engaged IN armed re-
ah-tting SUCH rebellion, shall not, within sixty
days after public warning and psoclamation
gwen by the President, cease to aid, counte-
nance, and abet such rebellion, and return to
HE allegiance 10 the United States, sill bis es-
tate should be Liable TO seizure, &C. as provid-
I'd by the act. Sd.
On the date OF the passage of the act Shields
was Acting rs q copying clerk 10 the British
acting Consul, and according to the certificate
Of the latter he was engaged tor eleven
months previously. q
The proclamation in the act was issued on
Iha 18th OF July, and the sixty days expired OF
the ed OF September. and If it can be shown
that Shields within that time did the law
required, return TO his allegiance, and cease 20
aid, &c, the rebellion, he Is entitled to claim
that proceedings in this case shall be dis.
missed, however treason able his pre- vious con.
duct may have been. But il Is necessary that
he shall have averred as well as proved all the
faets required tor this purpose. His answer
AYERS that since the 18th July. 1872, he has not
assiAted, or gwen aid or comfort to the rebel
lion, or 10 those engaged in the rebellion, either
oy acting AZ soldier or officer or on-commis.
stoned officer In the army or navy OF the so.
called Confederate States, or by contributin.
money or properly 10 the aid and encourage