Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1864-01-27
an, C.InrfitIO Republican
CLEARFIELp, PA.
Wednesday Morning, Jan 9th, 1854
The DRIFT

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The Draft
We cannot learn that there is any time
fixed. ns yet. when the next draft is to take
place. Congress has altered tho law 10y
throwing tue two classes together, and in
creasng the communication from $500 to
$500.
A section has also been added to the
former law requiring all offences commit
ted against the oticecs engaged in carry
ing out ills law, 20 jt H'ci IL the Federal
Colrts. THIS may provc to be the most tatal
biow AIMED at tie PERSONAL LIBERTY Of the cii-
isn, But few people, comparatively, are
aware that jurors iu the u, S, Courts are
not drawn from a wheel, ar is the case ir
our State Courts; but are selected or chosen,
Ly the L. s. Marshals. Ofcourse they are
all, or nearly SO, Of his own party. If they
are not, it is his fault' Suppose citizen Of
this county should be arrested for an as
sault upon an enrolling officer, or Provost
Marshal. He would be taken to Pittsburg
to be tried. To insure him n fair trial
would cost him fortune, in feeling law
yers, securing witnesses, &c, and then
be tried by a Jury picked out OF some forty
or fifty different counties 10y the Z. s..
Marshal Whereas, under the State laws
as has always been the practice heretofore
ne would be tried by a jury Of men OF his
own viciuage, and his necessary expenses
would be within Ihe reach Of men in the
most moderate circumstances.
Whenever the people of this country
submit TO such incroachm ents upon their
personal liberty, there is an end to our
boasted freedom.
4 ease in illustra ton was tried few
days ago in Fulton county. John forney
was over As years Of age-he so Informed
the enrolling officer. But he was enrolled.
He waited on the Board of Exemption
the officer in charge marked in red INK,
opposite his name, "oyer age" Yet
his name was drawn. Again be appealed
10 tho officer in charge, aud again that
officer corrected, OF pretended to correct,
the error-a5suring Forney that he should
not be molested. This occurred at the
sgst draft in the summer OF 1862. Some
time afterwards Lieut. -, 2 recruiting
officer, attempted to arrest Forney at HI:
avn hnnsn ma O dnsnrta-. whon Forney
thot him, causing his death. Forney
straight way gave himself up and went tC
jail. Shortly afterwards he was forcibly
seized, aud carried TO Chambersburg, anC
thence to the old Capitol prison a; Wash
ington-from whence nc WAS remandeC
back to the Fulton county Jail. Wber
the rebels reached McConnelstCrc las
summer in their raid into Pennsylvania
they opened the Jail aud carried Forne!
off with them. 1t was but short time
however, until Forney made his escape
and returned voluntarily to Jail. Tn,
trial took place two or three weeks ago
and resulted in his acqu:ttal, after a tria
Of unusual labor, in which the pIosecU
ton was conducted by the ab,cst counsC
in that part Of the State. The verdict c
acquittal was, no doubt, justifable b
every rule Of law and justice.
But suppose this new Jaw had then bee
in practice, what would have been poe
Forney's chanceY 1t is not hard to guess
Let us then, hold fast to this sacred righ
Of trial by Jury.