Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-02-22
Political Prisoners.

The Secretary OF War, in reply 10 the Sem
ate's resolution Of the lith instant, transmitted
TO that body, yesterday, q communication rela-
tive to persons held as political prisoners. He
states that upon the passage of the act Of March
8, Ieoo, ne directed Judge Advocate Holt to
not be released under the proyisions of the act
The prisoners We're confined at 81. Louis, Al
ton, LOUISVILLE Sandusky, Wheeling, Camp
Chase, Fort Lafayette, Fort McHenTy Fort
Delaware, and the Old Capitol
alt not being generally stated on the rolls by
whose authority the arrests were made" saws
Judge Holt, % 1t has been presumed (for the
purposes of the present listsl that all were
made by the authority, either directly or indi-
rectly, OF the President, acting through the
Secretary of War. In point of fact however,
IL is believed that the arrests were generally
made by the military commanders and provost
marshals, without any Intervention ON the part
OF the President or Secretary"
The cases of guerrillas, ii seems, and such as
are clearly triable by court martial, were not
generally included in the lists. Neither were
the cases Of parties confined under sentences
OF military courts. Those embraced in the
lists were those awaiting charges, hostages,
refugees, rebels, disloyal, &c.
The Secretary says that prior to the passage
OF the act he had taken measures to examine
and determine the cases OF State and Political
prisoners, by appoiating commissions to exam
ng prisoners, and discharge all proper cases.
he states that IN some military departments
prisoners had been incarcerated by State exec
atives or local military commanders; thatsuch
cases did not come within the terms OF the act,
but that measure had been taken for their in
yestigation and their discharge when it could
be done without prejudice to the public safety.
commission charged with this duty, consist
ed Of Benjamin s. Cowan, Roswell Marsh, and
Samuel w. Bostwick. special committee,
consisting of Judge King and Judge Bond, was
also appointed for the examination ofprisoners
at Fort Delaware or elsewhere in the Middle
Department, and General Dix was ordered to
Investigate cases of imprisonment at Fort La
fayette, and other prisons in the Eastern De-
partment for the custody of bl ockade runners
and Illicit traders. Major Turner was direct
ed, February l. 1861 to make Investigations at
the Old Capitol, used for the custody of pris-
ehers arrested by military commanders and by
the Navy Department. He was directed 70 dis
charge minor offenders, who were not prison
ers of war, report for exchange all prisoners of
war, report for trial all charged with violation
OF the laws OF war, and investigate and report
abuses in arrests by provost marshals or 9TH
ers to the military governor.
The Secretary also states that frequent ex-
aminations OF military prise ms had been ordered
from time TO time
The Secretary recounts the facts Of detection
from loyalty OF officers Of every rank and de-
partment of the service, and says in this emer-
gency the President thought II his duty TO en-
ploy with energy the extraordinary powers
which the Constitution conferred on him in
cases OF ins direction.
He called into the field such military and
naval forces, Unauthorized by the existing law,
as seemed necessary. He directed measures TO
prevent the use Of the post office for treason
able correspondence.
He subjected passengers to and from foreign
countries to new passport regulations, and he
ips stituted blockade, suspended the writ of
habeaS corpus in various places. and caused
persons who were represented to him as being
about to engage in reasonable and dfsloyal
practices, TO be arrested by special, civil as
we'll as military, agencies, and detained in
military custody. when necessary to prevent
them and deter others from such practices.
Examinations of such cases were Instituted,
and some of the persons so arrested have been
discharged from time TO time, under circGm-
stances or conditions compatible as was thought
with the public safety. Meantime, a favor
able change IN public opinion has occurred.
The line between loyalty and disloyalty is
plainly defined.
The whole structure of the Government is
firm and stable: apprehensions OF public dan
ger and facilities of treasOnasle practices have
diminished with the passions which prompted
needless persons to adopt them. The insur-
rection has eliminated, and is believed to be
declining. He further states that the President
has directed the discharge of all political or
state prisoners upon their subscr ibing TO a
parole to render no aid to the enemies OF the
United States.
The Secretary of War will except from the
effect Of this order all spies and others whose
release is deemed Incompatible with the public
safety. An amnesty is granted to all men who
keep their parole. He promises that hereafter
all extraordinary arrests shall be made by the
military authorities alone.