The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1865-06-30
The Arrest Of John IIitchel,

IN our last issue We gave brief tele
graphic statement of the arrest Of JouN
MIfcHEL in New York by order of the
War department., and the manner in
which he was hurried OF to Fort Monroe
without charge or trial. In speaking Of
this new outrage OF STANTON upon per-
sonal liberty and personal rights, the
Irish Americun boldly and fearlessly,
though with dignity and calmnoss, de-
n,ands redress for the wrong If Presi-
dent Johnson is the man we think he IS,
it will not be long forthcoming The
Irish 1mei tcan says:
For four years the press of these
Northern States was in chains as degrad-
ing as any ever forged by despot for the
human mIhd. lis conductors, crouching
under the shadow of the Provost Marshaps
rod, were, for the most part, dumb. while
lnlqultles, which they should have dencunc
ed, were perpetrated with impuni,y; un
faithful to nigh trust, they, at the bidding
OF usurped, arbitrary power, sIayistly ab
dlcated the right to criticise the ac.s of
the public servant8-a right purchased by
the blood OF truo patriots, and confirmed
by the wisdom OF the statesmen who rails
ed this Republic to position which the
present generation have shown themselves
so little competent 10 understand. In
whatever else John Mitchell may lave
erred, IN this, at least, be was right, in
this he was true TO liberty aud his man
hood. He would not shut Lis eyes to
wrong and outrage and affect not to see
their preparation; lie would not, at the
bidding OF vulgar denagogue, be silent
when The principles offreedom and justice
were being violated, to satisfy camorous
faction; he had never bent the knee to
successful chicane, or vhitewa5hed poit-
cal knavery; above all, he was an lrsh>
man who never denied his kindred, and
who, when they were assailed, returned
blow for blow, with honest interest, como
from whom they may; moreover, he did
not believe that Mr.. Secretary Stanton
was the impersonatiOn of wisdom, purity
and truth; for ell this he WAS struck
down.
We approach This matter calmly and
deliberately as one 10 Which the citizen
has high duty to perform, and in the
name Of our people and in virtue of his
duty as sworn Executive of the nation,
we demand of President Johnson the
righiing of this wrong deed The laws
are now the only rule that American citi-
~ H. II = ,I1 -
| thy Of their name aud nation. 70 them
we appeal. If John Mitchell be amenable
to their action, above his felow>men. let
him have fair and speedy trial before the
proper tribunal, and he and all who sym
pathize in his present sufferings will abide
the issue, But il, in contravention Of
every Constitutional provision, be is to be
immured in a military dungeon only TO
CRAFTY the malice Of pettiiogging poll
tician; if he, alone Of all his class, be
picked out as the scapegoat for sins which
! were fathered hero ere he saw light, then
wil the Chief Magistrate within whose
coonizance this matter comes. have failed
in the discharge Of the plainest duty;
then will he have made enemies, where Il
was III bl5 power lo hul' 10 H'uiSei! Ai'"
friends; and 'ce, at least, will know what
we will have to face hereafter,
/" For Us, our duty and our interests are
plain in tho matter. John Mitchell has
been struck at by the same power that
would have annihilated the whole foreign
element if it could. Hundreds more deep
l. implicated in the rebellion ale passed
over and he is taken, in orLoF TO afford a
color Of justice to the howl already raise!
against US. live would preserve for oul>
selves, hereafter, that equality before the
law which is the only safeguard Of liberty,
we must demand it now for him, and en-
force that demand with tne full momen
tum Of our moral weight as q portion Of
the community"