Cairo evening times. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1865-1866, 1865-10-06
A QUESTION OF AUTHORITY.
Collision between the Military and
Civil Authorities.
CORRESPONDENTS.

Some time since we recorded an account of
the arrest by Policeman Carrie of a negro
named Price, at the corner of Sixtl street and
Ohio levee, and his conveyance before Squire
Shannessy on the charge of carrying concealed
weapons. The case was by agreement post
pored until the following day when Price was
notified to appear before Squire Bross and an
swer the charge preferred. Price failed to
appear and was fined Subsequently earle
was arrested for withholding Prices weapon,
and brought before Major Cornelius, but was
discharged. A few days since Garlic accosted
Price and offered him the choice of alterna-
tives-paying his fine or going to prison Price
chose the former. &----~ ,e~
We now submit the following CORES pom.
dence growing out of the case, which explain s
tsel:
QUARTERMAsrER's DEPARTMENT, }
w. ... .e..- CAIRO, ILL, Oct. 2, 1865.
LIEUT.. Col. S. C. SKINNER, sTH V. R. c..
Posi- CoMMANDANT: SIR For the purpose
of protecting the camp Of Freedmen laborers
employed in this Department., from the en-
croachments of thieves gamblers, and conf
dence men generally, I long since caused to be
detailed certain colored men of known sobrety
intelligence and integrity, to act lin addition to
| other duties. in the capacity. of police, and
forth purpose authorized them to carry such
arms as were necessary TO enforce discipline on
| such worthless visitors as come about the
camp for any unauthorized purpose In Au-
gust last during my temporary absence, on
leave, officer earle, of the City Police, arrested
| one of my Police Frank Price, for violation
of city ordinance, passed recently, attaching
| certain penalties for carrying concealed weap-
ons. This man, Price, is an Intelligent, sober,
! quiet man, and one worthy of confidence and
protection. Price was taken before ESQ.,
! Shannessy, a Police Justice of this city, who
very properly, in my judgment, ordered his
discharge. earle. instead of letting the matter
i drop, re-arrested Price and took him before
4 ESQ. Bross, another Justice of the Peace, and
| Notwithstanding the representation that Price
was an employee Of the Government, under
the direction of this Department, and in the
proper line of his duty, ESQ. Bross enforced
I this Ordinance, by imposing fine Of two dol
lars, which, with the cost of the arrest,
amounted to seven dollars and seven cents.
On Saturday last officer earle arrested Price
and compelled him to pay the line or 60 to Jail.
| Price paid the money and was released. l de-
sire to call your attention to this matter, and
to iisist that the proceeding was unjust and
! irregular and ought not to have been allowed.
If it be understood that an officer Of the civil
authority can enter the quarters Of those labo
| rers and defy them in the discharge OF their du-
ties by arresting, imprisoning and timing for all
alleged civil offence Of the kind hereinstated,
then there will be an end to quiet and good
| order in the freedmen's camp, which will mill
itate against their efficiency as laborers. 1t
! seems to me that the same officer may enter
your Regimental quarters and for the same Of
fence cause the arrest of any soldier of your
Regiment and enforce the penalties of the Or
dinance referred TO, with the same show of au-
thority, as in the case of Price. I respectfully
submit the case to you and urge that it is es-
sental that this case may not be allowed to go
unnoticed to become precedent, dangerous
and illegal. ! am, very respectfully,
! Your ob't sv't,
A. C. VOOLFOLK,
Capt and A. Q. NJ, U. s. a.
Official, q
! SAMUEL MCDONALD, e.. ~
| Lieut.. and A. A. A. G.