Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-07-11
RUTLAND h ERALD.
TUESDAY, JULY o, 1867,
The Mexican Prisoners.


ouers is very naturally attracting the
attention and the sympsthies of the peo.
pie OF the United States, The recent
adviCes inform US Of an important order
of the Liberal government in regard to
the trial and punishment, as well as the
disposition to be made Of the common
soldiers after the leaders shall have been
disposed or The order is issued by
Mtjla, Minister Of War and the Navy,
dated at San Luis Potosi, June 9th, and
addressed to Escobedo, the citizen gen
eral commanding the Northern division.
This document in opening reviews the
position of the prisoners, towards whom
no decision had been arrived at, only
that their previous acts had incurred
the responsibility OF the desire evinced
on their part to continue the shedding
OF Mexican blood without the expeCta-
ton Of being able to uphold the mock
government which foreign Intervention
had attempted to impose on the nation
for the purpose OF destroying repuoli-
can government by the means of incen-
diarism and pilage, which, under the
express provisions of the law, would
subject them to death on mere identit.
cation, and they have been apprehended
in actual hostilitits. Notwithstanding
these facts, the President, after consid-
Grafton OF the subject and for the pur-
pose OF reconCiliDg as far as possible the
sentiments of clemency and mercy with
the requirements of justice, and for the
purpose Of securing the tranquility Of
the nation, then proceeds to classify the
prisoners according TO the degree Of
their criminality, making the distinction
in the Importance OF the civil or mil
itary position which they have occupied
and the influence which their character
has given them and the 0ffenses which
they have individually committed or
authorized to be perpetrated. Another
class specified are those who by former
or recent acts or through an excess Of
refined cruelty, have made themselves
notorious as high wsymen and robbers,
and deserve no consideration, whatever
their class or station may have been.
The first to be tried are those who
have been generals OF brigade, mention
ing three particular generals who are to
answer at the same tribunal, because
their antecedents involved especial re-
sponsibiIity. The second class to be put
on trial are those whose antecedents dis
tinguish them as highwaymen or robbers.
The third class to be brought to the bar
Of justice are those who acted as minis
ters, or in positions near to Maximilian,
or those who would be termed by our
government as cabinet counselloTs. To
the other prisoners, although they have
subjected themselves TO the death pen
atty, for the purposes Of showing elem
eDCy and mercy, the council have deci-
ded to grant them an exemption, com
mutng in the following manner: Col
onels' to suffer imprisonment in the Cas-
tie or place which the government shall
designate, for six years; Lieut.. Co,onels
for Ave years, Commanders for four
years and Captains for two years. Lieu
tenants of Mexican birth to be subject
to two years vigilance of the authori-
ties in the place they may select as their
residences, aud those of foreign birth to
remain prisoners until the government
shall determine whether they shall re.
main prisoners for two years or whether
they shall be compelled to quit the ter
ritory Of the republic. All soldiers OF
foreign birth are to be furnished with
passports to quit the country. Those
who appear in the list as civil employees
and the private secretary OF Maximllian
are to be set at liberty. At the expira
tion of the Imprisonment all prisoners
are to be under the vigilance or care o
the authorities, and deprived of The
rights of Mexican citizens, until they arr
expressly re-instated by the general gov
ernment.
This appears to be summary punish
ment of those who have been led by !
misguided man into their present condi
tion, byt yet the cruel measures which
we're adopted by Maximilian, we ha
supposed, would bring them to speed
trial and much harsher punishment.
DEATH OF THOMAS FRANCIS MEAGHBF
Gen. Thomas Francis Meagher, Secre
tary aud acting Governor OF Montan
T~,ritory, 'ell from the deck OF tn
steamer Thompson, at Fort Benton, o
the evening of the 1st inst, and wa
drowned. He had been absent for
fortniDght on public business, and ma
succeeded in procuring arms for tt
troops engaged in the defense of the Te
ritory, and transacting other miiltai
business demanded by the present ex
gency. His death Is greatly lamente
and the nublic demonstrations in hon'