The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-12-19

SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 10. 1858.
sAvoRY "REMINISCENCES or TIE CHIEF AxERIcAS
BASTILE. -

.
George D. Prentice, in writing to the Louisville
Courier Journal. thus discourses of some events
of the late var: 1lI
There are hundreds of thousands Of patriotic
American citizens who can feel no regret at the
burning of Fort Lafayette, opposite the New
York nsrrows. am glad that it has been re
solved into the elements. 1t was odious pile.
Though called by great and glorious name 1t
was used throughout the war for execrabe pur.
poses Its noble name became a detestation. 1t
YVES bsstile. Hundreds Of the best men Of the
nation were locked within its gloomy and desolate
walls and Kept there for months, and even years,
without trial and without being allowed to know
why they were denied the right of liberty. No
charges existed against them 80 far as they or
their friends could learn. II they their friends
In their behalf, appealed TO the government to
learn the cause of their immurement. there was no
answer. The government was silent and mystic
rious. The fort was United States property, but
have as little sorrow for its destruction as any
good citizen ever bad for the demolition OF the
bsstile Of France. have seen the key of the lat
ter borrid prsonhouse at Mount Vernon, pres
see the key of the former at the house of the
greatest Of the living sons Of liberty. Fire has
done great many good things 10 the world-sel-
dom so good thing as the sweeping Of Fort La
fayete from the face of the continent it dsgr aced.
Bless the red element
81 have some peculiar "reminiscences connected
with Fort Lafayette. In 1861 three distinguished
gentlemen, Hon. VIM. III. 6 vim, who had served
many years with distinction in the Senate OF the
United States, Hon. Calhoun Benham. who had
been United States district attorney in California,
and Mr. Brent, who had been prominent lawyer
In Baltimore, aud was then a very prominent Ia "
yer of California embarked on q steamer for some
point in the east. Gen. Sumner was on the same
steamer. When she was near the isthmus, the
general msde them his prisoners. He simply
deigned to tell them that he arrested them on sus
picion that they were intending to fight against
the United States, q suspicion perfectly prepos.
ferrous in the case of DR.. Gwinn, who was an inhrm
msDded the ground Of his suspicion, he only
answered that he entertained it, and was not re-
sponsible for his suspicion. The three victims
were conveyed to the federal government, aud
Mr.. Seward, secretary of state, ordered them,
without an interview, TO Fort Lafayette.
80 AS one of the three prisoners was my near
and very dear relative, FASTENED very soon to
Washington to procure their release. l had writ
ten and telegrsphed earnestly to the president for
the release Of Governor Morehead, Mr.. Durrett,
and others. but, when q member of my own family
was victim of oppression and tyranny. felt that
should give my personal presence TO the effort
for deiiversnce. 1 arrived at the capital long
after dark and called Immediately upon Mr.. Lin
coin. He received me with the greatest cordi.
atty and geniality, though he gently intimated
that he rather thought had been little unjust to
him. asked him for the discharge of the three
Fort Lafayette prisoners, Gwinn, Benhsm and
Brent. He INQUIRED what were the charges against
them. OF course told him that didn't know,
and suggested whether it wasn't more his business
tldn OURS 10 Know. he dDsWtTeQ, ell uOn'
know about these things, but am disposed to do
what can for you, and will give you letter to
Seward" took the letter and called at Mr.
Stewards Office the next morning. The distin
| guished secretary received me with his accus-
toned smenity, but, in regard to the matter in
| band talksd quite automatically. 1t was about
| my first xperence Of regular dplomatist's con-
| versatioD. / didn't much admire or understand it,
| Mr.. s. invited me TO take tea with him that even
ing. did. After tea renewed my application
for the release of my friends, and argued the mat
| ter as well as COULD He had only this reply to
| make: " an considering the matter, and shall
be very glad to see you at tea, or breakfast: or
dinner every day, and we will talk the subject
| over"
zone evening, when had been about four days
in asbiI gtOn, ventuIed to urge my request very
siroI gly upon the secretary, aud he said, Call at
| my flee tomorrow morning at half past 10, and
/ will give you an order for the release of your
| irIends.' OF course was punctual to the minute.
Fred SAID he, addressing his son and assistant
/ secretary, give Mr.. Prentice the document d.
rected you TO make OUT The assistant secretary
/ placed ii in my hands. l read it. 1t was not an
order for the discharge Of the victims. IL was
| only order that should have the privilege OF
| seeing them in their prison when pleased. Why,
Mr.. Seward. this is not what you promised me
| Yesterday No, il is not, but I especially de-
sire that you 60 10 New York and talk with
your friends and ascertain their feelings and
| inciu atoms ard report TO me-. [ told him, in
terms little brief possibly, that be certainly
could lot expect me to visit my friends in
prison and enter into conversation with them as
government spy. 'Well,' he. said, do me the
| favor to go and see them, and write TO me as
you ike | said Yes l went and wrote to
him every day. as strongly as j could ia favor
of the release Of the prisoners. Ny frat
tree letters were unanswered. In reply to the
| f urth i received dispatch saying that ms
fiiepds were "psroled to Washington for explans
ton.' OF course considered that dispatch as i'm
| plying a discharge. | went Immediately with DR.
Gwinn's wife and daughters TO Fort Lafayette, ex
| IL HI -
the m to proceed to Washing ton Immediately. "GC
with u.s." said they. told them that II would be
exceedingly inconvenient for me to 90 with them
They were sppTehensive of decet'and treachery
GO with Us, said they" or we will not 60"
went with them. On arriving at Washington
called upon Secretary Seward In their behalf. HI
reaule ed that they should either take certain OBJ
noxious ostb,or be remanded to prison. ! asked
them what they would do, and they agreed that
as there wBs DO charge against them. and as the
had committed no crime, they would sooner g
back TO their bastile than to take any oath. Al
NY appeals to the secretary were OF no avail.
. then my appeal was to President Lincoln
certainly kiDd.hearted, though in many thing
a sadly misg aided func,ionary. Atmy second in
teryiew with him be said Il will set your friend
free. They may go as much at large as an
other citiZers OF the United States | asked hin
il he woplc grant them permission to go to Europe
BE replied that none OF our people had right {,
60 10 Europe without passports, not even himself
and that therefore he could not give passports
but that my friends should be just as free as b
or any other man under the government to go a1
cone az pleasure. / requested him to put thi
declaration in writing. He said No, II was
very delicate subject, and Seward will be yer
mad about it. will not touch pen TO paper /
REGARD 10 il. Tell your friends what have toi
you, sDd tell them further that shall be glad :
see Ihem.' All Of them, / believe, called up0
him and expressed their thanks. though whethe
thanks were due under all the circumstances, l:
| think, quite q question.
In 1895, DR.. Gwinn, who had not taken an
could not have taken any part in the war, wen
from this country to Mexico for his own privat
purposes, whatever they were, and have reasn
to know that they were right and proper. q
went snd took others with him to make none,
bot on account of the miserable condition of Mel
icen sffairs, they failed. Dr. Gwinn came bsc
TO the United States in the full consciousness {
right and the expectation of safety. He ha
done DO wrong to Others, and he anticipated
wrong 10 himself But upon his arrival With
the federal lines, then kept up for DO useful {
proper purpose, he was snapped up, upon NJ
even q pretexs and thrust into Fort Jackson
below New Orleans. Several Of his friends wei
| tb,nun INTO Fort jackson With him. There the