Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-08-04
A Military Inquisition.

One of the favorite charges against the
Catholic Church is that it upheld the In
qusition-a charge false and unfounded-
disproved even by the enemies of that 1nstitu-
ton in Spain, in a Report prepared and
published by a Committee of Investigation.
The Spanish lnquisition was Government
Court, the Ecclesiastical side Of which was
authorised by the Prelates of the Church, to
soften the rigors of the civil side, and the
cruel laws which it executed. 1t was not a
Catholic Institution, only so far as it existed
in Catholic country. But what can be said
of the American Inquisition The American
Government is not Catholic Government
The American Congress is not Catholic
Congress-thank God for that! Gen. Meade
is not Catholic Ruler. Fort Pulaski is nok
a Catholic Bastile, and yet witnesses are there
subjected to torture, to force them to testify
against innocent men.
In the City of Atlanta Military Com
mission is sitting for the trial of citizens of
Columbus. Georgia, charged with the murder
of one Ashburn, renegade Southerner who
perishcd by the hands of the assassin some
few months ago. These citizens are men Of
the highest responsibility and yet upon the
evidence of suborncd witnesses and perjured
detectives, they are torn from the bOsoms of
their families, and cast into loathsome dun-
geons. deprived Of the comforts of life, and
forced to submit to the hcinOus charge of
murder. Here is an InquisitiOn for you, in
the heart of Georgia, in the free land of
America, in the light Of the 10Th century,
and not hand darcs to lift itself against the
inquity But that is not all. In Fort
Pulaski there is a steam torture, or sweat
box, which is thus described by one who was
thrust into it. after having cannon pointed
at him. and his head lathercd with two scrub
binc brushes:
"a closet in the walls of the Fort, little
wider than the deponent's body; the door
closes within three or four inches of the
breast the only air admitted is through few
auger holes in the door,
This is from the sworn testimony of John
Staper. who was kept in this terrible instru-
ment of torture for thirty-three hours. This,
Democrats Of the North, is what the people
Of the South have to endure. This is one
feature Of the tyranny under which we Sutter.
This tyranny is what we appeal to you to
relieve us Of. We should hear no more OF the
Spanish Inquisition. There is one closer
home-an American Iuquisition-and Gen.
Meade is its presiding genius With this
Inquisition is connected a number of spies
and informers, who track the footsteps of
gentlemen and honest people, and bear false
witness against them, that they, the SAID
detectives, may reap the reward OF their
vilainy.
Yes, that is what our people have to suffer
and submit to; and from which they ask you,
Democrats of the North and West, to relieve
them. You can upset the mockery of Gov
crnment which now exists you can ''disperse
the carpet-baG Governments" you can over
throw the military Martinets and Poppinjays
who now lord it so cruelty over the Military
Satrapies Of the South This you can do, if
you will, and re-establsh the Government of
the Constitution. and the principles of Free
dom.-Banner 0fthc South.