The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-02-14

Communicated.


EDITORS OF THE COLUMBIAN: Sirs
i was induced to pen the following
reflections after reading the very able
and eloquent address OF Mr.. Chaliant,
on the resolution orestOre Ed. Stanton
during the adjournment Of the Legisla-
turc, and having a little leisure, could
n but contrast my situation at present
with that Il little Owe, three years ago,
in passing the old Guard House in my
strolls through the city, how the SCENES
therein enacted rushed through my
mind. The horror and misery there en-
dured never can be forgotten. Being
rudely forced from II quiet and happy
home, by the lawlcss act of Il number
of armed men without any accusation,
and hurried of with II others to Fort
Mfllin, there to endure everything but
death. Some Of those scenes made i'm
prcssiOns that can never he cradiCated
us long as life endurcs, or any respect
for the rights of citizens remains.
Here sirs, saw old gray-hcadcd men
cropping their way around in that dark
damp unhealthy cell by the dim light
through the little apertures Of the thi,k
walls until weary, and they would lie
themselves down on the filthy, yea,
lousy boards aud in their restless slum-
bers could hear incOherent expressions
of home and of their families, The
most touching case perhaps was the
sickness and death of VIM. j.. Roberts,
Il poor man with n large family, but q
man of some education and fine fec!.
ingS. He soon became very feeble, Il,
in fact we all did, he being of delicate
constitution, ran down very fast, he wa
left in the cell until nearly dead, wa
then taken across the street TO the hos.
pital where he fingered y few days ans
died. After he was taken tn the hospi
tai, and those who had charge of hin
SAW his misery both of body and mina
offered words Of consolation. They tolt
him that Gen. Couch, who had com
mand Of the department, would hc thcr
in few days and release him. Hi
glossy eyes seemed to lrighten hut onl,
us the last flicker of the lamp, 70 go on
for ever. | was told by those who wait
ed on him, that his last expression
were about his poor family, and h
would frequently inlnirc ii Gen. Coucl
had come. There wii- but two or thre
of Us permitted to ser hi, body after h
died. Another ease Of young Collcy
VINO was carried over to the hO5pita
perfectly helpless. caused hy rheuml
tianl, brought on by the damp1ess c
the cell, aud WAS in such misery tina
he begged of the guards to ahOot hin
and put him out OF misery. Others VIII
became partially insane, others were a
most deaf. 1t also affected the eycsigll
of some seriously. Bat the horror c
horrors OF all we had to endure was tn
stencil. You can form some faint ide
if yeu take into consideration that 4
men crowded in Il dark, unventillate
hole, our fifth tub locked in the sam
room. This, sir, is no overlrawn pit
, ture. No man can imagine or realize
unless he endured 1t, and as | said j
the outset, | can but think of the cor
trast Of situations. To-day, instead {
enduring the misery above recited, fC
= the second time Though | confess
very humble one) Representative {
the people of one Of the greatest couI
ties in the State of Pennsylvania.
thank the Democracy Of old Luzerl
for thus publicly vindicating my cDl
duct, and indeed, all the fair-minde
Republicans in that vicinity who kno
the circumstances, protest against tn
= act as tyranical and lawless. In concll
sion, want to see this Government at
ministered by men, or party, if y0
please, who will prOtcct the rights {
E its citizens. was brought up TO ol
serve the laws ol God nuG my country
and those miserable hounds who wer
the cause Of my imprisonment neve
attempted to show wherein had viola
ted any law. | believe the principle
OF Democracy are right, and the last fe,
years of experience are hos likely I
work change, but to confirm me NOR
thoroughly in the truth of the doctrine
OF the fathers Of our country.
STATE CAPITOL.
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