Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-01-07
Fort Lafayette, President Lincoln,
and Mr. Seward,

the 9Th OF December, contains an ar
ticle, inspired by the recent burning
of Fort Lafayette, and signed with
the well-known initials, &c. ID. T."
We quote the narrative portions Of
the article, as follows:
81 have some peculiar reminiscen-
ces connected with Fort Lafayette.
In 1861, three distinguished gentlemen
Hon. William NJ. Gwin, who had
served many years with distinction
in the Senate of the United States
Hon. Calhoun Benham, who has been
United States District Attorney IN
California, aud Mr.. Brent, who had
been prominentlawyer Baltimore,
and was then a very prominent law
yer OF CaliiOrnia-embarlIed on a
steamer for some point in the East.
General Sumner was on board the
same steamer. When she was near
the Isthmus the General made them
his prisoners. He simply deigned to
tell them that he arrested them on
suspicion that they were intending TO
fight against the United States,
suspicion perfectly preposterous 10
the case of DIR. Gwin, who was an in
firm old man of about seventy years.
When they demanded the ground Of
his suspicion, he only answered that
he entertained it, and was only respon-
sible to the Federal Government, and
Mr.. Seward, Secretary OF State, or
dered them, without an interview, TO
Fort Lafayette.
GAS one of these prisoners was my
near and very dear relative, hasten
ed to Washington to procure their re-
lease. / had written and telegraphed
earnestly to the President for the re-
lease of Governor Morehead, Mr.
Durrett, and others, but when q
member of my own family was vic
tim of oppression and tyranny, ! felt
that / should give my personal pres
ence to the effort for deliverance. !
arrived at the capital long after dark,
and called Immediately upon Mr. Lin
coin. He received me with the great
est cordiality and geniality, although
he gently intimated that he rather
thought that | had been little unjust
to him. Iasked him for the discharge
of the three Fort Lafayette prisoners
l-Gwin. Benham and Brent He in
ouired what were the charges against
/ them. OF course ! told him that |
didn't know, and suggested whether
il wasn't more his business than
ours to know. lie answered, "Wcll,
1 / don't know about these things, but
1 am disposed to do what l can ioi
YOU. and will give you letter to Sew
/ ard" T" / took the letter aud called OF
1 Mr.. Stewards Office the next morning
The distinguished Secretary received
me with his accustomed amenity, but
in regard to the matterin hand, talked
quite automatically. 1t was about
my first experience of regular di
plomatists conversation. | didn1
much admire or understand it, Mr.
Seward invited me TO take tea viii
him in the evening. l did. Aite
tea, l renewed my application for th'
, release Of my friends, and argued tb'
matter as well as ] could He ha,
only this reply to make; 81 am con
sidering the matter, and ! shall b
very glad to see you at tea, or break
fast, or dinner, every day, and W
= will talk the subject over"
conc evening, when ] had bee
about four days in Washington, ven
tured to urge my requostvory strong
ly upon the Secretary, and he said
Z iCall at my Office tomorrow morninI
j ut halfpast ten o'clock, and ! wi
give you an order for the release {
= your friends" OF course ] was punl
i tual to the minute. "Fred," said b
l. addressing his son and Assistant Se'
r retary, "givc Mr. Prentice the docu
q ments ] directed You to make out.
: The Assistant Secretary placed 1t ]
y my hands, read il. IL was not a
!, order for the discharge Of the victim
~ Ii was only an order that ! shoul
,, have the privilege of seeing them ]
u their prison when ! pleased. "Wh,
u Mr.. Seward, thisis not what you prom
y iscd mo Yesterday" "No, IL is no
le but | specially desire that You 60
D, New York and talk with your friend
q and ascertain their feelings and into
81 tions, and report TO me" | told hi
> in tcrms, a little brief, possibly, thi
ol he certainly could not expect me
% visit my friends in prison and entl
into conversation with them as
Government spy "Wel," he sal
u, ~ "do me the favor to 60 and see the
~ and write TO me as you like | 50
,o "Yes." / went, and wrote 70 hi
lu every day as strongly as ! could
y favor of the release of the prisone
O' NV first three letters were unanswort
In reply to the fourth, ! received
IL dispatch saying that my friends we
Nv oparoled to Washington for oXplar
NJ ton" OF course ] considered III
IA dispatch as implying a discharge.
~ went Immediately with DIR. Civil
=" wife and daughters to Fort Laiayet
exhibited the order to the prisono
10, and advised them to proceed 20 Wa
~ inrton Immediately. "Gc with u
ns m said they. / told them that it wol
~ ~ be exceedingly incouvouieut for
w w'a,. to 10 with them. They were app
P" hensive OF deceit and trcachory. "
with us," said they, cor we viii !
In ro." ] went with them. On arr
~ ling at Washington ] called upon S
80 retary Seward in their behalf
,Go required that they should oithor d
'n6 a certain obnoxious oath or be rem
ded TO prison. ! asked them w
they would do, and they agreed q
bod Us there were no charges agai
to them. and rs they had committed
n." crime, they would sooner 60 bacl
but thoir bastilo than take any oath.
ate my appeals to the Secretary were
no avail
"Thcn my appeal was TO Presid
r to Lincoln. At my second intcv
ico. with him ho said 81 viii set y
the friends free. They may 90 rs m
itch at large rs any other citizens Of
United States" | asked him IL