Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-02-19

protect his reputation when assailed by
those high in authority, and by reading
the following letter it will be seen how
General CANBY's zeal to further the ends
of those whose servants he made himself
eutran his discretion:
Extract from Gov Worth's letter to the Prcsi
dent, dated Dec. 31st, 1867,
AS TO THE PERQUIMANs PRISONERS.
Gen Candy in his letter to Gen Grant, pro-
fesses to find in my action in this case, just
ground for imputinG to me dislngeni usness."
Let the record facts decide to- which of us
1" disingcnuousness," quality disreputabe to
anybody, particularly to a veteran General justly
attaches.
In September last petition was sent me from
Chowau county "a copy is annexed marked A.
from number OF citizens whose representations
were entitled to much respect as would be due
to any like number of citizens anywhere. | call
your special attention to it. The history of the
case rested on documentary proofs, unm1st 4kably
exhibits the spirit OF the military dyDasiy under
which We live.
white ma, named Pratt had shot n uegro
forbear to cucumber this communication with the
alleged Circunlst AnCes Of rrovocation tending to
Justify or mitigate the act The negro fingered
for scme time. When il was as ,ertained he was
likely to die. [ am credibly informed that Pratt
voluntarily surrendered himself to the civil au-
thorites Of Chowan, where the alleged crime was
committed, counting investigation into the cir.
thorities thought proper, besides keeping Pratt
IN Jail, to put irons OH him. disguised crowd,
in the night time, forced the jailor TO surrender
the keys and liberated the prisoner No one OF
the crowd has been identified. Upon a represen-
tation of these facts to me, L Immediately issued
proclamation, Offering reward from our poor
State Treasury for the apprehension OF Pratt
Up to this, neither jnundiced prejudice nor radi-
Cal malevolence haC: imputed default to the civil
authorities, but military detective emmissary IS
sent from Charleston, by whose action six orderly
cit fPnr tha adj n ms
to-wit: Whitaker Myers, James Hsrrell, William
White, Sr Isaac White, and William White, Jr.,
are arrested and without any knosn eyIdeace,
then or since, are dragged from their homes and
detained military prisoners for some two
months, and put to work on the streets, &c, not
informed of the charges preferred against them,
or allowed to confront their accuserS.
In reply to this petition, and my remOnstrance
enclosing it to Gen Candy, (see copy Of this re-
monstranCe marked O. Ger. C&Gbv says, (se9
exhibit marked r. THAT detectives ere sent
upon the trace of the guilty parties who succeed
ed i'll ferrettinS them out. and they We're arrested
and turned over 10 the commanding officer at
Plymouth, n c.. (uOt Fort Macon, as stated
his letter to Gen. Grant, until the civil authorl-
ties could try them. The commanding officer of
the post authorized to take bail for them if it
should be offered. 1 see no ground tor complaint
in the tact that persons charged with crime nave
been arrested by the military authorities and held
Ill custody until the civil authorities are prepared
J to try them"
If these detectives found any evidence implica
ting these parties, and they were acting in aid of
the civil authorities, why was not this evidence
disclosed to tho civil authorities for their action
Or why, efter the arrest, were they carried to Ply
mouth-detained some two months military
prisoners no civil officer being informed of the
pretended evidence, called upon to issue pro-
cess and cause this evidence to be heard and the
accused allowed to confront their accusers The
friends of the accused, am cred1bly informed,
went to Plymouth and asked 10 become bail for
them. They could have given bail in any penalty.
| reasonable or unreasonable. Bail was refused
| frun 6nfn
| leased, as I learn, on their parole or recogni"
zance to appear at Plymouth whenever required
| by the military authority. In order to procure
| authentic information as to this release, | have
recently, through friend asked of the military
officer in command at Plymouth, copy of the
parole or recognzance under which they were re-
leased. This officer replied that the copy could
| no be furnise d, because no written evidence Of
the parole or recognizance was kept.
Gen. Candy, in his letter to Gen. Grsnt, Gays in
reference to this matter The arrests were made
upon the application of the Sheriff Of OhCwar
county, based upon the afhdavits of the jaor anG
his wife as to the forciDle rescue The prisoners
were sent to Fort Macon for safe keeping unit
the civil authorities were prepared to try them
and the commanding officer Of that post was dl
rccted to admit them to bail if suitable bail Was
offered" He says my statement to him is not
an Ingenious statement at the date OF thit
statement the Governor had made but one re-
monsrance to me on this subject, and he kReto b.
nag letter Of Sept. Eth, 1867, that IN one Of tn.
cases cited IN that renaonstrd1ce The arrests acre
made at the requests Of his agents and in 0iC
Of the c,UN authorities :" and he makes this the
occasion to refer to the comfy to the civil au-
thorities, which he had acted on years long gone
by before the late war. beg you to recur to the
copy of that letter of 18th of sept, 1867. He as
serts that knec from that letter Etdt The drrest
eoe1e made at The instance Of my agents No such
pretence is insinuated in his letter of Sept. 18th
nor had l ever heard of any such pretence unit
/ read this groundess imputation upon mo, il
his letter to General Grant. From re
cent letter from the Sheriff of Cho1an, now
before me: covering d copy Of the
affidavit of the iailOr, l am warranted
| in saving not only that l EReD nothing leading
me to suppose the arrest had been made ut the
instance of my agents, but that the assertion /:
,citoeH color Of Foundation. The Sheriff says the
has never heard OF any evidence TO mpcate any
of the accused and the jailor by his affidavit
swears nothing to create the suspicion against
any of them. And l am Informed and believe
that the military detectives brought the accused
before the jailor and his wife, neither of whom
pretended to identify either of them.
7 The acts OF Congress under which Gen Candy
is acting, warrant him in regarding me hIs
subordinate; and if had anticipated the refer
ence to Gen Candy of my letter to you nigh
not have deemed it proper to use the terms " il
iquitous" and IS military despOtism,' but Vi NJ
reflection, am unable to perceive that they cnar
acterize too strongly the acts to which they re
ferred.
am extremely averse to controversy, and if
could have found in the acts of our military com
mandants any Of the sensible statesn apship which
has marked the conduct of Gen. Hancock nt
Earring would have occurred but would much
prefer peren! ptory dismissal from Off ce to silent
ly acquescing in what | regard as unnecessary
unwise and cruel military oppression.
have the honor 10 be,
Yours verysrespeCtf1lly,
JONATHAN WORTH,
Governor of n, G..