The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-01-22
Hon. MONTGOMERY BLAIR AND Hon


HoN. MONTGOMERY BLAIR AND Hon.
b. G. HARRIS. St. Mary's Beacon
contains lengthy communication from
Hon. B. G. Harris in reply to one pub
lishel by Hon. Montgomery Blair, in
which he (Mr. Blnir) referred to services
be rendered to the South and citizens
Of Maryland, whilst in the Cabinet OF
President Lincoln, during tho War, aud
his having been instrumental in having
tue members of the Maryland Legisla-
ture released who were arrested and i'm
prisoned in 1861, and through whose
efforts Mr.. Harris, when subsequently a
member Of Congress from the fifth
district, was also liberated after he had
been arrested and tried by military
court martial ip Washington and con.
victed Of giving two parolcd Confede.
rates a dollar each. Mr.. Harris denies
that it vas through the efforts of Mr.
Blair that he was liberated, nor did he
present or procure any of the af1i 1avits
aud evidence which operated upon Pre-
sident Johnson's mind und caused his
liberation; but, Mr.. Harris says, his
lifelong friend, John a. Camalier, pro
curol th. ailiduvits, aud Judge L. W.
Grain stood by him and was of the
grentcst benefit during his arraignment
Mr.. Harris admits that Mr.. Blair did
give Mr.. Carnalicr letter, upon his ap-
p!cation. to President johnson, so that
lie might lay before him tho aHiduvits
referred to, showing the unreliability OF
the testimony against him. MIR. uurris
says that after tho remission Of the sen
tence by President Johnson anu his re-
lease he received an invitation from the
President to dine with him ut the
White House, to which he replied as
follows:
FEBRUARY ii. 1S57.--SlE: lam in
receipt Of your invitation to dine with
you on Tuesday night. l am tho same
member Of Congress who was arrested
at home in the mi1st Of his family,
brought to this District, nrraigncd be-.
fore II court martial. convicted and sen.
tonced to the penitentiary for three
years. 1t Is unnecessary to say, that the
charge upon the testimony would have
died III any grand ju:y room since the
days of Jenfeys; nor can think for Il
moment that 1t required decision Of
the Supreme Court to establish that the
tribunal before which WAS arruigued
had not the lcnst constitutional power
TO try member Of Congress or any
other civilian. This was ali duno With
your assent, and almost in Jour pre-
senrc. 1oa approved of the finding
aud the senteuc. of this tribunal, but
'remitted the sentence in consequence
Of some affidavits which some friends
were enabled-almost by accident-to
procure. affecting the character of the
prosecuting witnesses. Except for that,
my fa:e was fixed. A great and gross
net Of injustice and oppression has been
accomplished in my person, and I have
too much regard for the clearly estab-
Iished rights Of my fellow-citizens to in
dicate that 1 aoquiesce in such conduct.
L shall, therefore, continue to recollect
the degradation designed for me, but
chiefly shall scarcely ever forget the
tears of anguish which my illegal arrest
and trial caused in my humble home
and family.
Under these circumstances, 1 must
decline to break bread with you Your
obedient servant, B. G.. HARRIS"