The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-03-25
A Question That Concerns Every
American Citizen.

American Citizen.
A resolution comes up for discussion In
the Senate OF the United States TO-DAY
which concerns every American citizen II
grows out of the recent arrest. In the city
OF Washington, of Mr.. BENJAMIN MOVES and
his extradition to New Jersey. Mr.. NoYEs
IL citizen of Connecticut, and the rcsolu-
ton OF inquiry into the circumstances Of his
arrest was introduced into the Senate 10y
Mr.. EATON of that state.
1t is charged that Mr.. MOVES was kid
mapped, and this charge seems TO be fully
warranted 10y the facts as they are stated in
the different accounts Of the affair.
The Washington RcpuJiicdn-which we
suppose to be an unbiased authority
snvs Mr.. NoyEs was arrested ~ ..il.;pnt
on Monday, March H. lie had retired 10 bed,
and was aroused from sleep by hearing raps
ON his chamber door. Although all I'M
dressed he opened the door, when in walked
three men, who proved to be an officer
named LAN6 from Newark. n j., and De-
tcctivcs McDEvIrr and McELrREsn of
Washington City. LANG. addressing Mr..
MOVES. said " The Governor Of New Jersey
wants YOU" Mr.. MOVES replied: " Vhe..e
are your papers p They are all right
Said LANG. 81 hare a right TO see the papers
on Which am arrested demanded Mf.
MOVES. Detective McDEvITr, throwing
open his coat and vest so as TO expose a
shield, pointed to that and said: This H. all
that is necessary" Mr.. MOVES asked for
time and permission to see his counsel but
was hurried of to Police Headquarters I'M
der a promise that every facility should
there be afforded him to consult counsel
md friends. On arrival at headquarters,
however, McDEvIrT refused to send for
counsel, although Mr.. NoYEs renewed his
request, and offered to pay the Expense Of q
carriage for the purpose. McDevIrr said
II was then too late but that Mr.. MOVES
would not be taken from the city before
the half-past one p. NJ. train, and there
would be time enough to see counsel in the
morning. The prisoner was then locked up
Tor the night.
In the morning McDEvTTr did not appear,
but Officer LANG came to the cell, and in
response to the protestatfons OF Mr.. MOVES
against the treatment he was receiving,
LANG replied that he mi ht as we'll be frank,
and said: You are not going TO see counsel
or friends. am going to take you TO New
Jersey, ard you are NOT going to get o,a any
,rrit Of hdbeds corpus" When the time for
the train 10 leave arrived, Mr. MOVES was
told that II he went with them quietly 1t
would be all right. but II he tried to rebel he
NOuld be hdndcuftd and placed in irons Mr.
MOVES was removed to New Jersey by com
pulsion and force, and under this terrible
threat, without any opportunity to consult
his counsel or even to communicate with
them or either Of them, and consequently
without any opportunity to test the legality
OF his arrest and his transportation through
the territory Of three States into that Of a
fourth, by means Of the Great Writ OF Right,
the Habeas Corpus, the privilege Of which
the Constitution Of the United States de-
clares shall not be suspended unless in cases
OF rebellion or invasion. Practically its
privilege was suspended in this case. almost
under the shadow OF the dome Of the Capitol,
by an ignorant, wilful, brutal Sherlfrs OIL
cor. In defiance Of the Constitution and the
law. An examination Of the court records
Showed that the warrant for Mr.. NoYRs's
arrest was not issued until ten hours after
the minions Of oppression who aroused him
from his slumber had taken him into GUS
tody.
shadow be less-was the only Senator to
open his lips in extenuation of the conduct
Of these officers. "The charge has been
made" he said that Mr.. MOVES was
treated cruelty by the officers Eren if his
Nere true IL is not a subject for The Senate 10
Investigate"
Does Mr. HoAR reflect that this occurrence
took place in the District OF Columbia, which
Is under the exclusive legislative control OF
Congress? Let such an outrage happen in
my part Of Great Britain and the attention
of the Government would be promptly called
to 1t In Parliament. But then the British
Parliament is not above the protection OF
personal rights, as the pert Senator from
Massachusetts, seems TO consider himself.
The question Of the innocence or guilt Of
Mr.. MOVES OF the charges preferred against
him Is neither here nor there, SO far as the
act Of kidnapping him is concerned, and is
not to be considered in connection with it,
The rights-the most precious rights of
every citizen Of the United States have
been violated in the person Of BENJAMIN
MOVES.