The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-09
A Little Bit of History.

A Little Bit Of History.
We put the following upon record. II
needs no comment:
How the sapreme Court or the United states
was shut Up for Day aud n Night.
by SCHUYLER Hamilton. formerly Ma'or-''enerai
OF Volunteers, United states Army.
II was in the early days Of the rebel
lion; the country was deeply agitated ;
mems minds were yexed with all sorts
OF questions. There were occasional
small incidents Of apparent interest.
A collateral descendant OF the Great
/ add WashingtOn-had
been captured in skirnish near
Fairfax Courthouse The writer was or
dered to examine into his case. Shakes
peare has said, whats in nameg" In
his ease there was something in name.
lie was deemed quite harmless, and there
fore il was decided because he bore the
name Of Washington that he should be set
free without parole. He was 30 set Tree.
I'm the mean time writ OF hd0edS corpus
had been served upon Licutenant-Gcneral
scott. General-in-C chief Of the armies OF the
United states, commanding him TO bring
before Justice Wayne, OF the supreme
Court OF the United States, q certain prl-
yatc Of the Third Wisconsin Regiment Of
Volunteers, at that time commanded
by Colonel Charles :. IIaInilton-no
kinsman Of the writer, but since
distinguished major-general, and since
the war United States marshal FOR the
southern District Of Wisconsin. The writ
Of hdbeds corpus was claimed upon the
ground that the President, under the Con-
stitutiOn Of the United states, had the night
TO call out the militia Of neighboring states
10 suppress instruction or rebellion, but
no constitutional right to call out volun-
teers. IL YVES a vital question. II well
founded the Union. in it, hour OF eXtrc-
nifty, was bercit If defenders. Returning
from the duty indicated above the writer
found Edwin NJ. stanton clOseted with
General scott. served with the writ, Gene
raj scott had il sent 10 President Lincoln. y
Cabinet council was Immediately summon
ed. Mr.. stanton was ordered to be retained
a. LEGAL counsel for General Scott. When
the writer arrived IN their presence an
answer had been returned 10 the writ.
Rejecting upon the matter, Mr.. stanton
aud General scott agreed that the return
made bv them was not what il should have
been.
Colonel. il your horse saddledY"
"Only needs his bits, General"
"Mounta t once. Take Sergeant Walters
with YOU. lie saw the man TO whom the
return 10 the writ was given. Arrest him
Al all hazards. WTest the return 10 the
writ from him. Use violence II neces-
sary."
On An IMPORTANT ERRAND.
Soon we were speaking down Pennsyl-
yania avenue. Within half block from
WIZARDS Hotel the Sergeant, bit Hurried,
had pointed out half dozen men as the
identical man with the return 10 the writ
II habeQS corpus. 1t was apparent that.
two men could not arrest all or half OF the
men on PENNSYLVANIA avenue. II was re-
membered by chance that Mr.. Carol, clerk
Of the supreme Court OF the United states.
was an ardent supporter ~ the Union.
spurs were not spared. The supreme
q ourt Office, on Capitol Hill, was soon
reached. Mr.. Carol WAS within. Asked
If a return TO such and such writ had
been placed on file, he replied in the mega
five. Asked If any paper could 90 on Tile
without his approval or endorsement, he
likewise replied in the negative. He was
asked if he could not give special orders
that none should 20 on file without his
written endorsement. Having been fully
advised OF the situation, he was requested
To- be suddenly taken quite unweil, and in
formed that fine carriage was at the loot
OF the steps. 4 lunch and mounted
guard and day Sin the country" would
certainly cure his indisposition.
GENERAL SCOTT DELIGHTED.
Mfr. Carol cheeTfully assented. The
necessary orders were given by him 10 the
officials in his office. The mounted guard
were ordered, on pain Of death, 30 allow
no one % approach the carriage containing
Mr. Carrot. II was, perhaps, III a. VI.
We stretched away TO the Rock river
country. meandered here and there. and
Mr.. Carol was not at his home until the
sun had set for half an hour. Returning
10 General SCOTS residence We found that
he was not there; he was still at the Office.
When the writer appeared he was IN fine
rage.
- Where have You been, sir, all day:
sent YOU to-day on, perhaps, the most i'm
portant duty | ever sent you upon, and
here it Is long after sunset and have had
no report from YOU. What have You been
doing, siry Have you the return TO the
writ / sent you 10 recover ~
- have not the return, General
What have you been doingt"
.'Only closing the supreme Court OF the
United States, General
Narrating what is stated above, the
General clapped his hands and laughed
with glee.
eco TO Mr.. Stanton and ask him 10 do
me the favor TO meet me here at once
NR. LISCoLN's COMMENT.
SIR. Stanton came. think Mr.. Carol.
who lived ~ the corner Of Seventeenth and
r streets. was summoned also. The con-
recied return was shortly placed in the
hand, Of the writer, with orders to submit
ID 20 President Lincoln and state what had
been done and execute his orders in the
premises. MIR. Lincoln called il - the cap
ture of the Supreme Court" and, APPROX
ing the proposed corrected return, ordered
il 10 boz carried 10 Secretary Seward. He
was always on duty al those times, night
and day. He was IN his Office. Arch
bishop Hughes, a most devoted son OF the
Roman Catholic Church and of the Union,
was with him. Mr.. seward said they had
had an anxious day, and requested the
writer 10 take the corrected return. with a
note. TO which an answer was requested by
bearer. TO Mr.. Justice Wayne, Of the United
states supreme Court. The papers were
delivered 20 Justice Wayne and m answer
was returned. The President had full
constitutional right to call for volunteers
A. part Of the militia. The writer never
saw the opinion. by request Of Mr. Sew
ard he conveyed il % President Lincoln
first, and then 10 General Scott and Mr..
stanton. and, by Mr.. Stewards request, re-
turned il into his hands i'm the State De-
r,arfInnnf A nllasallAf-nar a nnIirhIfnI--