The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1883-08-15


their ignorance OF Jefierson's though. i'm
their Interpretation Of it. His letters abound
IN dennnclation Of his very kind who thus
pisce The common huckster's estimate upou
human character He has been quoted ex-
tensiyely by the Republican press OF late as
tayorlDg protection; YET 10 student can fail
70 discover thst whatever be NAV have
written upon tbat subject seeming to favor
protective tariff, was merely with the Dur-
pose TO prepare the way for The reaiizatiOn OF
bis intense oesire 70 isolate America as ef =
feetually as China. Tine aud again ne ex-
pressed the wish that AmeuCa would RELY
exclusively on her own resources, always
JuslliyiRg this position by graphic pictures
oI the social add pOiit cal corruption that
oyeTwheime0 the commercial Natons q
kUIope. lie believed thai cur liberties ana
tho Mon would have the broad
est security in national poifr-
tending 20. the development OF Ggr.cg
tU1al pUnUiis, and hs ides Of hones5v ana
c2pa0iuty in private as well rs pub. e lrre
was illustrated in le;tsr 10 Cent dc Y Il
geuree, dispujng the claim Of an + lg'ish
carnage manufacturer = the invention cf
The circumference Of q wheel, made from a
single piece OF wood In his lette- 10 the
Count relnsrking upOn the statement thst
the all6 gsd English inventor vas "a farmer."
and thai BE got the idea from the ancient
Greeks, JeueisOn wrote that the statement
was absurd. The only farmers be said.
who can read Homer ara American farm
ers." The intellect and genius of his dav
were 10 be found among the producers, not
amorg money-grabbers among gentlemen
OF honor; not among psalm.snging hypo-
critics who contributed renee 10 Peter on
Sunday IS cloak to their robbery Of Paul
on Monday. Honesty" aud capacity
meant what the terUs implied in Jeffer-
sens day. They are the hobbies upou
which Star Route thieves and other rogues
ride into power with the ? sudits Of Chris
tlsn statesmen who aIe the benefciaries of
their iniamies, in ours
/ heard to-day a very interesting story
about distinguished Indiana Colonel's at
tempts 20 ESCAPE from Libby Prison which
has not been printed and ought to be- He
had been in Libby for many months and all
Of his applications for exchange had been
fruitless. Tskirg into his confidence six
ether officers of intelligence and pluck. lie
pTopcs G plan of ESCAPE which vas ac-
cepted az eniiTely feasible by all, and thev at
once began operations, When sbOutresching
the point where it seemed probable that they
would win freedom they were discovered.
after undergoing the punishment usual in
such cases, and letting n reasonable time
elapse, they began sgain, only 10 meet an
other disappointment. This time. however
the Indiana Colonel believed he had positive
proofs that one of the number had bstrayed
their purpose 10 the guards. He called
together all but the suspect ed one, and al
midnight, in corner cf the room remote
= from The eusrds they met and organized
Court Martial. conducting the PROCEEDINGS
IN whispers. The Indiana Colonel was made
Judge Advocate and submitted his proofs
0S the tas&chsry OF his accused ceineaas.
which were overwhelming. Not one Of the
members of the Court doubted the guilt OF
the accused. When the Judge Advocate
asked each one 10 give in his verdict, the Te
spoIse was given in a whisper, "Gailly.n
The crime Of which this man had been
guilty, under military Law, was thst Of a spy
ard traitor. The penalty is desth-ignO-
minious death-death on the ssAOws by
slFangulstion,
"Thisis Court Martial organized underthe
military laws of the United States" said the
Judge Advocate, "and you have djudged the
accused guilty. We must carry oat your
verdict and l vote the extreme penalty,
which is death by strengulatiOn." Turning
10 the man on his left he asked: "HoY do
you vote"
"Fcr death to the traitor" was the whis-
pered response.
How Go you vo,e%' said the Colonel to
The man on his right.
For death to the traitor he replied
scarcely above his breath.
And 60 the vote was polled until FIVE OF the
six had black-balled the offender to the glib
bet.
The sixth was a Philadelphia Colonel, vino
had the Quaker instinct for fair play and
holy horror for the rugged side of justice that
prevails even 10 this day in the West.
How do you vcte?' Tepest ed the Colonel
from Indiana
i vote no" said the Philadelphia Colonel.
I'VE aIe not an organized Court under the
military laws Of the United States We are
prisoners, without power over our own
moV6o snts, and agree as 70 tue guilt OF this
man as g basis for presenting him FOR trial
by Conrt Martial when lie and any cne OF Us
shall Re released"
While be was giving this opinion he no
;iced that The Indiana Colonel was tKirling
fCmetbine in his hands, white enough 10 be
sseD IN the moonlight. and, leaning over, ne
asked
Colonel. what have you In ycur hands?"
"a rcpe, replied the HoOsier Colonel Il
msGe i from strips torn from my might
Shirts. Come, row" be c-ntinued "it IS
folly fer you TO object. Five of us have
voted desth to the traitor, and / intend 10
execute he veidict-"
Turning 10 the man on his right grea
muscular Irish Lieutenanl, he szid: "You
will help me, won't youg
Yes, said the lIishmaD.
Surely you would not strangle the man
in bis sleep?' exclaimed the Philadelphia
Colonel.
The answer vas given il the stealthy
movement o. the Self-appllnted eAecutlouere
toward the pallet where their victim lay al
UNCONSCIOUS or the danger that threatened
him.
But the Quaker Colonel's place in the
Council was nearest TO the poor wretch, and
crawling rapidly 10 his side be declared 10
his comrades that he would snfier death
rather than let q human bsiug be suffJcsted
in his sleep. Knowing the determined
character of the men and that any
disturbance would result in further exteu-
sion Of their term of imprisonment, they re-
tired, literally breathing-for they dared not
speak aloud-vengesnce on the Quaker Colo
nel as well es the intended victim. But the
Quaker Colonel was man Of nerve, and he
watched until morning by the side Of the
man whose doom had been pronounced
With the first stresks Of daylight be awaken
ed the man whose life he had saved. and told
him the fate from which he had been res
cued. Il could not see you smothered TO
death in your Sleep" said he; "but, you in
famous wretch, warn you now that / will
not protect you another time, and advise you
to Get out OF this room to-day. | tell you.
further, IL I should meet you within our
lines, both Of US free, would prefer charges
against you, and if Court Martial failed 10
convict you, would shoot you on sightW
The Indiana Colonel afterward escaped on
his sixth trial for liberty. The Pennsylvania
Colonel is the reconteur OF my story. The
spy and traitor skulked through the remain
ing years of the War aud lives today a
\ L.