The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-17
ARRESTS DURING THE A
THE SEIZURE or THE MARYLAND
LEGISLhTORS IN 1901.

LEoIsLATORS ~ 1901.
II Was Imputed 90 Gen. NfeCisinn a IN.
Chicago Convention OF Ie0A-Hi. Friend.
Denied Hts Share IN It-Hut the Or,atn. n,
or Ills Letter Has Bees Found.
Absolute freedom in criticism-eve denunci-
ptlon-of public officials from the President
down, and a personal liberty unknown in other
parts of the world. were distinctive features
of American political life when tho re-
bclllon broke out in 1861. All this
was changed suddenly by the secession
Of the cotton States and the bombardment
OF Fort sumter. A state Of war prevailed.
and that considerable element at the North
which sympathized with the South and opposed
coercive measures for the suppression of the ro-
bellion, aided and abetted by a number OF infu-
entail newspapers. was shocked to discover that
II was very unpopular even mildly TO crlticise
MT. Lincoln's Administration and that openly
10 oppose the measures Of his Government for
carrying on the war was DANGEROUS.
The opponents Of the war found themselves
confronted at once by a spirit on the part Of
the masses, Republicans and Democrats alike.
which would not tolerate any action calculated
10 obstrucLM Mr.. Lincoln's efforts to restore the
Union. Fraternity ceased between friends and
enemies OF the Government, and certain kinds
OF free speed imperilled the personal safety OF
the citizen, and sometimes his life. Seditious
newspapers were suppressed By the military
forces or found their mail facilities denied BY the
Post Ofhco Departments: individuals. perslsting
IN the long ~practised habit of denounc-
ing governmental measures they did not
like. were stiRmatized AZ public enemies
and Copperheads, and some of the moro
violent were arrested and thrown into
prison. Fine-spun appeals for tho "constitu-
tional " right of free speech and the liberty OF
the press were brushed'aside as rubbish in the
universal zeal to save the Union. All the forms
of law which interfered with this determination
were trampled upon or became a dead letter
upon the statute books. The writ Of habeas
corpus was suspended. and political prisoners
oftcntimes remained for months without a hear
ing or knowing the nature of the charges against
them. 1t was n remarkable innovation In a
liberty loving country like ours.
The open secessionists In the border States
soon fed to the Confederate lines. But there
still remained a considerable and an influential
element which, while processing, Cni"n senti-
ments, really sympathiZed with the South, hid
Ing behind the prctence or a conscientious oppo-
sitioh to the war, on constitutional grounds.
but were the media for the transmission Of in
iGrmatioPrn and supplies to the enemy in
the most effective manner by discoun-
eouraEing sedltion, bridge burning, and train
wrecking., The civil and military authorities
ing agents for Prices army. the actual bridge
burners and guerrillas in Missouri, for instance, |
arrest and Imprisonment, and even taking OF
In the more fragrant cases, SO with the same
reach the more influential persons who secretly
aided and abetted these and yet asserted their
loyalty was a different matter.
Quite early several important arrests were
made. Among the persons arrested were
France; George W. Jones OF Iowa, Minister to TO
Bogota, r. II. stanton OF Kentucky. an ex-Mem-
prominent during the border troubles in Kan
sas; the Hon. Henry May. a member Of Con-
William NJ. Gwin. and Calhoun Benham of Cal
lfornia. James W.. Wall. a prominent editor and
Jersey; Pierce Butler OF Philadelphia. Gov.
Charles s.. Morehead of Kentucky. Richard H..
mission, and many others equally prominent.
These were political arrests. pure and simple.
t %ens we're we mads By oraer "e ef miiita many Go3 ol
manders. This class Of arrests, was not con-
aned to the border States. Malcontents were
Arrests were made IN far;away Maine; in
nois, everywhere. Persons We're arrested on the
h hiSh se s.s,s and @ob twT p persons Tsd,z Nh sn. Tnn sta $ be eI-
master Myers OF the confedepate p pn1 nes
Sumter, were arrested at Tangier, Africa. in the
SSmos Gs i o5 sni the sprP %i5sa St STATES MsFS esn.a ~ s M5i
In spite of the protests OF all the other foreign
S SGRsRts at . .hns p9r war he a Rd' . them them on o TO- FaI q
Warren. These high-handed proceedings show
Dc se% moss ssaS 4 The stat" names 1t var "a M,,I pus army even and q
navy officers from ths South who rendered their
summariiy stricEenk from the rolls. and this s are
ton vas generally followed by an order for
their arrest. This all happened in the first year
Of the war.
Yet the Government. in pursuing this neces-
sary policy OF repression; did not push its power
of its hrmest supporters IN the ranks OF the radi-
cal Union men. IL declined to arrest very many
obnoxious obstructionists who were denounced
20 II on strong evidence as traitors and Copper
heads. Some of the most influential men in New
Y prk pity nf both nDlticat nnrtinS StrpDnOnslv
both Fernando and Bon Wood, but no notion
paper. the New York DALI NeTs. Which was
vlrulently assailing every war act OF the Ad-
OPPOSITION to the Union cause not one was pun
ished farther than to be kept in confinement
passed. or he was willing to take the oath OF
allegiance or give a solemn parole that he would
not oppose the Government during the war.
After Mr.. Lincoln's inauguration the menac-
ing attitude of an irreconcilable secession cle-
Government. Maryland was in the rear OF the
national capital, across the line o.. it's commune
practically controlled the politics OF the State.
and,it was quite apparent that four.ifths Of the
city's official machinery was entirely in the
hands OF the southern sympathizers. and the
city 10 the defence OF Washington, Its leading
ton authorities that no Union troops could pass
through Baltimore without being attacked. The
ment was porforce convinced very early that
the strong arm of national power only could
prevent the formal secession OF this state. 1t
saw, or thought it saw, on every hand evil
dences of conspiracy with this object In view.
Those under suspicion generally denied all sym
pathy with the rebellion. yet admitted that
they were opposed to tho prosecution of the
war, setting up the usual constitutional argu-
ments in support of these antagonistic views.
10 prevent accidents. tho Union authorities oc-
cupled Annapolis, Relay junction, Baltimore,
and other points in Maryland with overpower-
ing columns Of troops, and inaugurated a rigor-
Gus system OF repression by the arrest OF many
important, persons who were more than sus-
pected; of disloyalty.
The vigor with which IL acted took its enc
mics by surprise. A thunderclap out of a clear
sky. as IL were. was the arrest on the 27th OF
June. 1861, of the baltimore Marshal OF Police,
George T.. Kane. Kane was thought to be the
executive arm OF the conspirators who aimed
to take Maryland out OF tho Union. His arrest
was followed by that of tho Baltimore Police
Commissioners. Messrs. Charles Howard. VIM.
II Gntchell. and John w. Davis on the morning