The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1897-05-22

Guard House beng used to accommodate a
great number of them. He then went to see
the President, to advise him of the condition
Of affairs. and to ascertain if something could
not be done to find shelter for the soldiers,
who were totally disorganized. President
Lincoln evidently appreciated the situation,
and suggested his seeing General Mansfield,
next in command to General Scott, which he
promptly did.
The conversation with General Mansfield
resulted in the organization of mounted
military patrol, which was placed in charge of
Lieutenant Elwood, of the army, it being un-
derstood that this guard would keep the SOL
diers in order, while the Mayors police kept
peace among the citizens. This scheme work
ed admirably, but it soon became obvious that
Lieutenant ElwOod must provide quarters for
such persons as he found it necessary to ar
rest, and upon Mayor Berret's suggestion,
what was then known as the ''Old Capitol,
was rented by the government and converted
into the capitol Prison, where men of all
classes were detained by order of the Secre-
tary of War. Under such conditions as these,
the Mayors Office was a very trying one, not
withstanding the close personal and Official
relations between himself and the President.
After such meetings as had occurred be-
tween Mayor Berret and President Lincoln,
President, it could hardly be supposed that
the Mayor was so soon to be arrested on the
charge of disloyalty; and yet, on the 25th of
August, 1861, at midnight, his house was sur
rounded by military guard and he was
placed Gnder arrest and order to accompany
the officers to New York.
His first thought was that the whole thing
was a Joke, and that before he reached Balti-
more, certainly before reaching New York,
the whole affair would be explained to him,
and he would see through the joke, but it was
not long before he realized that it was very
serious matter-an unwarranted. and unjustl-
fable attack against a man who had done
nothing TO justify such treatment of himself.
The detectives, in whose charge he was
placed, told him that they had not the slight
est conception of the nature of the charges
and specifications by which he was arrested,
their only orders received being to the effect
that they should arrest him and deliver him
into the hands of the Chief of Police New
York, without delay.
Arriving in New York, he was taken to the
Office of the Chief of Police, Mr.. Kennedy,
who was once Chief of Police in Baltimore,
and an old friend of the Mayor, but while Mr..
Kennedy had been apprised of the arrest, and
was expecting his arrival, he knew no more
about the cause of it than the detectives.
After remaining in New York during the
night, he was taken to Fort Hamilton, and
delivered to Colonel Burke, then in command
of the Fort, with an order from the War De-
partment, dated August 25, 1861, which read
as follows:
''Messrs. Elder and Wilson will deliver to
you prisoner of State, to be held in custody
until further orders.
SIMON CAMERON,
Secretary of War.
Mayor Berret was received with courtesy by
Col. Burke, and after the usual ceremony OBJ
served in such cases, was transferred to Fort
Lafayette, theG. in charge of Lieutenant Wood,
where his reception was also very courteous and
kind. After accounting for, and turning over to
Lieutenant Wood, the valuables in his posses
sion, consisting of watch and some gold
coin, he was conducted TO a casemate, where
he fc und for companions Mr.. Charles Howard,
Mr.. William H. Gatchell and Mr.. John w.
Davis, Police Commissioners for the City of
Baltimore, and Mr.. Andrew jackson Smith,
of Virginia Mr. George P. Kane, of Balti-
more, and Mr.. Richard Ii. Alvey, young
lawyer from Hagerstown, Maryland, who has
since filled the Office of Chief Justice of the
Court of Appeals of Maryland and is at present
Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals of the
District of Columbia, in both of which posi-
tions he has attained great eminence as a jurist.
After remaining in prison for twenty one
days, Mayor Berret was released through the
President, by order of Secretary William H.
Seward.
1t is proper to state that when incarcerated
he was treated with considerate kindness
through the courtesy ofthe officers in command
of both Forts. The order for his release
caused him to be brought again into the pres
ence of Colonel Burke, from whom he re-
ceived pleasant hospitality in the form of
whisky toddy.
His release was conditional upon his resig-
nation of the office of Mayor, which condition
he accepted, and from Fort Hamilton ad
dressed a proper letter of resignation to the
Board of Aldermen and Common Council of
the City of Washington.
The next day Col. Berret returned to his
home in Washington, where he found upon his
arrival bouquet of large proportions, accom-
panied by the cards of President and Mrs.
Lincoln. which he acknowledged by personal
call the next morning.
He found the President in his office, with
Secretary Seward, by both of whom he was
received with great cordiality, and Mr.. Lin
coin, taking occasion to express his deep and
earnest regret at the great wrong that had been
done. stated with much feeling, that it would
be a source of regret to him as long as he
lived, and offered any reparation in his power,
TO which Col Berret replied:
''You cannot correct the wrong, Mr.. Presi
dent, because you cannot recall the past"
Quite a lengthy conversation followed, in
which Mr.. Seward protested, and seemed to
share in the Presidents regret at what had
been done, and the interview ended with re-
quest from Mr.. Seward that Col. Berret would
call at the State Department next day, as he
desired to have some further conversation with
him.
He accordingly called, and found Mr.. Sew
ard very agreeable, and somewhat demonstra-
tive in his professions of esteem and conf
dence, and during the conversation, the sec
retary suggested his employment by the
Government in II military capacity, with the
full rank of Colonel, and assignment to duty
on the Staff of General Mcclellan, then Com
mander-in- clief of the Army. To this propo-
sition, Col Berret replied that he had no
taste for the life of soldier, and less capacity.
so tnat in the future he would be content IN
the position of private citizen.
Later on, in November, 1861, Col. Berret
made personal call upon Mr.. Lincoln, who
alluded to the removal of his brother from
position in the Boston Custom House, and re-
marked:
81 think that must be corrected, and will
give YOU a letter to the Collector of the Port
about the matter" and turning to his desk,
he wrote the following and handed it to him
for transmission:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Nov. 49, 1851.
Hon j. L. Goodrich Collector etc. Boston, Mass.
My DEAR SIR Joseph II. Berret. brother OF the
Mayor here, of the same name, (Berrep was
wefgher in your office, and has been removed. |
understand. ] regretted this when first heard it,
because Mr. Blair had given some sort OF assurance
that the removal would not be made but more es-
pecially because of what has happened with the
Mayor here / never having believed that he was
disioval You will now oblige me very greatly. II
YOU can and will return him, fiud some place for
him equally eligible. Please try TO do TINS Tor
am greatly in earnest about it, Yours truly,
President Lincoln on the 10th of April,
1862, sent Col. Berrets nomination to the
Senate as one of the Co lmissioners for the
Abolition of Slavery in the District of Colum-
bia. to which the latter replied the next day,
as follows
WASHINGTON, April II, 1862
DEAR SIR II beg to express to you my thanks for
the Kindness which you have done me in sending
to the Senate, without the slightest knowledge or
expectation of it on my part, my nomination as
Commissioner under the law recently enacted for
the abolition of slavery in this District.
This public recognition constitutes for me vim
dication the value OF which only beappreeiated
by those who have known what 1t IS to endure
most grevious and unmerited wrong Since my re-
lease from Fort Lafayette it has been one ot my
chief consultations to know for myself with absolute
certainty, that you considered my imprisonment 70
have been wholly undeseryed. My nomination 10
the Senate now attests this fact to the whole coun
try. 1t is enough; again thank you.
Ii only remains to say that l cannot accept the
Office which You tender me. do not approve me
law under which the Office is created and its judi
cal duties could not be performed by me to my en-
tire satisfaction, in conformity with these proyl