The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-27
WHEN MARTIAL LAW CAME.
Experience of Amateur COnspiratOrS
During the Civil War.
New York Sun.

New YORK sun.
Martial law has not yet been declared in
this country, and / reckon there will be no
occasion for it, said a man who had all
sorts of experiences in the civil war. Next
to being shot at, there is nothing that an
noys an American more than martial law.
1t was that which caused me 10 Ga into the
conspiracy TO smash the government.
In the town where ] lived in the West
during the civil war was a man who had
been my lawyer many years. He had won
his spurs in the Mexican war. He was a
colonel For a long time we did not Know
where he stood on the proposition to sep
arate the country But as he was noted for
his reticence we did not think 1t strange
and concluded that he was with us. his
Office was on the shady side Of the street,
and the first summer of the war found
row of tilted chairs, filled with Whittlers
cussin' the government, in front or his Of
fice Occasionally we would spring con-
stitutional point, and If we disagreed we
left it to Colonel Bassett. who sat at win
dow. After extracting the juice from a
select article Of natural leaf he would give
his decision, to wit: 1T depends, and when
he got through we dropped the point ana
zone day a SQUAD Differed by Dutch
barber of the place marched six men across
the town to headquarters. which was about
two miles from the business section. We
did not sprinkle the streets OF that town
during the war, and when the dry spell was
on the dust was ankle deep. ] was one or
the prisoners. When we reached our destina-
ton huddled together and exchanged
views. We had been taken from our bust
ness we had been removed from our homes.
Our rights had been outraged. We were
kept in condition of uncertainty until late
in the day. when we were told that we
were held on the charge of giving aid and
comfort to the enemies of the government.
We demanded lawyer and named Colonel
Bassett.
"'He is not likely to help you out re-
piled the officer. He has just been appointed
provost marshall
I'VE retired for consultation. We conclud-
ed to continue our bluff and demanded that
we be taken before the provost marshal.
This was conceded, and when we were be-
fore our od-time friend and lawyer, who
was still at work with his jaws. he said:
- i don't see what / can do for you fell
lows. l am the witness against you. For six
months you have worn out my office chairs.
whitfield the rounds and arms. and damned
the government, and frequently borrowed
my chewing tobacco.
But we demand our rights said the
man whom we had chosen to speak. We
demand to be released on habeas corpus,
that bulwark of -
Don't make fools of yourselves, gentle
men, said Colonel Bassett. The writ OF
are now under martial law
But you can't suspend the writ OF
habeas corpus said our speaker, without
invalidating the Constitution
THE colonel took a fresh cut on his nat
ural leaf and was silent while he was get
ting ii at the proper angle, after which he
said, 1t depends And he said IL so natur-
ally and in his old-time knowing way that
we gave in. Just how he got the conn
dence OF the government to secure his APP
pointment as provost marshal we never
knew. But he did practise martial law IN
that country for long time, IN way
which will never be forgot.