Enforcing the Monster’s Orders

Two-headed monster?

Southern Pennsylvania and Dubuque, Iowa

The first part of the following article is mostly an editorial in a southern Pennsylvania Democrat newspaper. Its opposition to the Lincoln administration’s orders against the discouragement of enlistment are very similar to an editorial in a Democrat paper in rural New York state. Both papers are concerned about the authorities punishing on the basis of allegations unproven in a court of law. This Pennsylvania editorial adds an interesting question: is the enforcement of the orders against discouraging enlistment actually discouraging enlistment?

From the Richmond Daily Dispatch September 6, 1862:

Northern Tyranny.

Dr. O[ld]s, a respectable gentleman of the interior of Pennsylvania, has been seized and sent to Fort Lafayette for the crime of frankly expressing his opinions of Lincoln’s administration, and thus throwing obstacles in the way of the recruiting service. He is of the Democratic persuasion, and, of course, hostile to Mr. L’s party. The Lancaster (Penn.)Eagle, of the 14th ult, thus alludes to the subject:

A question of interpretation?

Dr. Olds was dragged from his bed and the bosom of his family at half past 10 o’clock on Tuesday night, by Wm. Scott and other hired tools of the Lincoln unscrupulous and despotic administration. This high handed usurpation of power, “might against right,” cannot but arouse the indignation of all who are capable of appreciating its enormity. When the provisions of the Constitution and the laws made in pursuance thereof were the “supreme law of the land,” then it was the pride and glory of the freeman in this once happy land to cry aloud, no matter when or where, “I am an American citizen!” But how is it now, under the Lincoln dynasty? An American citizen is arrested at the mid hour of the night, the time at which all, or most all dark and damnable deeds are committed; and his appeal for his rights under the Constitution as an American citizen is treated with derision. All that is wanted to secure the arrest and incarceration of any citizen, is the lying affidavit of some slimy, foul-mouthed, cowardly hypocrite. Is this great wrong, this madness to continue? The kidnappers knocked at the front door and were admitted by Mr. Smith, Dr. Old[]s son in law. They insisted upon seeing Dr. Olds, when Mr. Smith remarked that he would notify him; they refused to await this decent and usual process, but rushed up stairs to his room and unceremoniously burst open the door. This procedure aroused the doctor, and he, probably thinking them assassins or robbers, made at them with the tongs, and finally clinched and floored one of them.

A large majority of the volunteers from this county now in the field are Democrats, and the same is true of the companies now being raised. And now we would ask the Republicans here — those who caused his arrest and those who applauded the out-rage — whether they are not in fact chargeable with, if not talking, at least with acting detrimental to the recruiting cause? If there is any force or virtue in Stanton’s late order upon this subject, should it not be enforced against such discouragers of volunteering, for discouraging they are, and they will not volunteer and fall into the ranks themselves.

The Democracy of Fairfield will be called upon to meet in mass meeting in this city at an early day to give expression in this matter. Bills will be circulated, and we hope that every Democrat will turn out.

Dubuque volunteering for the Union, April 1861

An editor in the West, of the Dubuque Herald, has undergone a similar process. The following is his address to his readers:

Dubuque, Aug. 14, 1862.

Readers of the Herald, and Fellow-Citizens of Iowa:

I have been arrested this morning by an arbitrary order from the War Department, on what grounds. I know not, except it be for the expression of my sentiments through the Herald–sentiments which, as true as God lives, I believe to be loyal to the Constitution of my country. I have only to commend my wife and children to your care and protection.

Your friend and fellow-citizen,

D. A. Mahoney.

Dennis A. Mahony was released from Washington D.C.’s Old Capitol Prison on November 11, 1862 after he swore allegiance to federal government and the Constitution. His The Prisoner of State was published in 1862 and dedicated to Secretary of War Stanton, the greatest of “the monsters which have been begotten by the demon of fanaticism which is causing our country to be desolated …”

The image of Dubuque from the May 25, 1861 issue of Harper’s Weekly is hosted at Son of the South