did see this one person, I was taken from my room down into the office, in the same building, and then there was an officer drawn up between me and the person that came to see me, to hear our conversation. This officer would allow nothing of any ac count concerning my case to be said. I was allowed one quarter of an hour to hold my conversation. My letters which I received were examined by three or four parties, then stamped on the back and approved by the Provost-Marshal before I received them, and brought to me open. Those I sent out were examined by every officer about the prison; if the letters suited them they were left pass, if not, they were sometimes returned back and sometimes not. I remained in this Old Capitol Prison about six weeks.

I was then with 6 others taken by the Superintendent to the Judge Advocate. The Judge asked me if I was a drinking man. I told him I generally drank when I felt like it. He said the reason he asked me was because he understood that I said 150 men couldn't take me. He then asked me if I did say so? I will, I replied, tell you what I said. I said that if I was drafted, that it would take 150 such monkeys as you (Mr. Burns) to take me, for I had made up my mind not to fight for this Administration, for I considered myself a Constitutional Union man, and was willing to fight to carry out the laws and the Constitution, but not to fight to carry out the laws that these people are trying to make. The Judge Advocate then asked me if I belonged to any secret Political Order? I told him no. He asked if I would take the Oath of Allegiance. I told him I was a Democrat, and as such owed allegiance already to the Government. He then said he was

a Democrat himself. I told him if he was to let me hear the Oath, which he did not do. He then said to me that I would have to give a Bond for $5000.

I asked him what the bond was for, he said to keep the peace. I then told him that I had never broken the peace yet and would not give any bond to that effect. I told him I would go back to the Old Capitol Prison again, because I wanted a trial to know why I was taken from my family and imprisoned. He then said to me that I appeared like a very good natured sort of a man, he didn't think that I would do any one an injury. So he discharged me.

Yours truly,

JOHN APPLE.

ARREST OF AQUILA R. ALLEN, JOHN H. WISE AND THEIR INCARCERATION IN THE OLD CAPITOL BY ORDER OF GEN. WADSWORTH, MILITARY GOVERNOR OF WASHINGTON.

IN the District of Columbia, where the fugitive slave law has always been enforced when occasion required, the great number of fugitives from the State of Maryland made it necessary for the Circuit Court to appoint Commissioners to issue writs and decide upon claims These writs, when issued, were directed to officers of the Court, "Constables," to serve. Before the Commissioners could issue a a writ the claimant had to make oath to his loyalty, and that he has not bore arms against the United States in the present rebellion nor in any way given aid to the rebels. After the writ was returned with the fugitive before the Commissioners, they examined proofs of the claim, and if it was found to be just, the fugitive was restored to his or her

master.

Mr. Thomas E. Berry, of Prince George County, Maryland, having lost a number of his slaves, and learning that they were in the city of Washington, applied to Commissioner Phillipps for a writ, and upon his taking the oath required of him, the writ was issued and directed to Aquila R. Allen, a regularly bonded officer. In the discharge of his duty, Mr. Allen arrested the fugitive and carried him be

fore the Commissioner. The claimants' rights being proven, the fugitive was restored to his master. On the 11th day of August, 1862, three days after these matters had transpired, Mr. Allen and Mr. John H. Wise, another Constable (who was mentioned in the writ to aid Mr. Allen,) was arrested by a file of soldiers by order of this law-loving Governor, Wadsworth, and taken before him. Messrs. Allen and Wise wished to show by what authority they acted, and presented their papers for that purpose; when this honorable! gentlemanly! estimable candidate for the high position of Governor of New York, treated them with contempt, at the same time candidly confessing his ignorance by saying "I am no lawyer," and his disregard of legal rights, by adding, "And don't care anything about the laws," and immediately sent them both to the Old Capitol Prison. They remained in prison for doing their duty eleven days, without a trial, or any opportunity of showing that they had done no more than their official oath and bonds compelled them to do.

On the 22nd day of August following, this despotical Governor, without giving them hearing, sent an officer to the prison and released them charging them that thereafter if they captured a fugitive they should notify his High Mightiness Wadsworth, within twenty-four hours after the ar

rest.

On the 10th day of September following, a writ was issued by Commissioner Phillipps, upon the oath of N. M. McGregor, of Prince George County, Maryland, and it was directed to Mr. Allen, who served the writ, returned the fugitive before the Commissioner, and immediately notified his High Mightiness as required upon his release from prison On the 13th day of September, Mr. Allen was again arrested by order of this honorable, law abiding

law enforcing Military Governor, and without a hearing, confined in prison until the 27th day of said month. The friends of Mr. Allen applied to Wadsworth to know what he was charged with, and Wadsworth informed them, "there was no charge against him," but still kept Allen confined in prison. It is well enough here to say that after their first release, Allen and Wise entered suit against Wadsworth, laying their damages at $30,000. If there was no charge against Allen, the question arises in the mind of every thinking man, does not the imprisonment indicate a mean revengeful feeling.

Loyal Citizens of Washington who are not tinctured with Wadsworth's political prejudices have argued thus: It is the duty of an executive officer to see that the laws of the land are strictly enforced. Every honest Governor will always applaud subordinates for the faithful discharge of their duties. But Governor Wadsworth did not applaud these subordinates, but imprisoned them. The conclusion is very plain. Every Governor should know the laws, and be careful and prompt to execute them. An ignoramus and a tyrant will neither know the laws or care for them. The people of Washington thought and think that if any thing worthy of imprisonment was done it was the Commissioners that did it, and they should have been arrested, not their subordinates: and the fact that Wadsworth did not order their arrest, and selected the humble subordinates as the marks of his indignation, goes far to convince them that he would allow the wealthy principal in crime to escape, and punish the poor man, no matter how honest his intentions. The course of this man Wadsworth in his official position, has done much to cool the ardor of loyal men in Washington; they are witnesses of his conduct, and instead of being popular, he was detested, especially by the laboring