Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First TimeFreese, Jacob R.
History
Secrets of the Late Rebellion, Now Revealed for the First Time
Freese, Jacob R.
United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865
Mr. T. was then called upon by the court to make any defence he thought
proper. He replied that he had no defence to make, further than the
Judge already knew, that every fact and every argument within his reach
had been stated and made at the interview had at the headquarters. He
added, that the attorney which Mr. S. had been in the habit of employing
before he left Alexandria was in the court-room, and that he had tried
to induce him to take charge of and conduct the case, but this he had
declined to do, as he was not prepared to take the oath of allegiance to
the United States government, required by the court from all attorneys
who would practise in it He had not had opportunity to confer with Mr.
S., by letter or otherwise, since these proceedings commenced, nor did
he know that he should have for a long time to come, else he might ask
for an adjournment of the case until he could hear from him. Under all
the circumstances he saw no other way than to submit to the judgment of
the court, whatever it might be.
All parties having rested, Judge Freese said he "would have much
preferred not to take up this class of cases, but under all the
circumstances it was a responsibility he could not avoid. The plaintiff
came to this city seeking his debtor and the recovery of a just claim.
Upon inquiry he learns that his debtor has fled and is now within the
enemy's lines, yea, even under the very wings and protection of the
authorities at Richmond. He cannot pursue him thither, nor can he issue,
or have issued, any process by which to compel his return. The goods
he sold him, however, with a large amount of other goods, he finds in
Alexandria, in possession of a man who claims to be Mr. S.'s agent for
the care and sale of his goods, but not his agent for the payment of his
debts. Indeed, this so-called agent--who, in a legal sense, is no agent
at all, and has no more claim upon the goods than any other gentleman
in this court-room--even goes so far as to say that 'Mr. S. may not owe
this plaintiff anything now, however justly he may have, owed him a few
months ago, for the reason that the Confederate Congress has since then
passed a law sequestrating all debts due from the South to the North; in
reply to which the court told him, and may now repeat for the benefit
of this whole community, that it matters not what laws may or may not be
passed by the Confederate Congress, they can in no way affect the people
of this city so long as it remains in charge of Union troops, and that
is likely to be so long as the war continues. Had there been any other
tribunal in this city to which this class of cases could have been
referred, this court would not have taken them up; but, since the State
and county courts of Alexandria had virtually run away when the people
ran away, the simple question to decide was, whether this court should
take up this class of cases, in addition to such as it had already
taken up, or allow Mr.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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