“Would you take an oath to this government?”
“No, sir; I would not.”
“That is very strange. That you will not take an oath to support a government under whose flag you live and which protects you. And you born in Maryland, a loyal State, as she has proved to be by the vote of her people.”
As I was a prisoner in his hands, I knew it would be folly on my part to enter into an argument on this question, but I said:
“I will not take an oath of allegiance. You take an oath of office which is binding on you so long as you hold office, but you ask me to take an oath of perpetual allegiance—‘at any and all times hereafter, and under all circumstances.’ You have shown no act of mine to prove me disloyal, and I think you have no right to demand such oath.”
“Your refusal to take the oath is sufficient proof of your disloyalty. How long have you been here, sir?”
“A week last Saturday. I was arrested and brought here, and have not been able to learn either the name of my accuser or the nature of the accusation.”
“I will inform you, then, that Mr. Howe is the principal witness against you. I have done with you for to-day, sir.”
I then left him and went back to my room. Here one man is judge, jury and witness.
There are a number of men here in close confinement. We can see them as they are taken out in the yard daily in charge of a guard. None of the other prisoners are allowed to speak to them.