Alexandria Gazette, Commercial And Political

Extract of a letter to the Editor, dated Albany, 15th April 1813.

The enclosed extract from the Utica Patriot, will show you that the military are acting out their orders to the full; and that no person is safe in his own house from the bayonets of the soldiery. The civil authority has ceased, the military is paramount and superior. The blood of every freeman curdles in his veins to witness the strides of despotism --military despotism which are making by our rulers--and those who are now entrusted with a little brief authority. It is well said in a celebrated pamphlet which has just appeared, 'war is the pioneer of a military despotism.' Judge Ford writes to his friends at Utica, that 13 persons were taken by the military and brought before the collector of the revenue, who on examining them, and finding three of them democrats he discharged them and permitted them to return home--the others being federalists were sent forward to Sacket's Harbor, under close guards, and not permitted to converse even with their own families, except in the presence of the guard. It was the intention of Pike to try them by a Court Martial.

From the Utica Patriot, April 13.

The Rights of the Citizens of the State of New-York trampled under foot, and the Constitution violated by the Military Officers of the United States!! Seven of the respectable citizens of the county of St. Lawrence were forcibly seized by Lieut. Loring Austin, of the 1st Regt. of United States Dragoons, and about 30 mounted myrmidons under his command, on the 9th April inst. by virtue of a military order of Col. Pike, the commandant at Sacket's Harbor, and forthwith forced from their families, at the point of the bayonet, and marched off to the Harbor, to be tried by a court martial for treasonable practices (in trading to Canada as suspected.) The following memorandum was delivered by Lieut. Austin, to the friends of the sufferers, as his authority for this arbitrary proceeding:

'I have arrested and detained in my custody, by virtue of instructions from colonel Pike, commandant at Sacket's Harbor, of which the following is a true copy, and of a list of names furnished me by Alexander Richards, Esq.) the following persons: Willard Seaton, Thos. Stedman, Asa Day, Uriel H. Orvis, David Coffeen, --p-- Goddard, Jno. Phillips.

Dated April 8, 1813.

This (relating to other orders) is one principal object of your march-- another is, for you to repair to Massena, 42 miles below Ogdensburgh, & deliver the letter herewith to Mr. Richards, the collector, & to seize & make prisoners of any persons whom he charges with having been engaged in treasonable practices and bring to this place, and do any other acts which he may deem to be conducive to the good of the public service.'

LORING AUSTIN,

Lieut. 1st Regt. U. S. Light Dragoons, commanding.

The following affidavit was made within this village yesterday, on application for a habeas corpus to colonel Pike, (to bring the said persons to Utica, to be discharged) which was granted by the commissioner, Nathan Williams, Esq. of Utica, and Mr. Burrows started immediately on his return to Sacket's Harbor.

Oneida County, ss.

David Burrows, of Ogdensburgh, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he received the copy of the foregoing order & certificate, from the friends of the persons seized, (therein mentioned) at Ogdensburgh, on the 9th day of April instant, who employed this deponent to go to Utica and obtain a habeas corpus for the discharge of said persons. This deponent heard the said lieutenant Austin (whom he saw and conversed with at Ogdensburgh, on said day) say, that he had given the said copy of his orders from col. Pike, & his proceedings thereon, to the said friends, 'and further this deponent heard him order the sergeant to whom he committed said persons in custody, to march them on to Sacket's Harbor as fast as possible, and not to suffer them to ride, and if they did not go on fast enough to tie them to the tails of the horses on which the Dragoons were mounted. The charge against said persons, as stated by said Austin, was smuggling, and they were to be tried at Sacket's Harbor by a court martial as this deponent understood. This deponent was informed that among said persons seized were all the town officers of Massena, necessary to hold the election.

DAVID BURROWS

Sworn this 12th day of April, 1813, before me, N. WILLIAMS, Commissioner, &c.

We are authorised by Mr. Burrows to add, that Lieut. Austin ordered his sergeant, who had the charge of the sufferers, to march them night and day, and not to suffer them to be taken out of his hands by the civil authority, or any person to speak to them, upon the peril of their lives, which the sergeant promised to do.

If Martial Law is thus suffered to usurp the place of the civil authority, this war has reduced the free Citizens of the State of New-York to the condition of Turkish slaves, or vassals of Bonaparte.