At present I do not offer any remarks upon this and similar cases, but as
official copies of the trials of Messrs. Warren, Halpin, Costello, and
McCafferty have recently reached me, I trust soon to be able to send you
brief but faithful summaries of these, with some observations upon each
case.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
Mr. Costello to Mr. Johnson
Convict Establishment,
Chatham.
Convicts are permitted to write one letter on reception, and also at
intervals of three, four, or six months, according to the class they
may be in. They may also receive one letter (prepaid) at the
above-named periods. Matters of private importance to a convict may
be communicated at any time by letter (prepaid) to the governor, who
will inform the convict thereof if expedient. In case of misconduct,
the privilege of receiving or writing a letter may be forfeited for
a time. All letters of an improper or idle tendency, either to or
from convicts, or containing slang or other objectionable
expressions, will be suppressed. The permission to write and receive
letters is given to the convicts for the purpose of enabling them to
keep up a connection with their respectable friends, and not that
they may hear the news of the day. All letters are read by the
governor or chaplain, and must be legibly written on the ruled
lines, and not crossed. Neither clothes nor any other articles are
allowed to be received at the prison for the use of convicts.
Persons attempting to introduce any article to or for a convict are
liable to fine or imprisonment, and the convict concerned is liable
to be severely punished. Convicts are not allowed to have money,
books, or postage-stamps sent to them while in prison.
A visit of 20 minutes’ duration allowed every three, four, or six
months, according to class, between the hours of 10 a. m. and 4 p.
m.; not on Sundays.
Chatham Public Works
Prison.
N. B.—The convict’s writing to be confined to the ruled lines of
these two pages.
In writing to the convict direct to No. 9824, Augustin Costello.
October 10, 1868.
Sir: I presume I may be allowed to make a
few inquiries which I deem important for me to know. Being cramped
in paper I must, necessarily, be brief, therefore I hope my few
pointed remarks will not appear harsh or rude. Thus divested of all
rhetorical flourishes, I would, first, respectfully inquire if you,
sir, have received any instructions in my case; and if so, what
those instructions are? Secondly, I would ask if (what a strange
if!) I am an American citizen; if so, it is a sublime privilege.
Thirdly, if the United States government has taken any action in my
case, and what the likelihoods are of an eventual release, and when?
I will not tie you to a month or two; I only wish to know the
“thereabouts;” I am a long time waiting, and am only apprehensive
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that the beginning of
the end has not yet come. In the worst phases of life the inevitable
is more endurable than suspense. Judging from the present as well as
the past, my future is not very cheering; but of course events of
importance may be transpiring in the outside world which, if known
to me, might make me think differently. I presume you are aware,
sir, that I am allowed to know absolutely nothing on this or any
other subject. But, as I am permitted to write a letter to my
friends once in six months, I thought it would not be a bad idea to
write to you instead, and learn, if possible, what the prospects are
of being rescued from this life-in-death existence. I thought to
have written you a special letter, so as not to interfere with my
domestic letters, but the director, for some reasons best known to
himself, denied me that privilege.
It may be, in the whirl of more grave and important events, that the
United States government has failed to meet the issue raised in my
case; or, as I have been conjecturing, the republic may not wish to
disturb the amicable (!) relations existing with the mother country.
Or, again, know-nothingism may be, as formerly, in the ascendency,
and hence the startling anomaly of one-third of the American
population proved to be, according to the letter and the spirit of
English law, British subjects. Truly we may exclaim with Joad: “Was
ever time in wonders richer.” If I am to be condemned to penal
servitude for enjoying liberty’s first-born freedom of speech; if
words, or even acts of mine, while in the United States, can make me
amenable to British law, then I boldly assert that liberty is not to
be found beneath the stars and stripes, and I brand that act of the
legislature that conferred on me all the responsibilities, but none
of the advantages, of an American citizen, as an insult and a
mockery. But let it be known, to whom it may concern, that degrading
and miserable as my present position is, I envy not that happiness
of my fellow-citizens who are placed but a step higher, on the
political ladder, than the negro under the old regime. I am not very pleasantly situated for
letter-writing, neither am I sure that this letter will reach you. I
should like to give you some idea of prison discipline, but that is
an interdicted subject—and no wonder. I would
request that a copy, or, what is better, the original, of this
letter be sent to the President.
Hoping to receive a prompt and explicit reply, I am, sir, your most
obedient servant,
Hon. Reverdy Johnson, United States Minister, London.
