United States, and in the lawful exercise of its authority?  Could he be imprisoned and tried before a State jury on the charge of murder, and the courts of the United States be powerless to inquire into the facts on habeas corpus, and to discharge him if found to have acted in the performance of his duty?  Can the authority of the United States for the protection of their officers be less than their authority to protect their property?

    There appears to be but one rational answer to these
    questions.

In all these cases the authority vested in the officer to suppress a mutiny, or to overtake and capture an escaped vessel, or to protect the subtreasury from threatened pillage, carries with it power to do all things necessary to accomplish the object desired, even the killing of the offending party.  The law conferring the authority thus extended to the officer in these cases, is in the sense of the habeas corpus act, a law of the United States to do all things necessary for the execution of that authority.

CHAPTER XIX.

EXPRESSIONS OF PUBLIC OPINION.

This case and all the attendant circumstances—­the attempted assassination of Justice Field by his former associate, Terry; the defeat of this murderous attempt by Deputy Marshal Neagle; the arrest of Justice Field and the deputy marshal upon the charge of murder, and their discharge—­created very great interest throughout the United States.  They were the subject of articles in all the leading journals of the country; and numerous telegrams and letters of congratulation were sent to the Justice on his escape from the murderous attempt.  Satisfaction was very generally expressed at the fate which Terry met, and much praise was given to the courageous conduct of Neagle and at the bearing of Justice Field under the trying circumstances.

A few of the letters received by him are here given, and citations are made from some of the periodicals, which indicated the general sentiment of the country.

Letter from Hon. T.F.  Bayard, ex-Secretary of State: 

    WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, August 18, 1889.

    MY DEAR BROTHER FIELD: 

I was absent from home when I first saw in the newspapers an account of the infamous assault of the Terrys—­husband and wife—­upon you, and the prompt and courageous action of Deputy Marshal Neagle that happily frustrated the iniquitous plot against your life.

    Accept, my dear friend, my fervent congratulations on your
    escape from the designs of this madman and of the shameless
    creature who was his wife and accomplice.