A campaign was launched to pass a bill entitled The Religious Clarification Act, which would, in essence outlaw Spiritist Teachings, cause The United States government to recognize no religion that did not have at its base, the idea of a Supreme Being. That all societies that did not recognize a Supreme Being could not really be called religions and that their leaders could not be bestowed the powers of clergy. The bill was fought bitterly, but slowly but surely it gained support in both The House and, The Senate.
As the vote for its passage came near The United States was divided into two hostile camps. The bill passed on July 3rd, and as the president signed it on July 4th he was taken into custody by Spiritist Forces. In a few short hours the country was plunged into a bitter civil war.
Samuel longed to do something. Some of the worst fighting was in his beloved Maine. But his own duties kept him too busy. his own resources were too tied up. In a few weeks The Republic's Forces in The United States asked The Somalis if they could assist in housing their prisoners of war. New camps needed to be opened, new staff gathered. Personnel had to be hired from the surrounding countries. But in weeks facilities were organized, and the first prisoners being quartered.
During this time being the last appeal in the chain of authority, case after case came before Samuel, and he had to make many hard decisions, the worst of which was the appeal of three young prisoners for clemency. They had escaped and been at large for some time. They had broken into a family's home, seeking provisions, clothing and weapons. The house's owner had returned unexpectedly and in the resulting confrontation had been killed. The prisoners had been recaptured shortly after, tried, and been convicted to death for a civillian murder. The young men claimed that it was their duty to escape, to harrass the enemy as much as possible and to make all efforts to return to their unit. The man's death had been in accordance with those duties.
Samuel had the young men brought to his office. He questioned them rigorously. He studied the evidence. It was obvious it had not been necessary for them to kill the civilian. They could have bound him, taken what they needed, and been well away.
Samuel noted these facts in his denial of the request for clemency. The young men's executions were one of the few incidents that brought any kind of protest or demonstrations over The Republic's operations in Somalia. But it sent an obvious message to those managing to escape.
Military targets were acceptable, the stealing of food, vehicles and clothing was within limits. But the killing of civilians was out of bounds, would not be permitted, and the whole rest of the time that the camps operated in Somalia there was never another incident of a civilian being killed by escaping prisoners.
Samuel did not like to have to make a point so strongly. Those young men's faces were in his mind for a long time. But he knew that sometimes a soldier MUST do hard duties, even if it is his greatest desire to take another course of action. That was all part of the job.

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