State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-04-26
FREEDOM OF SPEECH IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE.
"TELL IT NOT IN GATH"

|
"TELL 1T NOT IN GATH"
Rev. George Storrs, member of the N
H. Conference, after delivering Il lecture on
Slavery, at Pittstield, n. ii. was arrested in
the pulpit on the following complaint
To Reuben T. Leavitt jr. Esquire, one of
the Justices ofthe Peace within and for
! the County of Merrimack in the State of
! New hampshire Complaints
| Sherburne Green, of Pittsfied, in said
county of Merrimack, yeoman, and gives
| the said Justice to understand and be in
! formed that George Storrs OF said Pittsfeld
| yeoman, otherwise called George Storrs, IA
transient person, yeoman, at SAID Pittshed,
| in said county of Merrimack, OH the thirty
first day of March, in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-sx,
was common railer and brawler, contrary
10 the form of the statute in such case made
and provided and against the peace and
dignity of the State,-Wherefor the said
Sherburne Green pays that the said George
Storrs may be held to answer to this com
plant and that justice may be done in the
premises. SlIERBURNE GREEN.
Merrimack, IS. March 81, 1886
Then The said Shcrburne Green person.
ally appeared and made oath that the above
complaint by him subscribed is in his belief
true.
Before me- r. II. LEAVITT, Jr,
Justice of the Peace.
A true copy X. r. LEAVITT, Jr.
Jus. Peace.
He was tried before Il. r. LEAvITT, Jr.
Esq. The ,choie of the evidence follows,
as we find it in the Herald of Freedom
Our readers may Judge ofthe business OF
the dec ision.
Cateb Bro,Cn was called and sworn
Questions, all by Norris, on the part of the
prosecution. Question. Were you at tho
Baptist meeting house? ,dnScer Yes. q.
Did you hear the discourse? II. Yes. q.
Did lie say any thing about slavery existing
! in the Northern States? Il. He said there
were shareholders in the Northern States
| &. Did lie say any thing about slavery in
Maryland? n, Yes. q. Did he say that
the laws of Maryland made slaves as goods
and chattels? Il. He did. @. Did he say
any thing ofthe knowledge of those who
oppose Abolitionists a. He said they
might know about it if they would; their
books were all about
Thomas S,OeH called and sworn. Q Were
you at the Baptist meeting house "A. Yes.
Q. Did the defendant have ii discourse
there? a. He did. Q. Did he say any
thing respecting the ignorance of the oppo-
sers of Abolitionists? n. lie stated they
had the means of information, but did not
make use of it. q. Did he state any thing
with regard to the Southern States? a.
He stated he had The heads Of their State
governments, and stated what they were.
| z. What did he state? II. That slaves
were regarded as chatels.
Mr. Storrs made no defence. He was
found guilty, and the following sentence
was pronounced upon him by MIR. Justice
LeavItt, from which he has appealed.
Menimack, SIS. Be it remembered that
on the thirty first day of March, in the year
OF our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and thrty-six, Sherburne Green of Pitts
| field, III said county, yeoman, came before
me Reuben L. Leayilt, jr, Esq. one of the
Justices of the Peace i'll and for said county
of Merrnlack, and OH oath complained,
and gave me the said Justice to understand
and be informed that George Storrs, OF said
| Pittsfield, yeoman, otherwise called George
Storrs, transient person yeoman, at Pitts
field in said county of Merailnack, on the
thirty first day OF March, in the year of our
Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty
six, was common raler and brawler con
trary to form of the statute in such case
made and provided and against the peace
and dignity of the Whereupon afte-
wards OH the same thirty-first day Of March
the said George Storrs being brought before
me the said Justice, by virtue Of warrant
issued upon the complaint read, said that
he was not guilty of the said offence, and
thereupon after having the evidence offered
as well on the part Of the said George Storrs
as in behalf of the State and maturely con-
sdered the same, it appears to me the said
Justice that the said George Storrs is guilty
i'll manner and form as in the said complaint
alleged--It is therefore considered by me
the said Justice, that the said GEORGE
SroRRs BE COMMITTED TO THE
HOUSE OF CORRECTION in said iown
Of PW$feld there to be put TO HARD LII
BOR TOR the term Of THREE MONTHS
and pay the costs Of prosecution, tared at if
teen dollars and sirty .fUe cents, from which
sentence the said George Storrs appeals to
the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas
next to he holden at Concord within and
for said county of Merrimack on the first
Tuesday Of September, A. ID. 1886.
r. II. LEAVITT,
Justice Peace.
With what scorn and amazement will
such illustrations of repuhicanism be view
ed hundred years hence
CINCINNATI April oh 1886.
Tie Van Buren, party experienced a complete
election n mr. oil 10 nj