Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-09-26
The Christiana outragc--Lcftcr from Rev. Mr..
Gorsuch o Gov. Johnston.

Tie Christiana outragc.-Lettcr Rev. Mr..
| Gorsueh 10 Gov. Johnston.
WAsBINGToN, SEPT Is, 1851.
Hon H1n. F. Johnston. Governor of PENNSYLVANIA.
The undersigned, a son ct the late Edward Cor
SUCH the victim of abotionist enthusiasm and
high handed rebellion, is sorry that so painful
duty is imposed upon him as that to which he now
addresses himself. He writes to you, sir, with no
vindctive feelings but only to assure you what he
desires every know. that he thinks the lack of
official promptness on your part has resulted in the
escape hitherto, of the slaves and of the prn-
cpal murderers of his father. 1t would have tended
! in some degree to relieve the anxiety of the family
and friends of the deceased, to have known that the
Governor of the State in which this foul murder
committed had acted promptly and efficiently
the circumstances demanded.
| know that you passed within few yards of the
spot where the body of my father lay the afternoon
of the same day which he was murdered The
cars stopped at the door of the house Some of the
passengers went in to look at the ghastly spectacle
But, sir, You did not. You, who ought. because of
your responsible station to have been most interest
cd showed the least And this is not to be
wondered at. 1t would seem natural that then you
should have been rejoicing this the first fruits of
your official and personal hostility to the rendition of
fugitive slaves. Did we not we'll know what you
have done orender imperative the law under whose
protection my father entered your state to secure his
property, in a manner strictly legal excuse
might be found i'll minds for your strange inacti
witty. But knew your course. We had watched
it with pain, and we did not expect that you would
be induced to change it this extraordinary
crisis.
! Allow me to call your attention to a fact which,
perhaps, you will remember. Those slaves, for
whom my father was searching, to be free at
the age Of twenty ght They were detected in sell
ing stolen wheat to free negro. Before the writ
which was gotten out against him could be served
he escaped to Pennsylvania This brother of mine,
now 50 near to death, was sent to you with requ
sitOn from the Governor of Mary land for that free
, Negro, Abe Johnson" But you would not deliver
him up, and sent my brother home convinced that
further effort in that respect unnecessary That
Abe Johnson, it is said, was present among the
rebels on last Thursday morning.
have read some letters which you wrote to some
gentlemen Of Philadelphia who urging you to
action. | marked the strong contrast between your
words and actions. Now, sir, if you were so
ous to vindcate the honor of your State so proud
to have these offenders arrested why did YOU i'm
tate the noble example of the Executive Of the Uni
ted States Why did you not issue your proclama-
ton you reached Philadelphia! If it
gh have been done at all were there not strong
: reasons to have it done the first day, when the
murdercrs were at hand, than on the ftH when most
of them had escaped You cannot plead ignorance
Of the riot, for it we'll known to you You will
not pretend to say that it necessary when
several prominent actors in that tragedy
ted, and the whole cghborhoOd secured by vigorous
young gentlemen from Maryland, by host Of your
own citizens and United States military, than when
every that desired the punishment Of these muir
: derers and traitors afraid to move when the ri
ocrs-stl wet with the blood of innocent and peace
If able men-were triumphing in their victory, and
l. their confederates congratulatng themselves upon
successful treason! Why, sir, did you not show your
Is promptness then You applauded the decision, en-
ergy and prompness of the Lancaster county officers
e and in this most heartily concur; but in propor-
ton as You praise them, You condemn yourself
e on knew of the InSurrcctionarY movement before
they did. IF they had waited you did, until the
fifth day, to do what ought to have been done the
first, you could not have applauded them. You must,
therefore. sir be sclf-condemned.
l. Do you know that thrty-six hours passed before
one writ was taken out against these men Do you
that Mr.. Thompson the States Attorney. and Mr..
tt Rcigart, to pro- ect their lives and to que the
d spirit of resistance which fortified the traitors and
J. terrified the loyal had to collect posse of men from
le the iron-works and diggings the railroad Do
j. You know that not magistrate constable would
until compelled that the sheriff refused to act
that your attorney general, true to his superior,
would not all these men whose activity you so
&c zealou>ly commend
T. With these facts. sir, before us we cannot be
e. charged with calumny in saying that do honest
IN y believe that your proclamation would have
T. seen the light had YOU feared that the activity
n of others would censure your Indifference.
nc We believe that the majority Of Pennsyvanians
y are right. We have been pleased at the zeal. and
th gratitcd with the sympathies Of many we have
he met But sir, if the laws shall now he sustained
if the country shall be satisfied that PENNSYLVANIA
a. is right: if the South is to fnd that this law will
N not be- inefficient be assured that not particle
- of the honor Will be given to the Governor We
=, will not say that he has acted traitorouslv that
o. by bis previous he has been the indirect oc
~ casiOn OF this outrage: that the blood of Edward
a. Gorsuch is on his skirts but say that he
has not been clear in his great Office" but rccrean
of to the trust imposed in him
~ Much more in sorrow than in anger | subscribe
he myself your much injured friend, J. S. GoRsUCu.
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