The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-09-25
WAsHIYGIoN, Sept. ls, lS51.

us for publication
WASHINGTON, Sept Is, 1851.
Hon. Vim T. Johnston, Gorernor Of PeRnsyiUdnid:
The undersigned, a of the late Edward
GOrsuch, the victim of aboltiOnist enthusiasm
and high-handed rebellion is sorry that pain
full duty is imposed upon him that to which
he now addresses himself. He writes TO you,
sir with no vindctive feelings, but only TO as
sure you, what he desires every one to know,
that he thinks the lack of official promptness
on your part has resulted in the escape, hith
erto, of the slaves, and some of the principal
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 ae the circumstances
demanded.
| know that you passed within few yards of
where the body Of my father lay, the afternoon
of the same day on which he murdered.
The cars stopped at the door of the house. Some
of the passengers went in to look at the CHASTITY
spectacle. But, sir, you did not. You, who
ought, because OF your responsible station, to
have been most interested, showed the least
concern. And this is not 70 be wondered at 1t
would seem natural that then you should have
been rejoicing at this, the first fruits of your
official and personal hostility the rendtion of
fugitive slaves. Did we not well know what you
have done to render imperative the Law under
to secure his property, in manner strictly le
gal, some excuse might be found in our minds
for your strange inactivity. But we knew your
course We had watched it with pain, and
did not expect you would be induced to change
it even at this extraordinary crisis.
Allow me TO call your attention TO a fact which,
perhaps, you will remember. Those slaves, for
which my father was searching, were TO be free
at the age of twenty-eight. They were detected
in selling stolen wheat to a free negro Before
tn writ which was gotten out against him could
be served, he escaped to Pennsy lvania. This
brother of mine, now so near to death, was sent
to you with a requisition from the Governor of
Maryland 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 was unnecessary That ABE john
son, - 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 were ur
ging YOU to action. | marked the strong con-
trast between your words and actions. Now,
sir, if YOU were so anxious to vindicate the
honor of your State, so proud to have those Of
tenders arrested, why did you not initiate the
noble example of the Executive of the United
States? Why did you not issue your procla
nation as soon as you reached Philadelphia? If
it ought. to have been done at all, were there
not stronger reasons to have it done on the first
day when the murdererS were at hand, than on
the fifth, when most of them had escaped? You
cannot plead ignorance of the riot, for it was
well known to YOU You will not pretend to say
that it was more necessary when several prom-
nent actors in that tragedy were arrested, and
the whole neighbOrhood secured by vigorous
young gentlemen from Maryland, by a host OF
your citizens and United States military,
than when every one that desired the punish
mentso of these murderers and traitors was afraid
to move; when the riotOrs-stll wet with the
blood of innocent and peaceabe men-were
rates congratulating themselves upon successful
treasen! Why, sir, did you not show your
promptness then? You applaud the decision,
energy and promptness of the Lancaster county
officers, and in this L most heartily concur; but
III proportion as you praise them, you condemn
yourself. You knew of the nsurrectionary move
ment before they did. If they had waited, rs you
did, until the fifth day, to do what ought to have
been done on the first, you could not have ap-
plauded them. You must, therefore, sir, be
self-condemned.
Do you know that thirty-six hours passed be-
fore one writ was taken against these men? Do
you know that Mr.. Thompson, the States Attor-
ney, and Mr.. Reigart, to protect their own lives
and to quell the spirit of resistance which for
tilted the traitors and terrified the loyal, had to
collect posse of men from iron works and dig
gngs the railroad? Do you know that not a
magistrate constable would act until COM
peled; that the sheriff refused to act; that
your attorney general, true to his superior,
would not aid those men whose activity you so
zealously commend?
With these facts, SIR before us, we cannot be
charged with calumny in saying that we do
honestly believe that Jour proclamation would