Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1851-10-04
To his E1ceeucy the Goyrnorof Maryland.
LETTER FROM THE REV. VAR. COR
SUCH TO GOV.JOHNNTON,

The following letter from the Rev, Mr. Cor
sucn to Governor Johnston, in which he replies
I 10 the lettsr Of the Governor has Teen handed
/ Us for publication:
WAsHIYcro2, Sept. ls, 1851.
The undersigned, son Of the late Edward
Gofsuch, The victim OF ahoonst enthusiasm
aud high handed rebellion is sorry that 50 pain,
llI duty is imposed upon him as that to which
he now addresses himself He writes To you,
sir, with no vindictiye feelings, bat only to as.
sure YOU, what he desiers every one to know,
that he thinks the lack Of official pronhness on
your par, has resulted IN the escape, hitherto, Of
the slaves, and some Of the principal lnurderers
ofbis fath.r II would have tended in come de
gree to relieve the anxiety Of the family and
friends Of the deceas d to have known that the
governor ofJhe State in which this fou murder was
committed bad acted as promptly aud efficiently
as 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 be was murdered. The
cars stopped at the door ofthe house. Some OF
the passengers went in to took al the ghas'
spectacle but, sir, you dc not You who
ought, because OF your responsible sta'ipn,ta have
been most interested showed the Leaf cooceln.
And this is not to be wondered at. l. waud
seem natural that then you should have been TO-
loicing at this--he first fruits Of your official ard
personal hostility to the rendition If Eglre
slaves Did we not well know what you bay-
done to render imperative the law under WHOSE
protection my fAher entered your Sate to SECURE
his property in manner strictly iegtI some cH-
cuse might be- found IN our mind. ilr your strange
inactivity Bur we knew your course. We bad
watched it with pain, aud we did not expect you
would be induced to change il even at this Ok
taordinafy crisis.
Allow me to call your attention 10 fact vhich,
perhaps, you will remember ! hose slaves tot
whom my iather was searching were TO be flee
at the age OF twenty eight They were objected
IN selling stolen what to a free negro. Before
the writ which was gotten out against him could
be served he escaped to PENNSYLVANIA. This
brother Of mine, now so near to death, was sent
to you with requsiton from the Governor Of
Maryland for that free negro, "Abe Johnson :"
but you would not deliver hin up, and sent my
brother home convinced that further effort in that
respect was unnecessary. That ABE Johnson"
j. Is said, was present among the rebels on l2s
Thursday morning.
have read some letters which yon wrote to
some gentlemen OF Philidephla, who were urging
you 10 action, | marked the strong contrast be-
tween your words and actions. Now, sir, If you
were so anxious to yindcate the honor Of ms
State, so proud to have these offenders arrested
why did you not initiate the noble example Of the
Executive Of the United States Why did you
mot taI a r,4f
reached Philadelphia If Il ought to have been
done at all were there no. stronger reasons TO
have Il done on the frs, day when the murder
ers where at hand than on the nm, when most
OF them had escaped You cannot plead gno-
rance OF the riot, for it was well known to you
You will not pretend to say that it was more
necessary when several prominent actors in tina,
tragedy were arrested. and the whole neighbour
hood had been secured 10y vigorous Young gem
tleman from Maryland by hoasl Of Your own
ciz.ns and United States military, than when
every one that desired the punishment Of these
nurdsfers and traitors was afraid to move-wben
the traitors, slill wet with blood Of innocent and,
peaceable men, were triumphrn- in there victory,
and their confederates congraluatng themselves
upon successful treason Why, sir, did you not
show your prompiness ihenl You applaud The de-
csion, energy, and prompness Of the Lancaster
county officers, and in this most heartily con
cur but in proportion as you praise them, you
condemn yourself You knew of the insuHec-
tioaary movement before they did. Ifthey had
watched, as you did, unit the fifth day to do
what ought to have been done on the first, you
could have appIauded them. You must there
fore, sir, be sefcondemned.
Do you know that thirty.si' hours passed be-