Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1851-09-24
THE CHRISTIANA OUTRAGE.

THE CHRISTIANA OUTRAGE.
LETTER FROM THE REV. MIR. GORSUCH
TO GOV. JOHNSTON.
The following letter from the Rev. Mr.. Gorsuch
to Gov. Johnston, in which he replies to the letter
of the Governor, was handed to the editors of the
Baltimore Sun for publication
WAsHINGroN, Sept. Is, 1851.
Hon. Vim. F. Johnston, Governor Of Pennsylvania ::
The undersigned, son of the late Edward Cor
such, the victim of abolitionist enthusiasm, and
high-handea 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
vindictive feelings, but only to assure you, what
he desires every one to know, that he thinks the
lack of official promptness your part has result
ed in the escape, hitherto 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 as
promptly and efficiently as the circumstances de-
manded.
know that you passed within few yards of
where the body of my father lay, the afternoon of
the same day on which he was murdered. The
cars stopped at the door of the house. Some of
the passengers went in to look at the CHASTITY spec
tacie. But sir, you did not. You, who ought, be-
cause of your responsible station, to have been
most interested, showed the least concern. And
this IS not to be wondered at. 1t would seem ma
tural that then you should have been rejoicing at
this, the first fruits of your official and personal
hostility to the rendition of fugitive slaves. Did
we not well know what you have done to render
imperative the law under whose protection my
father entered your State to secure his property,
in manner strictly legal, some excuse might be
in ON mil dS fOrv eft
But we knew your course. We had watched it
with pain, and we did not expect you would be
induced to change it even at this extraordinary
crisis.
Allow me to call your attention to fact which,
perhaps you may remember. Those slaves, Tor
whom my father searching, were to be free at
the age Of twenty-eight They were detected in
selling 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 near to death, was sent to you
with requisnion from the Governor Of Maryland
Tor that free negro, s'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 Johnson, it is said,
was present among the rebels on last Thursday
morning.
have read SEINE letters which you wrote to
some gentlemen of Philadelphia, who were urging
you to action. / marked the strong contrast be-
tween your words and actions. Now, sir, if you
were so anxious to yindicate the honor of your
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
not issue your proclamation soon you reach
ed 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 es
capped? You cannot plead ignorance of the riot,
for it was well known to you. You will not pre-
md fn bot hon
raj prominent actors in that tragedy were arrest
ed, and the whole neghborhood secured by vigor-
GUS young gentlemen from Maryland, by host of
your own citizens and United States military, than
when every one that desired the punishment of
ahese murderers and traitors was afraid to move !;
when the murderers, still wet with the blood of in
nocent and peaceable men-were triumphing in
their victory, and their confederates congaulating
themselves upon successful treason! Why, sir,
did you not show your prornptness then? You ap-
plaud the decision, energy and promptness of the
Lancaster county officers, and in this most hear
ty concur but in proportion as you praise them,
you condemn yourself. You knew of the insurrec-
1ionary movement before they did. If they had
waited as goa did, until the fifth day, to do what
ought to have been on the irst you could not have
applauded them. You must, therefore, sir, be
self-condemned.
Do you know that thirty hours passed before
one writ was taken out against these men? Do
you know that Mr.. Thompson, the States Attor
ney, and Mr.. Regart to quell the spirit of resist
ance which fortified the traitors and terrified the
loyal, had to collect a posse of men from iron
works and diggings on the railroad? Do you know
that not magistrate or constable would act until
compelled ; that the sheriff refused to act that
your attorney general, true to his SUPERIOR would
not aid these men whose activity you now SO zeal
ously commend?
With these facts, sir, before US, we cannot be
charged with calumny in saying, that we do hon.
estly believe that your proclamation woGld never
have seen the light, had you not feared that the
activity of others would censure your own ndiffer
ence.
We believe that the majority of Pennsylvanians
ore right. We have been pleased at the zeal, and
gratifed with the sympathies of many we have
met. But, sir, if the laws shall now be sustained;
if the country shall be satisfied that Pennsylvania
is right if the South is to find that this law will
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 tratorously, that by
his previous course he has been the indirect occa-
sion of this outrage that the blood of Edward
Gorsuch is on his skirts, but we must say that he
has not been .'clear in his great office,' but
ereant to the trust imposed in him.
Much more in sorrow than in anger, subscribe
myself your much injured friend,