The Plymouth pilot. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1851-1852, 1851-10-08
WAsHiNcToE, Sept. IS. 1851.
Hon. Wm. f. Johnston, GoUcrnor of
PcRSWTuRiu:

w ASHlNCToE, sept. 10, 1901.
Hon. VIM. f. Johnston, GoUcrnor of
Peasylvania:
The undersigned. "a SON of the late cd
ward GorsuclI. the victim of the Adolf
ZIONIST enthusiasm and high handed re-
belllon, 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 indicative feelings, but only TO
assure you. what he desires every one to
know, that he thinks the lack Of official
the escape, hitherto, of the slaves. and
some of the principal murderers of his
father. 1t would have tended liz some
degree to relieve the anxiety of the fam
i,y and friends of the deceased to have
known that the Governor of the State in
which this foul murder was committed.
had acted as promptly and efficiently as
the circums lance demanded.
| know that you passed within a few
yards of where the body of my father lay,
the afternoon of the same day Oh which
he was murdered. The cars stopped at
the door of the house. Some Of the pas
sengerS wen; in TO look at the CHASTITY
spectacle. But. sir, you did not, You.
who ought, because of your responsible
station. TO have been NEST interested
showed the leas: concern. And this is
not TO be wondered at. 1t would seem
natural that then you should have been
rejoicing a. this, the FIRST fruits of your
official and personal hostility to the re
dition of fugitive slaves. Did we not
know what you have done 10 render in
operative the law under whose protec-
ton my fathes entered your State to Sc
cure his property, in manner strictly
legal, some excuse might be found in oul
minds for your strange inactivity. Bui
we know your course. We had watched
it with pain, and we did not expect you
would be induced to change it even al
this extraordinary crisis.
Allow me to call your attention to a
fact which, perhaps, you will rerlember.
Those slaves, for whom my father was
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 so near to death, was sent to you
with a requisition from the Governor of
Maryland for that free negro, Aha John
son." But you would not deliver him
up. and sen. nv brother home convinced
that further effort II: that respect was
unnecessary. That ABA Ju.nson. it is
said, was present among the rebels on
last Thursday morning.
have read some letters which you
wrote TO some gentlemen Of Philadel phia.
who wee urging you to action. mark
cd the strong contrast between your words
and actions. Now, sir, if you were so
anxious to vindicate the honor Of your
State; SO proud to have these offenders
arrested. why do you not initiate the no.
bic example Of the executive of the Uni
ted States? Why did you not issue your
proclamation as soon as you reached Phil
adel phia! If it aught to be done at all,
were there not stronger reasons to have
it done Oh the first day. when the muir
derers were at hand, than on the fnh,
when most of them had escaped? You
canaot plead ignorance of the riot, for i t
was well known to you. You will not
pretend to say that it was more necessa-
ry when several prominent actors in that
tragedy were arrested, & the whole neigh
borhooa secured by vigorous young gem
tlemen from Maryland, by host of your
own citizens and United States military,
that when every one that desired the
punishment of these murderers and trait
ors was afraid to move; when the rioters
still wet with the blood Of innocent
and peaceable men-were triumphing in
their victory and their confederates con-
gratulat ting themselves upon successful
treason! Why, sir, did you not show