The southern press., 1852-01-15
lfafyianA Ard fennsylvanta.

hAtyiaAl AaA fsnnaylvanta.
$, ia his message to the legislature, Gov. LOVE-
thus refers to the result of the Christians cases
t 1t will be seen that justly indignant at thi.
mockery of justice, the governor calls on thu
legislature to yindicate the outraged honor Of
the State.
On the 18th day of September last, Mr. Ed
ward Gorsuch, highly respectable citizen OF
Baltimore county, accompanied by several friends
and relatives, and deputy marshal of the U
States, went into the county of Lancaster, in
the State of Pennsylvania, for the purpose oi
recapturing four fugitive slaves, under the pro.
cess, provided by the act of Congress, commonly
known as the fugitive slave law. Information
had been, it appears, previously communicated
to the people of that neighborhood, of the ap.
proach and intentions of the marshal and his
party Shortly after their arrival, they were
surrounded by armed bands Of negroes, (num-
bering about one hundred and fifty,) who had
been called together by a preconcerted signal.
Three white Ab0litionsts were present, giving
open countenaDce and encouragement to the
mob. Finding that it was useless to attempt an
arrest Of the fugitives the marshal was already
in the act of retreating, and had called upon his
companions to follow him, when with fierce
an onslaught upon their peaceable and unresist-
ing victims. Mr. Edward Gorsuch, the aged
and venerable father, was killed, and his dead
body was brutally insuIted whilst the son was
left upon the field, as dead When the news of
this atrocious butchery and rebellion against the
laws of the land reached Maryland, the people,
and especially the community of which Mr.. Cor
such was cherished member, manifested Il
great and very natural degree of excitement.
Private letters, and the resolutions of public
meetings poured in upon me, calling for my
executive interposition with the federal author
tiles. My duty would have been apparent, in
the absence of any appeal. | Immediately ad-
dressed to the President of the United States
such u communication, as the magnitude Of the
occasion seemed to demand. His Excellency,
through the Department of State, took an early
opportunity to assure me of his deep abhor-
renee of the crime committed, and of his
determination to exert the energies of the law
to bring the offenders to justice, and to pre-
vent similar occurrences in future. Copies of
this correspondence are herewith transmitted
| Without designing to exbt the least want of
confidence in the will and power of tho officers
of the general government to make good the
assurances given by the President, determined
nevertheless, that Maryland should not be an
idle spectator of such proceedings AS might be
instituted by the federal authorities. The blood
of Marylander cried out from the earth; whilst,
the genius of this Union called aloud for
vindication of outraged laws, upon the faithful
observance of which alone it can rest. antici-
pated, and it soon became apparent that the
flame of excitement would spread from the hills
of Maryland to the Savannahs of the extreme
South, until every Southern State would
mite in one common feeling of horror and in
dgnaton. TO see justice done, and to guard
against disastrous results were now the two
main objects of my solicitude Experience has
shown to every man, that the guilty may occa-
sionally escape justice, without culpable design
or neglect on the part of its administrators
Courts jures, and counsel may be pure and
firm yet the evidence may fail, or the law prove
insufficient. In view of such possible contin-
gency, felt the Importance of placing myself
in a position to be able to satisfy the people of
Maryland, and other Southern States, that, the
failure to convict the Christiana rebels was not
to be taken as proof of the negligence, apathy,
or prejudice of Northern judges and Jurors
Therefore, determined to send the attorney
general of Maryland, either as a participant in,
or witness Of the prosecutions His high per-
sonal character, acknowledged ability, and off.
cial station, would, we'll knew, command the
respect and confidence Of all. His report could
not fail to give proper direction to public SEN
timent. Upon his testimony, the people of
Maryland, and the South would rest contented,
even though the trial might result in tho acquit-
tai of the murderers, if he vouched for the fair
ness and impartiality of the proceedings. In
the absence of such reliable testimony, was
aware that an acquitta would be regarded
here as prima facia evidence of the triumph of
corrupt fanaticism.
| Such was the very evident prospect before
me, when resolved upon my course accord.
ingly instructed the attorney general to attend
the preliminary investigation, held at Lancaster,
before Alderman Relgart, (whose firm and noble
bearing entities him to the respect of every
honorable and patriotic citizen.) and to report
the result to me. He did so. AS soon as I
ascertained that the criminals had been arrested
and held for trial upon charge of high treason
against the United States, further instructed
the attorney general to apply for permission to
participate in the prosecution; and, in the event
Of REFUSAL then to be present at the trials, and
report the proceedings to me. The application
was readily acceded to by the federal govern
ment. | likewise employed the Hon. James
Cooper, Omitted States Senator from Penn.
sylvania, a distinguished lawyer and statesman,
and friend of constitutional right) as assistant
counsel. Thus represented, Maryland made her
appearance at the bar of the public justice of the
United States, and before a Pennsylvania Jury !;
claiming, not the worthless breath of individual
traitors, but the vindication of the chartered
rights of the South, which had been trampled
down in the blood of her own citizens. Mary
land stood there, and plead for the Constitution
through the wounds of her murdered sons
The result is before us. The peace-loving, the
Union-oving, the law-abdng State of Maryland
has foilad tn nepura lustire
Although she is border State, and is, practi
cally, more interested in this fugitive slave law
than all other States beside, nevertheless has
she admonished South Carolina against seces-
sion, and cheered on Virginia in the ways of 10y
atty. Although she would never have entered
this confederacy, Gas every instructed man well
knows) without the insertion in the federal
Constitution ofthe very clause for the enforce.
ment ofwhich the fugitive slave law was passed,
nevertheless has abe patiently and almost un-
complanngy stood by, and witnessed the trea.
sonabe assaults upon the Constitution made by
Abolitonists in and out of Congress When
Kennedy was murdered she Waa naasivo yVbop