Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-15
For the Green Mountain Freeman
LETTER FROM WISCONSIN.
PORTAGE CRY, Wis, Jan. so, 1855,

which has recently been tried in the U s. Dis
trict Court in this State, might be Of some in
terest to you, will give you short history Of
the proceedings in this important case
On the 18th of March last, Mr.. Booth, who
is the able editor of the " MilCaukee Free Dem
ocrat, received Geographic despatch from Ra-
cine, stating that negro, named Joshua Glover,
was kidnapped the night before, and was lodged
in the Milwaukee Jail. Mr.. Booth, Immediately
after receiving the despatch, met Deputy Mar
shall G. C. Cotton, and inquired of him about
the matter, and was told in reply that he Got
ton) knew nothing about the case, and that the
despatch from Racine, must be an imposition
This did not satisfy Mr. Booth, who next in
quired of the Clerk of the District Court, where
he was referred to the District Judge, Miller
At first, Miller was 10th to give any information
but entered zealously into defence of the Fu-
tive Act, After some delay, Miller owned that
no had issued a warrant for the arrest of Glover
but thought there would be no excitement about
the case. Mr.. Booth replied that he hoped
there would be fair and open trial, and that
he would like to be present when the case came
off,
In short time, the facts concerning the seiz
ure of Glover became known, and these were o.
such brutal character as to produce much ex-
element. Itappears that Glover lived abou
four miles from Racine, was day laborer-that
tho kidnapping posse consisted of Deputy Mar
shal c. G, Cotton, Deputy Marshal Kearney O
Racine, d. 5. Garland of Missouri, the pretended
owner, Il slave-cateher by trade from St. Louis
named Melvin, and q flaming National /" Demo
crat" of Racine county, named Houghton
Glover's cabin door was forced open, and load
ed pistol presented to Glover by Garland. Clio
yer took hold of the pistol to] turn it away to
prevent Garland from shooting him, when Mar.
shall Cotton struck Glover over tho head with a
pair of handouts, which blow knocked Glover
senseless to the floor. Glover was then hand
cufed and taken into II double wagon, with
nothing on but his pantaloons and shirt. After
driving twelve hours, having lost their way, he
was brought to the Milwaukee Jail. His head
was cut badly in two places, and his shirt and
pants in front was stiff with blood. The .jailor
bad feelings for humanity. He took off the
handouts, dressed his wounds, and treated him
with care and kindness.
As soon as these facts were elected, Gen. Paine,
an able lawyer of Milwaukee, made an applica-
ton in Glover's behalf for writ of Habeas
Corpus, and put it into the hands of Marshal
0 Brien to be served on Sheriff Page and Mar.
shall Cotton. 1t soon became rumored that at
o'clock Glover was to be brought before Judge
Miller, in disregard Of the writ of Habeas Cor
pus, and it was decided to hold meeting at thu
Court House. Mr.. Booth mounted horse ant
rode through the principal streets, and invited
all froemen who did not wish to DO made slave
catchers and slaves, to meet at the Court Hous
Square, at o'clock. The people met in larg,
numbers, aud the meeting was org lnizcd--man
Of the leading men of all parties taking part il
the proceedings The following resolutions
written by Mr.. Booth, were presented to tn
meeting, and after some remarks by Byron
Paine, ESQ.,, Gen. j. III. Paine, A. H Bielfelt
in German, and Mr.. Booth, were adopted unan
imously by the three Or four thousand person
who had assembled
buo Il,
ing in the neighborhood Of Racine, had his hous
broken into, Il pistol presented Mt his head. wa
knocked down and badly Gu and bruised by Dep
uty Marshal Charles Q. Cotton, and b. S. Gar
land. his pretended owner, before any legal pro
cess was served upon him, was fettered ant
brought by night to this city, and incarcerate(
in our county Jail and
Wheareas, IA writ of Habeas Corpus has beer
issued by Judge Jenkins (of the State Court
to Sheriff Page and Deputy Marshal Cotton
commanding them, in the name Of the State, tt
bring the prisoner before him, and show caus
why the prisoner should not be released, which
writ has not yet been obeyed therefore,
Resolved, That, as citizens of Milwaukee, tina
every person has an indcfcasible right to fai
and impartial trial by jury, on all questions in
volving personal liberty.
Resolced, That the writ Of Habeas Corpus
the great defence Of Freedom, and that we dc
mand for this prisoner, as well as for our ow
protection, that this sacred writ shall be obcyed
Resolced, That we pledge ourselves to stan
by this prisoner, and do our utmost to secure 70
him fair and impartial trial by jury"
Do not fail to read the above resolutions care
fully, for in them the Federal Court, in the pei
son of Judge Miller, discovers that frank o.
fence" against our civil liberty, for which Nj
Booth now lies in prison.
Shortly after these resolutions were passed,
delegation of one hundred men, with the Sheri
ofthc County, arrived from Racine on the steam
boat The Sheriff had warrant for the arres
Of Garland and Cotton. The men from Raciu
marched in procession from the wharf to til
Court House, when Mr.. Booth explained t
them what had been done. G. X. Watkins, Esq
an able lawyer and distinguished member of til
Democratic party, in behalf of the comlnitte
who waited on Judge Miller, reported that tn
Judge had decided that tho writ of Habeas Co,
P"' o"o"'" "ot oe ooeye". ~ was ttiis uecislOn
Miller which caused the rescue of Glover. MI
Booth followed Mr.. Watkins in some remarks i
which ho advised the people to violate no law.
At this meeting committee of twenty five wa
appointed, and, with the Racine delegation, ha
decided to repair to the American House an
take tea. As Mr. Booth, with the rest of tn
committee, was leaving the Court House, tn
Jail was broken open, and Glover was taken gu
Of Milwaukee in an open buggy in double quic
time. Mr.. Booth did not go near the Jail, an
he advised the multitude to commit no vic
lence.
Garland was arrested, and Judge Miller issue
the writ Of Habeas Corpus, and set him at lii
erty. Miller claimed that he had right to il
terpose with State authority and set Garland til
kidnapper, at large, at the same time he denie
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