Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-02-15

of crime. The warrant for my arrest charges
Tne-so the legal fiction runs-with "untaigfuI
Ely aiding and abetting' the escape of "a human
being from bondage.
My answer to that charge is that it is not
true. Whatever laid and comfort | may have
rendered to the hunted and battered fugitive, it
was only such aid and comfort as the laws per-
nit, as humanity dictates, and as the plainest
precepts of the Christian religion required OF
me on peril of my soul. So far, therefore, from
having to reproach myself with what have
done, Iought perhaps, to blame myself for not
having done more. Instead of keeping, as
have done, strictly within the letter of the law,
perhaps, ought to have br,lved the penalty OF
those who broke open the Jail, and set an exam
pie of resistance to this Fugitive Act, by aiding
in the forcible rescue Of Glover.
But knew that human blood-hounds were
on my track, ready to pounce on me with all the
force of the General Government. and that the
Federal Courts, and the Federal officials, who
take SO deep an interest in this prosecution, and
whose suggestions have been SO valuable to the
| prosecuting Attorney, would rejoice at an ocoa-
sion to silence my press while the Nebraska ini
guilty was waiting either for and ignoble birth
or q premature baptism, by faith breaking god
fathers, or q hopeless death and an infamous
grave and so chose the path Of prudence, and
maintained an untoward regard for IL law in
wardly loathel and abhored, and treated as
legal verify, what believe, in my inmost soul,
to be a stupendous fraud, as wicked us stipend
Gus, and nulity before God and man,
But am frank to say, and the prosecution
may make the most of it, that sympathize
with the rescuers of Glover, and rejoice at his
escape. Irejoice that, in the first attempt of
the slave-hanters to convert our Jail into slave
pen, and our citizens into slave-catchers, they
have been signaly foilcd, and that it has been
decided by the spontaneous uprising and sover-
egn voice of tho people, that no human being
can be dragged into bondage from Mlwau-
kie. And am bold to say, that rather than
have the great constitutional rights and safe
guards of the people, the writ Of Habeas Cor
pus and the right Of trial by jury stricken down
by this Fugitive law, would prepare to see ev-
cry Federal officer in Wisconsin hanged on u
gallows fifty cubits higher than lannon's. loud
cheering, and the Court threatens to clear tho
room.)
May ii please the Court l understand well.
and this community understand well why have
been singled out by the prosecution. 1t is not
because am specially guilty, or more guilty
than hundreds, whom the save-catcher' attor-
ney would not think of prosecuting but because
is desired to make an example of me, and the
slave power wants me for victim. That pow
er wished to introduce the discipline of the
slave plantation among the editorial fraternity,
to silence their voice in behalf Of freedom, and
therefore it cracks its lash, Or gets the District
Attorney and this honorable Court, to or lck it
abont my ears, as one thought to be in ne ID of
such discipline. My conviction and punishment,
it is hoped, will strike terror into tho hearts Of
the people, and compel them to stiho those feel
ings of humanity, implanted to feed the hungry,
clothe the naked, hide the outcasts and obey the
commands of merciful God, instead of the
edicts Of cruel and wicked mon.
have done nothing in this case, which, liv-
ing, could wish to forget, or, dying, | would
wish to blot out of tho memory Of mankind.
Whatever may be the finding of this
Court, stand acquitted in the Judgment, in the
hearts and conscirnces of all who love freedom,
and hate oppression, Of all who stand for order
regulated by righteous law, Of all who value
Republican Institutions and would transmit
them. pnre and free as u heritage to their chill
dren-ot all who scorn the inofflbly mean and
inhuman business ofkidnapping of all who honor
manhood and despse base sychophancy and ser.
vile frowning to the Slave Power, and of all
who would die on che battle field or on the glib.
bet, rather than sacrifice theip conscience, deny
their Maker and surrender the liberties to the
vilest despotism the sun cvershone upon
The result of this trial was TINT Mr.. Booth
was held to bail in the sum Of two Thousand
dollars Dr. G. E. Mundcrly became Mr.. b.
bail.
In june last, DR.. Munderly gave up Mir
Booth into tho hands of the u. S. Marshall, re
fusing to be his bail longer, at that time. 4
writ of Habeas Corpus was issued by Judge a
D. Smith, first associate justice of the Supren,
Court of the State. Judge Smiths decision
you well recollect. Mr. Booth was discharged
from the custody of the United States officers
In July, Miller held his court at Madison, anc
after charge to the grand jury, of most vim
dictve and tyrannical character, a charge stupic
in the very axioms of despotism, the grand jury
found bill against Mr. Booth Mr.. Ryecratt
and Mr.. Messenger, all of Milwaukee Mr.
Booth was again arrested blythe U. S. Marshal
and he again offered DR.. Munderly for his bail
Miller and his son, who is clerk of his father
court, refused to accept DR.. Manderly because
that he, Munderly, had surrendered Booth wher
he was his bail before. Mr. Booth lay in .Ai
several days, and finally Miller concluded to &C
cept of DIR Munderly, who, by the way, is goot
for $50, 900, any time. While Mr.. Booth wa
in jail, application was made second time, tt
a the Supreme Court, for writ of Habeas Cor
# pus. This was refused, so that, after all tina
: has boon said about this ancient safeguard, it il
t no better than rope of sand The Suprem,
9 Court OF this State decided that Congress neve
e had the power to pass law on the subject o
0 the rendition Of lugitives from service or labor
i. that such power could only be exercised by TIN
States, as they had never parted with it, an,
q still the Courts have thus far failed to protec
o the citizens of the State against unlawful seiz
ure and imprisonment.
f Mr.. Booths trial before the U. s. Court cam
on the first week in the present month at Mil
n YANKEE. Probably there never was case in tn
nation where the jury was packed for the sol
8 purpose of convicting the defendant to that OK
tent, us in this case. Men were allowed to 81
| on the jury who were noisy brawlers for SLAYER,
g and the Fugitive Act, who were most bitter enc
0 mics of Mr.. Booth, and had expressed publiel,
/ a wish that he should be convicted and punishe,
to the extent of tho law.
d When the trial came on, Miller issued hi
: edlct, or, as he would call it, request that tn
proceedings should not be published. The re-
d porters of the Free Democrat and Sentinel wer
: expelled from the bar of the Court. Bat it di,
: no good-they WouM publish the proceedings
g Under another charge from Miller, the Gran,
Jury made presentment of the Free Democra