Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-14
I.,b,raI,ou or VIM M. Connolly.


The expiration of the sentence in Jail of the
. victim of the tender mercies Of the Fugitiva
Slave Law as administered by Judge Leavitt
and District Attorney Matthews, was made the
occasion of an imposing demonstration by the
German Association of Turner'S and citizens,
A procession of three Thousand people was
formed and marched to the Jail of Hamilton
county, preceded by the Turner'S Band and an
American flag Though the rain poured down
in torrents, the sidewalks were crowded with
spectators, and as the long line Of torches
came cleaning on, loud shouts of - Long Live
Liberty" went up from the Turner'S and work
ing men At the prison, committee consist
ing Of Judge StalIO, Mr.. Lewis and others, en-
tered and escorted the liberated gentleman TO
the carriage of the committee. His appearance
from the modern Bastile was hailed with deaf
ening cheers, and Mr. Connolly was conveyed
to tho Turner'S Hail. which was denseley
packed with people Judge StalIo introduced
Mr.. Connolly, who, after the cheering subsided,
proceeded to address the multitude.
He commenced by stating that he did not re-
gard the demonstration as q personal comph
ment to himself but, said he, s' | feel gratihed
because ii exhibits that the great German heart
is still true to the cause of freedom and human
ity. (Cheers.) For fifteen years" he contin-
ued that II have been connected with the
press, have the self qualification to know that
during that period l never Penned 4 line ad-
verse 10 the nights of the working man, or pro-
seribihg men for their nationality. Il is true
that did give the unhappy people who soaght
nv protection, 4 shelter In my rOOIn aud true
that I fed them; who set the wires to work and
brought them 70 this side Of the riveT, l am not
now at liberty 10 mention but | do say, that
had known them to be slaves, and in their ef-
fort Tor freedom they came to me way-wOrn and
hungry, do say that, so help me God, l would
not have refused them, If had been sure that
the gaIlows would have been my recOmpense
loud Clieers.)
The speaker here paid compliment to the
love of liberty, which was the main-sPring of the
German character, and which, said he, " l also
have inherited, descending on one side from the
scandinavian stock, and upon the other from
the old Scotch Covenanters."
Mr.. C. commented with severity on the un-
fair and lliberal proceedings against him,
charging that the use of his letters written to
Mr. Matthews as evidence was dishonorable
violaiion of confidence; that while he was out
on hail the District Attorney endeavOred to per
-suade him to run off that the jury was preju-
diced; that when he objected to juror who had
declared that he had been sent for to convict
Connolly, Deputy U. S. Marshal was put In
his place and that Judge Leavitt knew that
there was a precedent required, and that his
conviction had been resolved on. Mr. COnnel-
" also read extracts from the Cincinnati Her
AID, rabid Abolition sheet, formerly edited by
Stanley Matthews,and Ehieh, Connolly averred,
were written by him. These extracts, one of
which strongly denounced the Democratic party,
were received with cheers and laughter.
Judge StalIO. Mr.. Jacob, and others made
speeches in German, and were followed by Mr.
Ge rye Thompson, who had been incAreerated
for five years in the State Prison of Missouri
for sympathi1ing with fugitive slaves The
MarseilAise Hymn and kindred songs were
sung, and the people did not disPerse until a
laie hour.