New-York daily tribune., 1859-07-07
THE OBERLIN VICTIMS OF GOVERN
MENTAL OPPRE SSION

| l. A slave named John is alleged TO have escaped
nearly three years ago from his master in Kentucky.
III. In September last he was pursued, and man
living in Oberln and taken TO be the same person,
was seized by armed men, he being decoyed ont OF
! the village at the instance Of the pursuers.
H. He was hurried of to Wellington, to await the
| first train of cars going south.
". Tidings having reached the inhabitants of
Obein excited already by the knovledge that slave
ca.chers bad been prowlipg about the village, few
persons basteped to wellington for the purpose Of
cuire one whom they believed TO be kidnsPped man,
V. Those mea, with others, citizens OF wellington,
succeeded in delivering the negro from his caPtors.
VI The officers OF the Federal Govern nent nrralgnei
these men as criminals part being white men anu part
colored men.
VII. packed Jury, selected by the Marshal, every
one of whom Buchanan Democrat, found the two
who were tried guilty. One was sentenced 10 pay
t6OO and the other 800, and both were imprisoned.
viii. The rest demanded instant trials, bat the
Judge postponed the trials, and would have Admitted
the prisoners TO bail if they had virtually confessed
that they were JeLons. The Sheriff, bound by the law
of the State receive and hold United States pms
Oners, said to these prisoners receive you not a.
",elons but ns friends for would have acted ss you
TX. The Wellington men made some concessions,
and after being fined $25 each and imprisoned one day,
| were discharged
X. The two convicted men remanded to prison;
required, went with them. ~
XI The party has now been confined upward Of 20
days and they may remain there all Sumn.r or longer
Prof Henry T.. Peck is one Of them. Last year he
was the Moderator Of Ohio Congregational Confer
eDce lie belongs to a very rare class OF men. The
Ohio Conference of this year have, by their Modera-
tor addressed him in public letter. IN which IT Is
said: am able TO you there Is not oae oi US
"who does not make your cause his own, and VINO
"would not if were possible, be willing to share
with you your prison suferings. And We do all pray
"God to enable you humbly 10 endure your sunerlnSs
"for weeks GER if heed be, rather than compromise
"in any way the principles of Justice and Freedom"
XII. The prisoners urgently needed immediate
help Nine Of the thirteen now IN jail are married
Six of the number depend wholly on their daily labor
for support and the rest OF small means
Forty children Of the prisoners look to their imprisoned
fathers under God, for their daily bread. Already
have the prisoners expended 800 for necessary ef-
pen,es attending the trials, and they owe 500 more
for The same. They have had to pay 500 to the
Sheriff for entertaining members OF their families who
have visited them, and furnishing the prisoners such
| becessaries as the Government " i'll not prosde.
KILL II the trials go on as considerng the chsrac-
ter of the Judge and the DisicAttorney, and the in
auepce of the Federal Government tney probably
will there will be gies expenses to meet for the prs-
oners me ap il the prosecution cbaleDges to carry on
defensive hostIt'es large scale, the Government
having opel ed itself TO assault in various ways they
believe that the opportunity for proving to the Amen-
people what Federal aggressions are, shouia not
be loet ,
NV. The Congregational Conferences OF Michig an
Illinois. Ohio and Iowa have uttered strong words OF
sympahy and the effect ofthe cruel treatment OF the
prsone rs /, appearing in Ohio and other Stses in
stirring up 10 action Of the longlstent personal Cars
tian Ahti-Slavery sentiment of the people.
XIV. The prisoners believe ths; God approves their
course He has raised up friends, has visited the prs-
oners with peculiarly roh outpourings of grace, and
hss turned their TO good account in quckening
of Anti Slavery real which is reported to them from
various parts Of the land.
XVI. An communications Iof inquiry or donations,
may be directed to s. Plumb, esq, Oberln, Lorain
County o., or TO the Old Ami-tad Committee in New
York, which is still in working order unbroken-LEwIs
TAPPAs, Treasurer, No As Betkmsn street, New York