Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-10
PUBLIC VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.
Hear ola Ashrabulu speak,
JEprrRsoF, Ohio, May 9, 1855


ronsing Meeting here on Saturday night, aud
the people Of Jefferson spoke out in living tones
upon the great questions of State Rights end
Personal Liberty AZ a very short notice we
filled our Court House full, which for a night
meeting in our rural village is an unmistakea-
Bile sign Of earnest action. We designed II for
town meeting, to set the ball in motion-the
ball which, we trust, will grind TO ashes the
lyrants and tyranny that may stand in the way
Of Freedom, and "rOll on till it fills the whole
earth" |##.
The meeting was organized by the appoint
ment of the following officers
Presidenf-ABNER KELLoe.
Vice. .Pres,dents-J +. PULsiPHER and L,
WooD.
Seestaries-W. G, HowELLs and ]. D. ES.
SION
Committee on Resolutons-C. s. SMoNDs,
W. o. HowELLs, ID. s. WADE, W. r. ALLEN,
and Rev. A. D. OLDs.
During the absence Of the Committee our
Senator CIDwELL addressed the meeting in a
seeech of great power and eoquence, expires.
sing in intensified terms the spirit of the resolu-
tions
The following Resolutions were then report.
ed, and after little discussion, adopted, with
out dissenting voice.
RssoiUed, That we deeply sympathize with
our friends, now in prison in Cleveland,
for their devotion TO liberty, and assure them
that when the Judiciary OF our State shall re
fuse relief, and the necessity for action by the
people will become obvious, we pledge ourselves
that no prison shall hold them.
That a system of Slavery, which not only
fetters the body but shuts out truth and know
ledge from the human understanding, consti.
tutes a crime at which humanity shuddeTs.
That those who will aid in committing such
crime, deserve and should meet the fate Of the
worst of criminals
That the enactment known as the Fugitive
Slave Law, was conceived by tue enemies of
the Union, and violates the spirit as well as the
express language Of the Federal Constitution.
In its terms, it is wantonly insulting to free
people. 1t violates the rights of the States, and
Is intolerahly tyrannical and oppressive in its
character No person possessing the spirit OF
freedom will respect OF obey It.
That the recent order from Washington di-
recting the Marshal to resist the service OF the
BdbtaS Corpus in favor of the prisoners, and
thereby suspend the Constitution OF our State
and that oil the United States is but fitting
indication of the character Of that law, and OF
the means by which it must be enforced.
That if the people of the Western Reserve
submit TO such insolence, they deserve the name
of Slaves
That in view of the circumstances by which
We are suuounded we call upon the people of
our several townships to hold meetings and
take measures for an efficient organization OF
those who are willing to act, in this hour OF
freedoms peril-by reviying the ancient Or
der OF the "Sons OF Liberty or adopting such
other measures as shall best prepare us to meet
the impending emergencies.
Upon the adoption of these resolutions the
Old War Horse took the floor and made one OF
his powerful and peculiar speeches, with telling
effect. He closed by sketching history Of the
Order of the Sons of Liberty in New England
an organized body of the days Of the Reyolu.
ton, to apply the doctrines of free government
to practic and protection of the right. They
were the men, he said who compelled the Brit
ish Stamp Act Commissioner, INGERsoL, to re-
sigu his royal commission and sfterward en-
acted the "Boston Tea Party" He then sub
mitted Constitution for such u body, and after
signisg it himself invited others to follow his
example, when nearly hundred names were
enrolled upon the spot These men will be
heard from, when you want them.
The meeting was addressed by several others,
amnng whom we're A. Kellogg, G. 5. Simonds,
aud a, .. Hall, Prouainnnt me'nbefs OF our bar,
and Mr. Whitman our Recorder, and Mr.. Hen
dry our Sheriff
Senator Wade was absent, and unavoiIably
delayed from home; and we were compelled to
submit to the disappointment of not hearing
the fire of his battery.
Tell "the feIOns" that our people stand ready
to either ereeute or issue the habeas corpus in
their behalf if necessity calls for it.
Yours, W. Q. HOWELLS.