Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-25
PUBLIC VOICE OF THE PEOPLE.

sALEM, Ohio, April l9th, 1859.
Pursuant 70 previous CALL large meeting
the citizens Of Salem was held in the Town
Hall on The evening Of the 10Th inst. to con-
slider the startling assumption Of the slave pow.
or az manifested in the District Court Of Oleve
land in the case of the "Tbirty seven" citizens
Of Lorain county, now on trial on the charge
Of aiding the escape Of fugitive slave, and to
sympathize with them in their persecution
On motion j. d. Cattell was appointed Pres.
ident, ard DR.. Benjamin Stanton Vice Presi-
dent; Dr. j. NJ. Kuhn and J. X Rukenbrod,
Secretaries The object of the meeting being
stated by Charles GhfHng, Jacob Heaton,
Chas. Grfing, Dr. A. Carey, Mr. Weeks and
Reuben Mcmillan were appointed a committee
on resolutions; in the absence Of the committee
the meeting was addressed by Marius r. Rob-
inson and g. Curry
The Committee reported the following reso-
lutions, which we're after some discussion, ,adop.
ted as the sense Of the meeting
WAereds, Certain of our fellow-oitizens are
on trial in the City of Cleveland under the pro-
visions of the Fugitive Slave act, on the charge
of aiding in the escape of man claimed as q
fugitive; and whereas, the said act of Congress
is gross violation OF both the letter and spirit
Of the Constitution Of the United States, and
more than all at war with the great laws writ
ten by the finger Of God on the human heart
and recorded by inspiration in the Holy Bible,
Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the
servant which is escaped from his master unto
thee" Therefore,
ResOlued /. That we hold as guilty ofno offence
any one who scorns and tramples under foot
that infamous Act, aud whether the parties
NJ der arrest guilty or not of the acts charq-
ed, we equally extend 10 them our warmest
sympathies and coincidence as sufferers for
righteousness sake, under a wicked and inhu-
man law enforced by trucking tools Of a servile
administration.
RESOLVED 2. That is mockery oftruth, and an
insult to the commOnest understanding TO call
Ohio free State, unless our Supreme Court
will vindicate the honor and sovereignty of
the State, by an utter disregard of all decisions
OF the Federal Courts that shall convict or pun
ish any of our citizens for violating the
Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, and that as we
consider the law unjust we will refuse to aid
in enforcing it; as we knolO it is inhuman and
unohiistian we will refuse to obey it, and as
we believe it to be unconstitutional; we will yio-
late and trample upon it.
heS0tpea .. lhaJ nothing rs more manifest than
that the general government as now admins
tered, is exerting all its power to build up, ex-
tend and strengthen the system of human Slav-
cry, aud that every law calculated TO weaken
or delay the supremacy of that interest is eth.
er not enforced at all, or is so managed as to af-
ford no protection to freedom.
ResolUed A. That law so repugnant to the
feelings OF human nature, can never be success.
fully enforced in the great State of OhiO and
the rescue at Wellington shows the feeling and
spirit of the people, and neither fines nor i'm
lprisonments will deter them from interposinp
strong arms, and devoted lives if need be-
ResolUed g. That we view with uDutterable
adherence the Court which by a packed jury
of partizan TOOLS condemn, incareerate, and i'm.
prison upright and loyal citizens of Ohio, for
doing what every right minded man approves;
aud the determination of Judge Wilson to
compel the indicted to be tried by twelve men
who had just pre-judged every point, of law,
and fact, in their case, is monstrous, aud un-
heard off the history illegal jurisprudence.
! ResotDed g. That the malignant spirit of Dis
trlet Attorney Belden, who in hagitious disregard
OF their several recognizances made the motion
ordering them into the custody of the U. s.
Marshal, evinces "the dark spirit of Slavery"
whose servile tool he has become.
ReSOlUed z. That the proceedings of this
meeting be forwarded to Prof Peck, as the re-
preventative of the "Thirty Seven;" and also to
be published in the Salem Republican, A. S.
Bugle, Cleveland Leader, Herald, and Pitts
burgh Gazette.
On motion adjourned.
J. D. CATTELL, President.
j. j. <. <. RURENBRook, RGREi seo'y'