M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-11
Republicans would hang

back to bondage. Republicans would hang
the slavehunter.
When Federal officers recently attempted
to punishthirty citizens of 0berlin, for res
cung a man from the hands of miscrean Is
who had recaptured, and were attempting to
re-enslave him, public attention was attract
ed to the subject. People regarded those
who enacted the law, those who retained ol-
flee and thus voluntarily sought to enforce it,
and the miscreants who under it atemp ted
to enslave innocent men, as equally guilty,
The popular mind was for a time dissuaded
from executing retributive justice; but give
il as my opinion that if the prosecution mad
been continued in the spirit previously man
ifested, those officers iV0RLd hare been hanged
before thcir OgR doors. You would say
that such an ACT would have been civil
war;" 1t would have been resistance to a
war commenced by those who passed the fu-
gtive act, (lor it is no law,) a war upon
,humaH nature" war carried on by those
who uphold that act and by those who at.
tempt to execute. ltis a war upon the weak q,
The lriendless; upon people who are enti-
tied to every sympathy Of our hearts; peo-
pie who cannot protect their own lights
And | would suggest that it becomes pub
lie men to step lightly when they tread upon
the liberties ofa down trodden people. Nor
will great names sanctily great crimes. You
speak of Judge McLean's opinion of this law;
but the people Judge their judges, aud hold
them to a rigid responsibility. Had these
officers been hanged IN the manner intimated q,
Judge Mclean would not have tried them. -
United States laws would have had no ap-
pIication to the case. They would have
been tried under State law and by State Judg-
es, by judge Of The county who would have
determined both LaW and fact. The arm Of
despotsm is ever paralzed, when raised to
strike an Intelligent people. They may bring
the necks OF despots to the halter, but deS-
pots never can bring their heads to The JLOck
They govern themselves according TO the
constitutional laws. but they cannot be gov
emed by fear of the buyouet, or the block.
| do not object to your giving utterance
to your sentiments only object to your
representing them as the sentiments of the
Republican party. am one of that party;
delest the fugitive law; would slay any
slave catcher who would poute my residence
to re capture fugitive. But should feel
somewhat dsgraced by having my head
brought to the block for doing that service
to mankind.
At the late Republican Convention Of
our State, you were one Of the Committee
who reported that this law was destructive 10
the rights Of tie StuteS, the Liberties Of hspeo-
pie,ANDA TO TIL. FELL NGs OF THE
CIVILIZED WORLD. These are your own dec
laralions as they stand recorded Yet you
would have our people surrender their rights
as State, pcrmt their own liberties to be
isubyerled, in order 70 show their respect for
this fugitive act. This is not RepubttcGH
sentiment. Irepeat do not blame you for
your honest opinions, but you have no right
to say that such opinions are entertained b y
Republicans. As one of the Republican
party, one who aided in its formation and
has ever supported it, aud with due respeC /,
declare them anli.Republican, anti Chris
tjaa, opposed to the honor of cur State, the
liberties Ol our people, and the rights of man.
. kind. J.R. GDDIEGs.