The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-08-31

A Brief Chapter in the History q
a Public Man-One Of the Can
didates Of the Republican Part
an Av0wed DIsunIOntst-AI.e lea
from the Record.
At the recent Convention of the Reput
lican party Of this county, William Stet
man, Esq, Of Randolph, was placed In non
inatlon as one of lie candidates for Repre-
sentative. This is the same William STEAD
man, who but few yesre ago, followed th
renowned Abby Kelly and the Garrisonia
disunionists, who travelled through the coun
try,incIting treason among the people agains
the government, declaring the Constitution
of the United States to be ia Covenant wit
He'll and Lssgue with the Devil" and Ai
is the man whom the Republicans of Por,
age county have put in nomination as thei
standard bearer-as the embodiment of thei
principles.
Thinking It might not be uninteresting It
our readers 10 know something of the pas
history of this gentleman, we have been a
some trouble to procure a few interesting
facts, which we copy from the Public Rec
ords of this county.
In 1s46, Mr.. Stedman was an acting Jus.
tice of the Peace, in the township of Ran.
dolph in this county, but so thoroughly i'm
bued had he become with the fell spirit OF
disunionism that, on the 10th of September
of that year, he resigned the office, and sent
to the Clerk Of the Court OF Common Pleas
Of this county, the following precious speci
men Of polite literature, which is still on file
in that Office:
" Clerk of Court OF Common Pleas of Port.
age County.
The Statute provides that the resignation
of Justice Of the Peace shall be made to the
Clerk OF Court of Common Pleas of the
proper county. Accordingly herewith
transmit to you my resignation and commits
sion as Justice of the Peace of Randolph
township and repudiate the oath took to
support the Constitution of the United
States endorsed the back Of it. sincerely
regret ever took and never did nor never
will support ii When shut my door against
my oppressed brethren (the painting slave)
Or shoulder my musket to shoot him down If
ne rise impelled by his own native instinct
and thirst for liberty or in emulation of the
heroes Of .76 to assert his independence
may God shut the door of bis mercy to mt :"
Yours &c
WILLIAM sTEDMAN."
Sept. 10, 1886.
Received and recorded, Sept. l6, l946.
HORACE Y. BEEBE, Clerk.
About one year later, Mr.. Stedman was
ummoned to act os Juror in the Supreme
Court of Ohio, to be held in this County, but
Vhen that Court commenced its session, he
allied to make his appearance in obedience
0 the summons, and an attachment for con.
empt was issued against him, and he was
y virtue thereof brought before that Court
y the Sheriff, Mr.. GiIis, when he filed
le following Answer to purge himself OF the
ontempt alleged, which forms q part Of
le records of that Court and may be found
| Supreme Court Records, Book "H," ,"page
IL:
. the Judges Of the Supreme Court of Por. I
toge County, SIS. :
have only 10 state 10 the court that so .
r from intending any contempt, in not ap- ,
Barring to serve as a juror at this term of
e court, supposed the court would con.
der my appearance and refusal to serve as I
i'll greater contempt for cannot conscien- n
ously serve in that capacity. have learn.
higher philosophy than to overcome
ii with eet!i and the dictates of nv con. Il
ience as to duty, cannot disobey, even if Fl
bring down upon my head the vengeance
the law. In the first place cannot take >;
oath, for | am taught by high authority VI
consider) to "swear not" and cannot a
the second place be accessory to the rem C
ring verdict willingly upon which yer. Vi
It the force of the county will be used for h,
collection of the Judgment, based upon ~
verdict. or the carrying out the sentence I'll
the law. "Might does not make right" to
rther | was not able to perform any labor th
afternoon of the day before the setting fo
The court nor ON The first day of term, in =,
lsequence of an indisposition Ga feverish ~
element resulting from large "bile" OF
IN my left leg) which rendered me inca tn
lie to act ns juror intelligibly had my 90
science permitted me. But this pas moi ~
reason Of my nom attendance, for hon ~
ly supposed you would consider it the OF
ne If not greater contempt to come and pa
Use to swear. bu
III Of which is respectfully sub mitted by M
i ob't servant, r.
WILLIAM GTEDMAN. ah
Comment is unnecessary. Mr.. Stedman he
be proper representative of the senti. m;
its Of the leaders Of the Republican par. fol
'ut we cannot believe that the people of ba
county, or even the masses OF the oppo. ba
n porty, are ready to endorse such trea- fo,
bile sentiments by electing the author be,
lem to represent them in the councils OF in
of the noblest commonwealth in this m,
ious confederacy. The sentiments en-. M,
lined by Mr.. Stedman now, as we have
authority for saying, are identical with y,
expressed by him in 1867.