Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1859-05-26
The Oberln Prisoners Appealing to the
Public.

&F TuDlC.
4 Thirteen OF the Oberlin prisoners, in Jail at
Cleaveiand, have put forth long statement oil
their case, in the form Of an appeal to the peo-
pie Of the Western Reserve. They rehearsc the
history Of the Rescue trials, from the time OF
their arrest to the period of their Incarceration
in prison, and charge upon the Court settled
purpose to humiliate them and bring about
their conviction. In commenting upon the
conduct of the Bushnell trial, they say
In the cou Sc OF the Bushnell trial it was
made clear to the defence that there was a de-
sire on the part Of the Court to secure con
yiction, and determination on the part OF the
District Attorney to bring about the humia-
ton of all the indicted. The proofs of pur-
pose to make judicial and personal war upon
them were SO plain that the defendants could
not shut their eyes to them. They felt con-
strained, therefore, to be on their guard and to
be watehul against emergencies which might
involve them in lasting injury and reproach.-
This purpose, however, did not prevent their
continuing the full compliance with the rules
of the Court, and with the terms of their
recognzances, which they had before rendered.
Affairs being in this posture, the Government
evidently seeking opportunities Tor assault, and
the defence looking well to its means for parry
ing the assault, the Bushnell trial came to an
end On the rendition of the verdict, CONVEX
sation arose between counsel on the two sides as
( TO What case. was to be tried next. 1t was
finally determined by the Government that
Iangstons case should be called on, and coun-
sci 10Y the defence, which had previously said
thasit was not ready to 60 on with that case,
sgni6ed that it would be ready by the time the
jury was drawn, What was the surprise of
counsel at hearing the Court declare that the
saw, jury was to try all the rescue cases-all
Of them, be ii noted, involving the same mate
rial points How, then could jury have just
risen from the consideration of one of them,
impdrtioliv address itself to the consideration of
another? Against this remarkable order Of
Court, the counsel for the defence made earnest
protest, and finally declared that, under such
ruling the Court might go on with the cases
as fast as it pleased, the defendants would not
stultiiy themselves by either offering evidence
or appearing by counsel With this the Dis
trict Attorney moved that the defendants be or
dered into custody. The Court replied The
District Attorney is entitled to the order Let
I the accused be called. T"
Their refusal to enter into new recognizances,
is explained by the prisoners as follows:
" Knowing that the matter they had in hand
was IN important one, and that either remaining
in custody or giving new recognizances involved
great issues to themselves and others, the i'm
prisoued took time to consider both their posi-.
tion and their duty. While they were pursuing
their Inquiries, they entertained the hope that
the Supreme Court would release them from
dures by granting them habeds corpus. Their
hope ID this direction was presently blighted by
the reGusal Of the Court to grant the writ, and
then hey found the way to honorable escape
from nstody more edectaally closed than it had
ever bfore been. II they entered into recogni-
zanccs ,r given bail upon the heels of their de-
feat atColumbus, they would have encouraged
he Prosecution in the belief that they were