Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-20
THE ARRoGANcE OF FEDERAL OFFICERS

THE ARROGANCE OF FEDERAL OFFICERS.
1t is well known that number of the most
estimable and worthy citizens of Ohio are now
confined in prison for an alleged violation of
the Fugitive Slave Law. But the means by
which the Federal Court procured their incar-
ceration and attempts to justify it against the
indignant and almost unanimous public senti-
ment of the Western Reserve are not so well
known. From the commencement of these
most remarkable trials the court and the Off
GERS have manifested cool and determined
purpose to compel the conviction of the accus-
ed or to involve them in some personal humil-
iation and dishonor. Some of the leading facts
in this case will show to what extremity of
injustice the federal courts and officers are
compelled to go in defence of the slave laws.
In December last the Marshal of the District
visited the accused in Oberlin, informed them
that he had warrants for their arrest, and ex-
pected to meet them before the court at Cleve-
land, on the following day They appeared in
court at the time appointed and asked an i'm
mediate trial. The District Attorney, not
having arranged all the tricks and devices of
the prosecution, called for delay to the 9th of
April, which the court allowed. AT that time,
having already suffered great personal incon-
venience, and leaving their business affairs me-
elected and uncared for during their indefinite
absence, those under indictment presented
themselves at the bar of the court, and during
the whole of the Bushnell trial were in daily
attendance, and in full compliance with the
rules of the court.
AT the close of the Bushnell case it was
agreed between the counsel to take up that of
Langston next, when, to the astonshment of
all the court decided that he and all the accused
were to be tried by the same jury which con-
victed Bushnell. Against this arrogant Ju-
dicial outrage, their counsel earnestly pro-
tested, and, finally, declared that the de-
PENDANTS would not stultify themselves,
by either offering evidence, or appear
ing by counsel. The court then ordered
them into the custody of the marshal, and their
recogn zances were cancelled. To escape the
odium which the court and some ofthe officers
Immediately saw would follow the imprison-
ment of these men, they were offered their lib
erty, but refused to accept it SO long as the or
der of the court remained When the court
again assembled, it was found that an entry
had been made upon the journal ayerring that
the defendants were ordered into custody be-
cause they had surrendered themselves in dis
charge of their recognizances. Against this
manifest and papable falsehood the defend
ants made another explanation and protest, but
the court, after taking the matter under adj
visement, decided that the record must stand.
Thus, every avenue for the honorable escape
of the incarcerated company was cut off. To
sum up the points Of the above history in their
own words, written in Jail =
"The imprisoned are here because an order
OF the court put them here they stay here be-
cause Judicial wrong under which they sue
fer is unredressed, and because journal entry
of the court will not allow them to go out with
out personal disgrace, the disgrace they would
suffer In virtually acknowledging that they had
been guilty of most foolish action and that
they were ready to sneak away from the di-
lemma in which their action had placed them
The self respect of the imprisoned the sense of
honor which Heaven planted in their souls, and
which revered parents carefully nursed, will not
permit them to involve themselves in such dis
mere 'punctilio' to avoid the dishonor to which
their only chance of escape exposes them, and
now the circumstances in which they are plac-
ed and the relation which they sustain to a
good cause, beset and imperilled by oppressive
power, make what might, in another case, be
an inconsiderable affair, rise into duty of the
greatest magnitude The imprisoned cannot
allow it to be said that when freedom was as
sailed on her last field, they ingloriously drop
ped their banner to save themselves inconven-
fence and suffering. They are not willing to
have even an appearance Of submission to tyran-
nical power on their part, become pledge that
the dabolical fugitive slave act is hereafter to
work its own on the Western Reserve"
1t is not at all surprising that the feeling of
the Western Reserve, which has quietly sub
mitted while these judicial wrongs were &C.
cumulating against men guilty of no crime, is
now awakened to the necessity of imposing
some restraints upon the federal judiciary. Ad-
init all that is charged against the prisoners;
they have nothing to apologize for or conceal.
They have done simply what the honest cit-
zens of every town in Massachusetts would
have done under similar circumstances
Yet federal officers in a community as
enlightened, highminded, and humane as any
In the land, have subjected them to insults
which would not have been offered to counter
letters or thieves. 1t is suitable time when
such men are in peril, and when the courts de-
grade themselves below the respect of any, for
those who believe the Fugitive slave law to be
fragment of insufferable tyranny, to say it
must not be obeyed