The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-13
The Rsscusrs Free.


The Oberlin Political Prisoners have been
set free by the voluntary act of the United
States District Attorney, who entered molies
in the cases of the twelve prisoners in jail and
all Others under indictment for the same charg-
es. - \
These suits were instituted and prosecuted
f'om the beginning with spirit that would
not damage the reputation of the Evil one,
ed now. says plainly, and beyond the point Of
controversy, that the aim designed to be &C.
complished has been defeated. 1he Demo
cratic party have sunk capitalinstead of max
ing it, the Federal officers havv covered them
selves with infamy and disgrace, instead of
being able to enforce the infamous enactment
they sought to do, on the Western Reserve
Instead of getting money out of the persecu-
ted, the United States foots the bills.
AS we said last week, we say again, the
Oherlin men have gone to their homes, with
out stain upon their fair names. They have
been consistent, manly. .law-abiding, God serv
ing, true and faithful to the end. e= es
We need not recapituIate the details of the
snits and trials. They are familiar to everv
Republican--and have stirred the heart of eve
ry man. with burning indignation.
Long ago these men, just now discharged,
were offered their liberty on personal reeog
nisance, but they said no, aud were sent to Jail
by their prosecutors. @
Many have thought this course unnecessary,
aud that the bail should have been given
Bnt these noble men were ready and resolved
to stand by their principles and permit the
hyenas of the slave power to do their very
worst.
The sequel proves that they were right -
That their. conrse has received the blessing o
Heaven. That noW they haze their aperfec
triumph. ~
The Federal power has been taught tina
Northern Ohio is not Slave-bunting territory
They have always known that it could no
be 30 made By fair and honorable means, AM
the suppliant TOOLS who have done the bid
ding of foul masters thus far, fad that the
have undertaken too large job. and after lou
and iusolent bluster and bravado. after th
use of tuo packed juies. after calling for th
military to help protect the purity of tsei
Iavs(!,), this immaculate Federal power hs
backed down. withdrawn its prosecutions an
prosecutions, and turned the Oberlin men o,
Of jail ealr
The Kentucky kidnappers, Jennings &c
stood with the pepitentiary staring them in til
face and close at hand. They could not
tried by Federal packed jury-and they da,
not go to trial before honest men, The cas-,
against them have been dismissed,
So far as the men arraigned before the
s. Court are concerned, this was done wit
out their participation in the slightest degre
in any part. t.of the negotiations that were ne
essary to accomplish what has been done.
The negotiations we're entirely in the han
of the Lorain authorities, and o. 8. Distri
Attorney B-lden.
Sometime ago proposition was submit,
to them to enter plea of aoHe contend,
receive sentence of $40 fine and cos
abandon the prosecution of the kidnapne
and thus dispose Of the matter.
This proposal from the base minions of I
slave power, they spurned as freemen would
and still they are conquerers-and we no
they may live to see the day when he t,igbt
power in the United States will abolish 4
Fugitive Slave enactment-and when he b;o
est Judiciary tribunal in Ohio will dare to 4
as freemen.
Some of the last scenes enacted at Gle,
land, have been reported in the papers Of tf
city. They. are Of touching interest, and fol
available chapter in the history Of these c,
es. As our space allow, we copy them.