The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-06-02
Joshua ~. Catddings on the Obcrlin
Npsrup CnsC

The Cleveland Leoder publishes long letter
from Hon J. X. Giddings, in which he gives his
views on the rescue cases. We give the more
significant portions OF il;
JEFFERSON, May d. 1869.
NV DEAR FRtsNp, You ask my opinion in
regard to the past action and the future course
of the oberiu prisoners, now in joil at Cevc-
land, for violating the fugitive slave enactment.
This slave enactment under which our friends
ore imprisoned, was passed in order TO involve
the people Of the free States in this guilt; for
the purpose of making them accessories TO such
crimes.
In disregsrding this Law, the prisoners did
right Their error consisted IN spurng the
lives of the slave cotchcrs. Those pirates should
have been delivered over to the cooTgd men aud
consigned to the doom Of pirates, which should
have been speedily executed. You are aware
thai this is the doctrine which proclaimed IN
Congress. | adhere to II. Had the prisoners
executed the slave catchcrs promptly, IT would
have taught the Administration lesson not
soon TO be forgotten. q should have been no
more troubled with that class Of miscreauts.--
They would have learned better than to show
themselves among an intelligent people who
know their rights and dare maintain them
But IN rescung their fellow man from the fangs
of those blood hounds, tie prisoners did right
Present and coming generations will bless them
for ii. II was a high anI moral duty, the exer-
else of virtue whch sheds u halo Of glory
fonnd the memories OF our republican faith eTs.
When arrested for such an act they did well in
refusing to give bail. When brought into Court
they did right in refusing bail; and in my opin.
ion they cennot now rcedc from the manly po-
eilion which they have assumed BY these
noble nets the, have inscribed their names upon
n most important p1ge of our history. They no
longer act for themselves in this business, out
for Justice for liberty, for the cause oil freedom
The eyes Of the nation nre upon them They
should bear in mind the character OF the people
of this portion Of our gallant State. They should
remember the pilgrim fathers from whom They
have descended. Cleveland is now the Boston
of l775, nnd trust her sons will meet the re.
sponsibii,cs thrown upon them with becom'
ing irmncss.
As to the future sec no other course Tor the
prisoners ihuu patiently to await events. TheiI
counsel will apply to the Supreme Court OF ON
State for bebeas corpus whenever sentence shall
be pronounced upon any OF their number.
have great confidence in the Judges com
posing that Court: But should they prove une-
oual TO the OCCASION the case will be fully made
up, end the appeal must then be taken to that
highest of earthly tribunals, the source of all
political power The people, finding this gov.
crnmeul TO have become "destructipc Of the lirc8
tho Liberties and tho happiness Of it's citizens
1rill utter aud abolish il; and organize its poiC
srs in such form as 10 them shall seem most like
w to cGcct their safely andhappineSS.
This duty, SO solemnly enjoned upon us by
the founders of our government in that immor
tul charter OF American liberty to which, for al
most century. we have been accustomed tc
look Tor instruction aud direction in regard &c
our rights. ipiH not be neglected.
Yours for Liberty and the Constitution,
J. r. GipDiNGs.
Hon. RALPn PLUMB.