Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-04-23
THE RESCUE TRIALS.

Simeon Bushnell, the only one of the Thirty
Seven indicted yet tried, has been found guilty
by the Jury who sat upon his case--guilty OF hav-
lug violated the Fugitive slave law in the rescue
of John, a. Wellington. =
From the evidence adduced on the trial there is
no doubt but Mr.. Bushnell was concerned in the
rescue of John, but there does seem to be a legal
doubt vhohter he ought not to be permitted to 60
free because of q technical informality in the pro-
ceeedings.
John was captured as a person owing service or
labor under the lars Of Me State from phtch he
.sscaped. Whether he did thus owe service or
labor. or whether a mistake was made in the man,
Ia a question which we trust would not have Affect
ed the action of Mr.. Bushnell nor, we hope,
would that other question, whether the law under
which he was arrested is constitutional or uncon'
,s,itutiepal. However one or both Of these ques'
,tions might have been answered., the great fact OF
Johns humanity would have remained unchanged.
A man, entitled, by nature, acknowledged by
our Declaration of Independence, and by the
principles Of our religion to possess a right to hb'
.erty. was seized and held as q slave, Mr.. Bushnell
snd Others, looking beyond the law, look
ing beyond the Constitution, stood by that
man in defence of his God'gi"en rights. All
honor to them for doing sol 1t was a manly and
Christian deed it was doing unto others ss they
would that others should do unto them. Instead
Of m%eriting fine and imprisonment here. it should
receive from mans, as it will from Gods tribunal
the plaudit of WELL DoSEl
Mr.. Bushnell and his CO. adjutors were probably
not ignorant of the character and provisions oil
the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850; or ii they were,
they doubtless were acquainted with that of 1893,
which is the same in character though less oppres.
sive in degrse, or if ignorant of both, they had,
most likely read the provision of the United States
Constitution upon which these laws are based. 1t
is safe to presume that they knew they were doing
an act which the law declared a crime, and for the
psrpetration Of which had Affixed its penalties
Their arrest was to them, We presume, no matter
for surprise and however unjust and unrighteous
may be their conviction. their fines, and imprison'
ment, they probably expected them all. We have
synpathised with them in their sufferings. AND
expect to continue so to do. Our soul is filled
with indignation, not so much, however, because
she laws We have. are executed, not that the pound
Of flesh which the parties consented to forfeit, il
secured, bu. because the people of Ohio suffer &c
remain upon their national statute book a law &c
inhuman and oppressive, so fraughs with woe to the
escaping slave, SO degrading to the fres men and
FREQ women of the North, We are indignant be
cause the people of Ohio, if conscious they arr
powerless to repeal the law, refuse to rise above
it, and in the majesty Ct State Sovereignty stand
Gor the defence of their own hearth'stones, for thu
yindicatiop of the liberties of their own citizens.
Of what avail is it to be indignant because lawt
arc executed? That IL the very purpose for which
they were enacted and as q generalruls it is well
shat laws which remain upon the statute book
should be enforced. If they are righteous, good,
and good alone will be the result; if unrighteous,
their character will be better understood. and bet
10, appreciated, and their repeal rendered more
sertain by their execat;on to the uttermost letter.
If the lay says, "seizc the property of the Good
Samaritan, confscate it for the benefit Of
She State, tear him away from his wife and little
ones, and shut him up in prison.; although we
laathc the spirit which prompted such e law. and
ds,pise the men who execute its behests, yet We
believe the rigid enforcement OF it, will more than
anything else arouse the North to o sense of ito
danger, and ultimately result in the destruction Of
ihs Law itself. The execution of it will doubtless,
for Q time, involve much physical suffering and