Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-25
For the Leader.
Publid Meeting in Erie County.

MAReAETTl, Erie Co., May 90, 1859.
EDITOR OF LEADER On the evening of the
goth inst, very large number of the most
substantial and influential citizens of our town
ship met to listen to an address from j. NJ
Langston, Esq, of Obcrlin, on the subject OF
the Wellington Rescue and the treatment OF
the U. S. Court toward alleged to be rescuers.
On motion, r. II. Rogers, Esq, was called
to the Chair, who duly presided during the
meeting This was truly an indignation meet
ing, for while Mr. Langston, with his almost
unequaled oratoreal powers, portrayed to US
the abomnable character of the Fugitive Slave
Law and the treatment of these noble men,
now in Jail in Cleveland, under it, the people
gave evidence of their Indignation by demon
stratons not to be misunderstood. Att con-
clusion of Mr.. Langstons well directed and
truly effective speech the following preamble
and resolutions, expressive of the sentiment
and settled conviction OF the people, were unan
imously adopted
WHEREAS, Justice and judgment have been
strickon down in our land, and right and LID
erty lie bleeding in the dust-and whereas the
Declaration OF Independence and the United
States Constitution have been supplanted and
over-pOwered through the Vaccinations OF the
slave power, and pro slavery public sentiment
made the ruling influence in all the departments
OF the national gOvernment-and, whereas, the
slave oHgarchy through our national executive,
national judiciary, aud our national Legislature
is aiming TO crush out the free spirit of the
North and overthrow and destroy the sOve-
reignty anJ influence that belong constitutions
ally and rlghtiully to every free State in this
UnIon-aud, whereas, the same slave oligarchy
is JestrOy z, through the instrumentality OF
base and lnhuman legislative enaclments, the
pure and free Christianity of our country, and
imposing upon the behests of a shameful
aud defiant Atheism. Therefore
ReSOiDed, That as we love justice and judg
mcut, rght and liberty, the Declaration OF In
dependence and the Constitution, the Tree spirit
which we have inherited from our revolutionary
fathers, the sovereignty and independence that
belong To cur STATE, pure aud tree Christian
ity, aud as we hate aud loathe the dark spirit
OF slavery and atheism, we this day take our
stand Tor the right aud against the wrong.
ResOlUed, That we respect all enactments
State anu National, that do not contravene
natural justice and right, and we will cheerful
lY aud cordially obey them. All enactments,
Stale and National that are founded IN iuius
tce and inhuminty, we despise aud con-
tenn as utterly null and void and will give
them no sanction by our obedience
ResOi0ed, That the Fugitive Slave enactment
OF 1890 Is hostile TO every principle of justice
aud humanity, is anti-demOcratic aud unchris-
tlan, and is at war with the sacred teachings OF
the Declaration of Independence and our Con
sltution, and therefore Of no binding auth or
ily.
ReSoiUed, That every person, white or black,
Is naturally and properly entitled to Freedom
and It's Innumera0e blessings, and We avuw as
our unalterable determination "that no person"
shall be deprived Of life liberty or property
without due process of Law, when we have
the power to prevent it,"
ReSOlped, That we send our words of cheer
and greeting to the noble and selfsacrfcing
men who are now incarcerated in the jail oi
Guy ahoga County, charged with no other crime
than making practical application OF the
golden rue and men, as lovers of right,
justice and humanity we pledge them not only
our sympathy but should all legal means fail
to secure them release and relress, that practi-
cal aid which is immediate in its effects, un-
conditional and uncompromising in its applca
tiOn.
ResolDed, that our respect and gratitude are
rendered 10 Mr. Langston for his able speech
aud timely and most useful visit to our COM
munty.
ResoiUed, That report Of the proceedings
OF this meeting, together with the preamble
and Resolutions be forwarded to the Cleveland
Leader for publication.
R.H. ROGERS,
Chairman of the Meeting.
I, R. DAVIS, Secy.