Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-26
PuBLIC YOIoE on THE PEOPLE.
rrbllc niss,lns In otstlln.

trioi Court at Cleveland, and in the Supreme
Court Of Ohio, at Columbus
The meeting was organized by calling Prof
J, MoaoAN, d. D., to the Chair, and appointing
@. II. CHURCHILL Secretary Prayer was Of
ferod by ths venerable Rev. JOHN KEEP. Tho
following resolutions were then introduced BY
sAMURL PLUHs, Esq I
lst Resolved, That "Iaw and orieru are
fair-sounding words, and their proper associa-
ton is with the law of God and the we'll being
aud the rights Of man; but when they are di.
votcod from these and made the wstchwords Of
tyrants and oppressors, they lose theirvalue and
forfeit our re ipect. $3.50 laa
End Resoiued, That we claim 10 be law
abiding citizens and cOvet the privilege of lead.
ing quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness
and honesty" but when 'fruth has fallen in the
streets and equity cannot enter" we recognize
higher obligations than humanlaw imposes, and
higher interests than quietness and peace
3D. ResOlped, That we hold, with Jefferson
and Jackson, that the Constitution of the Uni
ted States has not made the Supreme Court Of
tie nation the ultimate arbiter Of the Govern
ment, whether State or National, and every
private citizen, must decide for himself whether
any legislative enactment or judicial decision
be in accordance with, or opposed to, the fun
damental law of the land. U.IN
4th. Resolved, That the Fugitive Slave Act
is contrary to the spirit and teachings Of our
national Con nstitutOn, the principles Of Chris.
tanity, and the dictates of genuine DemOora.
cy. t.... s.I
9th. ResolDed, That we rejoice in the noble,
humane, and constitutional position assumed by
the State of Wisconsin in her late conflict with
Federal usuFpation, position nObly maintained
and reasserted by her people in tho recent State
election, and we earnestly desire and confident
ly believe, that our own Executive and Judicial
officers in Ohio will afford the same protection
TO our prosecuted fellow citizens, and thus vim
dicate the honor and sovereignty of the State.
9th. RssolUed, That we send our word of
Of greeting and of cheer to our fellow citizens
held by the United States authorities at Glove
land, and assure them that their canse is our
cause, and that, while they stand manfully in
the breach, we will sustain them with our sym.
pathies and prayers, and leith oar help S0hen ths
occasion calls. l.I .
1h ReSolDed, That we will not forget the
families of our friends who have been called to
suffer for their work of righteousness, and we
tender them our sympathy, and will share with
them our material suppliOs while deprived of
their natural providers.
sth. ResOiped, That the counsel who have
so ably and generously defended the accused in
the rescue case at Cleveland, challenge, and we
hereby tender to them, our warmest gratitude.
We can notice only few points made by the
speakers, all of whom kept the audience in
rapt attention, and called forth frequent APP
plause.
On motion to adopt the resolutions, Prof
MoRsAN remarked in substance as foIlows:
BY strange logic many have come TO regard
an agreement to do a wrong thing as imposing
! an obligation TO perpetrate the wrong. But a
| compact with another, made perhaps ignoranty
and sincerely to do an act of Injustice to a third
person, can never place us under the remotest
obligation to inAct that injustice when its true
nature comes to be understood Such is the
compact, if there ever was such one, TO return
| fugitive slaves
| But since thee compromises Of the constitution
were made, SOutherners have changed the ma
ture of the bondage of their slaves There was
neger an understanding or agreement to sepd
back fugitiVes to perpetual bondage to them
and their posterity. Slavery was soon 10 ter
inmate. Nor did tue compact engage indyid-
uals to assist in restoring fugitives, but pledged
the States not to pass laws hinderng the res
toration of persons owing service This was
Webster's Interpretation. The u. s. Govern
ment claims the power to set aside all the ideas
of liberty we have drunk in with our mothers
milk, and make us the personal drudges and
blood hounds of their vilest negro catchers-
Can we believe our fathers promised such
thingl If they did no intelligently upright
man can submit to it.
Prof CowLEs very briefly demonstrated that
the whO'e drift and tenor of the Constitution
favored this view, being constructed expressly
so as to need no amendment after Slavery
should cease. Il IIf- a.
Row II R,tpCurt N aanirastad fha aIar,o,t,
of power on either side of this question Gods
people on the one hand, oppressors on the
other; prayer and faith against boasting aud de-
tiance; a high sense of Christian duty and man
ly endurance, against the consciousness of
meanness and cowardice. The noblesl patriot
ism against the basest prostitution of the ma.
tonal honor. We kRolO that slavery is wicked
The man who denies it lies; and il is as wick
ed to return fugitive as to steal man or hold
him in bondage. Even friend Wack says it is
wrong, and he would not even at the command
of the Marshal help return a fugitive, and if he
knows as much as that avery body does Great
laughteEl The speaker expressed himself sat
isfied with the beginning Of resistance tc Odious
law here, and hoped and predicted that another
effort to reclaim fugitive would have the same
result Friends OF Slavery stand on the ground
Of statutes; we will stand there too and if they
depart one hair from the letter of the law in
securing their prey, we will indiet them before
our Courts they shall not have drop of blood
with the pound of flesh. The inconsistency of
the lower law men was strikingly exhibited in
their taking an oath of ofice-calling upon God
to witness their intention wholly to ignore his
superior claim TO their service, and promising
TO do that in the fear of God which God forbids.
II. U. HITcKCoCK being called spoke partic.
uarly to the 9th resolution, and gave an inter
estlng account Of the case of Booth
Any outline Of j. NJ LANGsToN's speech, as
indeed is true of all the speeches, would fail to
give an adequate idea of its thrilling effect He
showed the idolatry OF the federal government
to the fugitive slave law, and then appealed to
the audience whether their consciences asserted
that 1t should be held thus sacred As for me,
ifthey come clothed with its authority will
tear their documents in tatters and trample them
under my feet. The purely partisan character
of the U - District Court was noticed. Judge
Attorney, Marshal, and Jury, all in their degree
possessing the place and power of the Goddess
Of Justice, but practicing the arts and seeking
the ends OF the viest and most selfish PARTISAN
ship. On the other hand the men on trial, not
prosecuted but prosecuted; in their whole mein
their smiles Of love, their spirit Of patient en-.
durence, bespeak themselves above party, above
sefshness. Wewait the action of ths Courts |
but let the Court remember what sympathies,
what action such men may call forth. film
mense cheering u..
Prof MONROE remarked the laleness of the
hour, but would call attention to one or two
stern facts, not, said be, TO dimiGish your arlor
your hope, but that having counted the cost,
your zeal may be intelligent and permanent.
lst We are engaged in an obstinate and bit |
ter war with the whole force of the Federal
Govemment-a war not of our own seeking,
hut nevertheless an obstinate and hitter contssf