The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1859-05-19
Langston Convicted nnd Sentenced
Ills Hcnnrks,

hhhN heSssbseh -
Langston, the coIored man who las been be.
fore the slave cstchers court at Cleveland, 10 be
convicted OF The awful crime Of aiding a fellow
colorcd man to escape from an uurigbteous bond
age, was found guilty sher trial which lasted
afte.n days We lake the following from The
Cleveland Herald;
Judge Wilson called the case OF I.angston for
sentence, and the prisoner stood up On being
asked by the Judge il he had anything TO say in
mitgs ion Of his crime. LangstoD addressed the
Court in speech OF half an hour that rveted the
attention Of the crowded auditory, and during
which. repeated bursts of applause spoke the ad.
miraon of the listeners.
We can give only meagis sketch, "a the
speech was not written out.
Langston snid that for the first time in bis life
he was arraigned for violating the laws Of ihe
land. lie did not expect in tho least to mitigate
the punishment that the court had determined 10
mote out " him, as justice for the colored man
was not TO be expected He said that on the
memorable 18th OF September he found the col
ored people OF 0berlin oil excitement on account,
OF the presence Of kidnappers.
Men were known TO be prowling around seek.
ng al opportunity to steal away coerod people.
Mothers were Hfraid 10 trust their children TO go
10 school, through fsNr that they would be kid.
Mapped. Uader this intense excitement news
spread thut man had been decoyed out of town
aud captured by these men.thieves from Ken
tncky. He went TO Wellington, and having been
taught that even among the infamous provisions
ol the Fugtive Act, it was his privilege TO have
u legal nveeti CATION ct the manner in which the
negro was held, he did all lie could 10 procure
such investigations
He believed that il was The duty Of the cap
tors Of that man 10 have n prompt investigation
pI uln nt m MI n IA t.rIt
tesd by the laws. He had heard oven In this
Court, that in Ohio every mw was presumed to
be free until proved slave, and he ncled on that
principle only. when he went 10 Wellington, do.
termned to see to il that the negro had fair
investigate II, AMI w..S not Illegally tskcn back 10
slavery.
L1ngston said the idea that there was 20 4 IN
ger OF Tree mcn being token To Slave States aud
consigned 10 perpetual bondage. was II false idea,
fol 1t ia q we'll au lieatcaed tact that cut of the
FIRST eight captlves sent irom the FREQ States
back 10 Slave States, as fugitive slaves, four of
them were frecmeu nnd it was so proved. He
said that it was but last Saturday that he received
letter from "A gentleman in ST. Louis conveying
to him tho information that u colored free girl
was now lying in Jail waiting proof of hes being
free. This girl had been one Of his (Laugstons)
scholars in Columbus. when he was teacher
tnere -snd she, going to Illinois, had been cap.
tufed NJ IuHltVe, nlu Is now IN lHll, ~ 81 Lou
is, waiting proof OF her freedom from her parents
in Columbus.
Langstun claimed that by the very nature of the
case hc could not have, and had not had a fair
trial. That the Court was pr1iudiced aga inst
mon OF his color, that the Government prosecu.
ters werr, that the jury were. and even his own
counsel were, for all white men must be so preiu.
diced Llngston said this prejudice was owing
to the fact that his race submitted to be held in
bondage.
Langston pronounced the testimony that went
to show him ns resisting the law at Wellington,
to be false testimony He did all he could 10
havo legal investigation, and uniler the charge
of this Court perhaps he was guilty; if that is
crime he is guilty and FOR such guilt he was will
ling 20 submit, il needs be- TO The extreme pen
atty of the aw-stx months Imprisonment and
81 900 fine.
Langston said he had done no more for Others
than h" should ask Others IT, do Tor him under he
same circumstances.
The closing OF his speech wns greeted with Il
burst OF applause. which was rebuked by the
Court and MWshal, but which reouko was little
needed by the auditory.
The JuIge inel Langslon 800 and costs Of
prosecution, (Which WILL amount to about $l ,0OO,)
aud ordered his confinement in the JUL of Cuya.
hoga County 20 days.