The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-05-17

Joshua B Giddings On the Oberlin
Rescue Case He believes they should
have Hung the Slave at0h0fs.
The Cleveland Leader publishes long
letter from Hon. J. K Giddings, in which ne
gives his views on tho rescue cases now being
tried there. We give the more significant
portions Of it:
JavrERsoH, May 4, 1859.
Mr. DEAR FRIEND You ask my opinion
in regard to the best action, and the future
course Of the Oberlin prisoners, now in Jail
at Cleveland, for violating the fugitive slave
enactment.
That measure was passed under the in
Huence Of threats and Intimidation. Disun-
ion and bloodshed were proclaimed as the
alternative in case Of refusal.
This slave enactment under which onr
friends are imprisoned, was passed in order
to involve the people of the free States 10
this guilt for the purpose Of making them
accessories to such crimes.
In disregarding this Law, the prisoners
did right Their error consisted in sparing
the lives Of the slave catchers. Those pi-
rates should have been delivered over to the
colored men and consigned to the doom o.
pirates, which should have been speedily
executed. You are aware that this is the
doctrine which proclaimed in Congress-.
adhere to it. Had the prisoners executed
the slave catchers promptly, it would have
taught the Administration Q lesson not soOn
to be forgotten. We should have had no
more trouble with that class Of miscreants.
They would have learned better than to
show themselves among an intelligent people
who know their rights and dare maintain
them. But in rescuing their fellow men from
the fangs of those blood hounds. the prisoners
did right. Present and coming generations
will bless them for it, 1t was high moral
duty, the exercise of virtue which sheds a
halo of glory around the memories Of our re-
publican fathers. When arrested for such
an act they did well in refusing to give bail.
When brought into court they did right in
refusing to give bail; and in my opinion
they cannot now recede from the manly posi-
ton which they have assumed. by these
noble acts they have inscribed their names
upon a most important page of our history.
They no longer act for themselves IN this
business, but for justice, for liberty, for the
cause of freedom The eyes Of the nation
are upon them. They should bear in mind
the chara ,ter Of the people Of this portion
of our gallant State They should remem-
Der the pilgrim fathers from whom they
have descended Cleveland is now the Bos
ton of l715, and | trust her sons will meet
the responsibilities thrown upon them with
becoming firmness
As to the future, l see no other course
for the prisoners than patiently to await
events Their counsel will apply to the SUI
preme Court of our State for a babeas corpus
whenever sentence shall be pronounced upon
any Of their number
l have great confidence in the Judges
comprising that Court: But should they
prove unequal to the occasion, the case will
then be fully made up. and the appeal must
then be taken to the highest OF earthly tri
bunals, the source of all political power
The people, finding this government to have
become '.desbuctire ofthe ires, the liberties
and the happiness Of its citizens, sciH alter
or abolish 1t; and organize its poacer in such
form as them shall seem most likely to effect
their safety and happiness
This duty. so soemnly enjoined upon US
by the founders of our government in that
immortal charter of American liberty to
which, for almost a century, we have been
accustomed to look for instruction and di-
rection in regard to our rights, ,ciA not be
neglected
Yours for Liberty and the Constitution,
j. Il GIDDINGs.
II "