The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-07-13
straip,' and tlse4, addressed the meeting ia the
follOwing Impressive words:
Father Keeps Speech.
CHRISTIAN FR1EsDs AND FELLOW CIr1zEss

following Impressive words:
Father Keeps Speech.
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS AND FELLOW CITIZENS
depoutlv congratulate you that our hreth
ren heroic mee, prosecuted for righteousness
sake. have now reformed to our bosoms On
their countenances we. indeed, trace indica
,ions of severe mental conflict; but. likewise,
the divine favor in their personal vigor and
health,-and in the fash of their eve the spirit
and purpose of men ~hom in such warfare
fyr0nts cannot subdue. In your behalf
tender them cordial and joyous welcomeand
in yonr name I assure them that they are now
especially endeared TO us all.
But beloved snffrers this welcome IS not
intended 10 cover the fact that you have come
to us jail-birds- You must ever bear this ap
pellation. In however comforts US, andi must
cheer you to know. that you have earned the
title after the example Of the Prophets and
Apostles, having been imprisoned for the act
of witnessing for the Truth as it is In Jesus
In your persons at this joyous interview. we
thus publicly ackno wledge the gift of God in
answer TO PRAYER In all your confinement,
our sympathies for you have been deep now
ing current We have felt called OF God to
the special mission of prayer in your behalf
In the daily report of yoHr persstency in the
Right we have received the ich, sustaining
answer to our prayer We have been also
strengthened and comforted TO know that this
sympathy is next to universal in the country.
The press has given it voice. Its breath, to
you 10 prison, to ms in our watchings. has dis
coursed music along the telegraph wires.
We have felt honored that you have so faith
fully represented the moral sentiment of this
community, and Of our fondly cherished Col
lege. Your frmness in this crisis has sharply
admonished US for our sluggishness in the pres
ent conflict for lihertv, and what is more, for
our lack of moral courage; and still more, the
obtuseness of that moral seuse in men which
counselled compromise.
In your imprison' ent YOU have nObly repre-
sented a great principle The Divine Law
supreme. evervwhere-: Human enaetments
subordinate. Thus you have stood before the
country the intelligent sagacious, unfiinchlng
friends of human freedom.
Your testimony will live permanent rec
ord in history-a memorial to present your
names to the undying recognition of an ap
proving prosperity.
We thank vou for your wisdom and firmness
ir the rejection of all compromise between
right and wrong In this whole movement
yonr instructive and impressive example is be
fore the corniry as a model for Church and
for State. God has given vou the spirit and
courage for the crisis. Your reward is before
you, and sure.
Let Politicians. Statesmen and Christians
but follow this example. and our own Ohio
shall be .free-personal rights will he held as
sacred ard be sustained. Our country shall
be free!
The Hon Ralph Plumb was next called for
and spoke as follows:
Ralph Pium6s Speech.
Mr. Plumb came forward amid immense and
prolonged cheering, and said:
What scene here greets the eye y This
vast mulIitude-the whole population almost
of This usually qnie, village, filing every niche
of this vast edi6ce with joyous conntenances
and glad hearts are before US; and for what
do they come ?
They come to welcome US their neighbors
their husbands. fathers ard brothers, back
to this communitv--to our dear families and
our sweet homes They come, too, TO learn
also whether this enlargement, SO valuable to
US aud TO them. has been purchased at the
cost of one iota of principle, or one grain OF
self respect.
Fellow citizens it gives me great pleasure
to sssare you that the band of Rescuers whom
you greet stand before on o night,with your
selves breathing he free air once more of free
Oberlin. without having in the least degree
compromised themselves or you.
Nav. permit me TO go farther and say. that
the officers Of Lorain County. to whom the
government pursuers proposed the entering of
noLies in the cases, have throughout maintain
cd ha nd tho diupifv of 7 hat
We and they stand before you without having
yielded dishonorablv to any exaction of those
who sought to humble US, and destroy tie
principle so clearly apprehended nv your in,
tellects. and so warmly cherished in yonr
hearts. Butt do not propose to make speech
to you now: but to give the key note to your
rejoicings by demonstrating what have
already stated, and for that purpose ask your
permission to read what will be received by
you all as sufficient proof in the editorial OF
the Cleveland Daily Plain Dealer, from
which we quote i'll another place.
Short speeches we're made by Prof. Peck
by J. M Fitch, by John Watson, by Mr.
Horr of Elyria, by w. E. Lincoln, by Johr
Scott, by Henry Evans, by A W. Lyman, by
Richard Winsor, Sheriff Burr. of Lorain
Sheriff Wightman, of Cuyahoga, BY Father
GlIett. by Fl. R. Smith, by Mr.. Washburn
Editor of Elyria Democrat and others
We should be glad to give all the speeche:
as reported, but space forbids. There are ont
or two however we must copy.
Sheriff Bmr's Speech.
He said-Sham Democrats have raised {
great hre and cry abon, my lodging d5dg
ed nobody. ! had business TO do and | at
tended 10 it as though no Belden or kidnap
pers were about | was in town foi consid
erahle time, and when got ready to go to an
other part of the county to sell some proper
ty, ] went. Marshal Johnson sent for me t,
come as quick as possible The Marshal i
IL, apt TO order folks coed deal, and to adj
with, o how much importance-I am tn
United States Marshal But. continued II
speaker. semi word to he Marshal that if h
wanted to see me more Than did him, h
could came along if he liked. They had
writ which they could not have obtained with
out the perjury of somebody. which repre-
sen'ed tie kidnappers as in custody when
WIS notoriously true that they were at largt
g did not care to trouble mvself much unde
such circumstances. made up nv mind t
Pu''HS Hd'iOia ShId'SHb u euOui
be compellei TO lie III jail for the offence ii
the ar ruSted off.
Father GiVett's Speech.
Falber Gillet is the ~hite haired patriarcl
whom the Federal prosecutors discharge i, i
the early part of the proceedings He ws
from Wellington. 5 10
He spoke in lively and witty manner :
He said that alter being taken out of Jail II
Marshal told him not to go back to Jail
said. tciW 90. want 10 get nv clothes an