Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-05-20
THE OBERLIN REsCUERs.


Three more OF the Obclin Rcscucrs, on trial
at Cleveland, have entered plea of noh con-
t,ndere. Their names are LovELAND, Dr.
WOLF and WADswoRrn. Their sentence was
to pay IL fine of $50 dollars each to pay the
costs of prosecution, and be committed to the
custody of the Marshal for twenty-four hours.
On the llth Of May, Mr. LANGsToN was
called to receive his sentence, and addressed
the Court, as follCw VS.:
Langston said that for the first time in his
life he WAS arraigncd for violating the laws Of
the land. lie did not expect in the least to
mitigate the punishment that the Court had
determined TO mcte out to him, as justice for
the colored man was not to be expected. He
said that on the memorable 18th of Scptem-
Der he found the colorcd people of Obcrlin
all excitement IN account of the presence Of
kidnappcrs.
Men were known TO be prowling around,
seeking an opportunity to steal away colored
people. Mothers were afraid to trust
their children to go to school, through fear
they would be kidnapped. Under this in
tense excitement news spread thata man lad
been dccoyed out of town and captured by
these men thieves from Kentucky. He went
to Wellington, and having been taught that
even under the infamous provisions of the
Fugitive Act, it was his privilege to have a
legal investigation of the manner in which
the negro was held. he did all he could to
procure such Investigation.
lie believed thnt it was the duty Of the
captors OF that man to have Il prompt cxamin-
alton Of the mattcr. and such right was guar
| ,,.ll ,-4 I., Low, L., hnI nd IN
this Court that. in Ohio, every man was
presumed to be free until proved to be a slave.
and lac only acted on that principle when he
went to Wellington, determined to see to it
that the negro had fair investigation, and
was not illegally taken back to Slavery.
lie said the idea that there was no danger OF
| freemCn being taken back to Slave States and
consig ncd to perpetual bondage, was false
| idea, for it is well authenticated fact. that
out Of the first eight captivcs sent from the
Free States back to Slave States, as fugitive
| slaves four of them We're freemen, and it was
50 proved. lie said it was but last Saturday
| that he received letter from n gentleman in
st. Louis, conveying to him the information
thar IL coored free girl was now lying in Jail
waiting proof Of her being free. This girl
has been Ole Of his Langston's scholars in
Columbus. when he was a teacher there and
she. gon. to Illinois had been captured as a
fugitive, and now is in Jail at St. Louis wait
ing proof of her freedom from her parents
in Columbus.
Lan.ston claimed that by the very nature
Di the case he could not have, and ad not
had fair trial That the Court was preju-
diced against men Of his color, that the Gov
| eminent prosecutors were, for all white men
must be 50 prejudced Langston said this
prejudice was owing to the fact that his race
submitted to be held in bondage.
lnngston pronounced the testimony that
went to show him as resisting the law at
Wellington, to be false testimony. lie did
all he could to have legal investigation, and
under the charge Of this Court he, perhaps,
ANIL far sUch .gmH he IS ciking 10 submit. 4
needs be, 10 he ertrenc pend'y ofhe lalc-siS
months imprisonment and ! 900 fine.
Langston said he had done no more for
Others than he should ask others to do fol
him, under the same circumstances.
The closing of his speech was greeted witt
"A burst of applause. which was rcbuked by
the Court and Marshal, but which rebukc
was little needed by the auditory.
Judge WILSON remarked that The CoAS'{-
| crotiOHs prCs,niedbyMe dgteudom icou4 iadnc,
linn 10 mRd upon HIM ray light sentence.
The Court appreciated the remarks OF de-
lendant and had sympathy for him, but
Courts did not make the laws, they merely
execute! them
lie therefore sentenced Langston to pay a
fine of : 100, to pay the costs of this prose-
cution, and be imprisoned for the period of
twenty days.