Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-01-13

dom the hight OF man, Dlaek OF Wnlte, natlVe
or foreigner, to carve out, under God, his own
destiny, and choose his own rulers. Much as l
feel hattered by the kind manner in which you
have been pleased to refer to the fact that have
been chosen to aid in the defence of the parties
indicted in the United States Court, 1 am not
insensible of the fact that my known sympathy
with the cause and the accused had much more
to do with my selection than any probable ser
vice could render you upon trial. Be that as
it may, l can assure you l have watched with
much interest the proceedings of the Govern
ment in these cases, and have been led to the
conclusion that very few if any of the numer-
GUS persons indicted would be put on their de-
fence, but may be mistaken in this. 1t is said
that whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad" and that symptoms of madness
have recently appeared in high places, cannot
be denied What may be determined on, there
fore, by the ruling madnen, | know not. Nor
can tell what further sacrifices it may yet be-
come necessary for the lovers of freedom to
make to render our own beloved and beautiful
Ohio indeed and in truth the land of the free
and the home of the brave-tO deliver our peo-
pie from the demoralizing spectacle of slave
catching and slave-hunting in our midst-to
render it safe for the humanely disposed among
US to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, or re-
heve the distressed, without fear of Government
spies, or running the risk of fines, forfeitures,
and prison bars and bolts. But whatever the
sacrifice may be, feel that our people are pre-
pared to make it, and that Ohio will yet be free
that when the painting fugitive from oppres
sion shall breathe the air and tread the soil Of
our noble State, his chains will fall off, and his
natural, inalienable rights of personal liberty,
personal security, and the right to enjoy the
fruits of his own labors be restored to him
Allow me in conclusion to say that whatever
aid can render you and those whom you rep
resent, either before or after Judgment in or out
of Court shall be freely and cheerfuly given
l am, Gentlemen,
Very respectfully, &c,
s. BURKE.
To II E. PECK and others,
Committee, Oberlin, o.
REGULAR ToAsTs
lst. The LnalienaBle Rights of Man-Found-
ed in Nature as constituted by God, and well
recited by our Fathers in the Declaration of
Independence.
Geo. G. Washburn, Esq, editor of the Lo-
rain Independent Democrat, ably responded to
this sentiment. He spoke of the extraordinary
fact that in the middle of the 18th century Amer
lean citizens have met to ask whether man has
any inalienable rights. Hereferred to mans in
alienable rights, to the higher law, the law of
the Creator of all, and to the hoary-headed
men around him who had been arraigned as
criminals for violating the Fugitive Slave Act.
Mr. W declared that the detested law could
never be enforced in Lorain, and closed by of
fering the following sentiment which met with
a hearty response:
The Fugitive Stare Act-Making war as it
does upon all that is manly in man, we will
hate it while we live, and bequeath our hatred to
those who come after US when we die. No
fines it can impose or chains it can bind upon
US, will ever command our obedience to Its un-
righteous behests.
ID. Good Will to Man-The best bond of
Society; the surest support of Government;
and never more happily developed than when at
the call of the weak and oppressed it resists
the tyranny of wicked Rulers.
Father Keep said he could not discuss shon
sentiment. We all know what good will to
man means 1t embodies the sweetest element
of human life 1t is eulogized. Why is it
eulogized! 1t is the best bond of society
What is the other part of the eulogyl 1t is
the strength of government What is the
strength of government? 1t is truth, integrity,
charity, humanity, love. This is the eulogy
pronounced on good will to man.
The best development of this sentiment is
when at the call of the weak and the oppressed,
it resists tyranny Good will is forbearing, long
suffering, and through kindness heaps Goals Of
fire on the head of the OppressOr; but, said the
Christian ofnearly four-score with the energy of
'76, there is a point where forbearance ceases
to be virtue When that is reached, let the
tyrant perish! GGreat applause.1
Sd. Loyalty to God and loyalty to human
Government when it is loyal to God-the
Patriotism which inspired our Fathers and shall
prompt US and our children.
To this sentiment Prof. Peck responded. He
said
There is current in society an idea thai there
is no patriotism where there is not an acknow-
ledgment of the maxim, " our country, right or
wrong" But such was not the doctrine of our
noble fathers. They esteemed patriotism a
cardinal virtue They were to the last degree
loyaI men. King and country never rightfully
asked of them any sacrifice that they did not
cheerfulIy render it. They loved to offer even
life itself for the protection of the realm against
its foes. But their loyalty enjoined of king
and country one imperative cOndition-that the
State itself should recognize Divine law. "GoD
and our country" was their maxim. They held
that when the State refused the behests Of God |
By assuming pIerogatives which did not belong |
to her, or BY enacting laws which contradicted |
Justice, she did that which disgraeed and dis
honored herself, and that patriotism could rem |
der to her no other service so useful as that of
by steadfast resistance of her usurpa
tons, her return to her broken allegiance So |
was it that they never esteemed themselves more |
loyal than when they brought the Stuart to the |
block for arrogating to himself powers which |
belonged TO God alone So was it, too, that they |
thought they were acting as patriots when |
thew turned their backs on home because lib
erty was restrained there, and sought freedom |
in savage land and so was it, too, that they |
felt that loyalty itself required them to enter
armed protest against the royal encroachments
on right which followed them to their wilder
ness retreat, and to try the chances of war with
which they loved as their own fire.
sides were hardly loved.
And the doctrine of patriotism which our
fathers nobly illustrated has come down to US
and is our doctrine. We hold that our prayers,
our labor and our blood are due to our country
when she needs them. We mean to make patri-
otism part of our religion, and to be behind
none in prompt and earnest service for the
honor and good of the commonwealth. But we
lold that the commonwealth can prosper only
when she is loyal to God, and that when by
q framing iniquity into law" she puts herself in
he place of God, she does that which must,
sooner or later, bring ruin upon herselfand hence