Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-07-07
pLkiN Ann oRNAMENrAL PRINTING.
OBERLTN PRISONERS SET sREB,

m. Coverrment Fute rs {. Mole Contendre" I"
On the ObsrIin ltescue Gases 1T riuWph OF
the Righfi
The ottslapt to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act
on the Western Reserve by Government officials
for political effect. has resulted in most dis
astrous defeat Of the projectors and Of the
whole scheme.
Never wers a set Of men worse used than
have been Jennings, Bacon, and Mitchell, the
Kentucky slave owner and slave cstchers who
tried to seize negro in oberlin, by the Govern
ment officials who sought TO make good thing
out Of it for themselves and for Democracy.
The prosecutions were commenced without the
knowledge or consent of those who claimed to
have even a running interest in John" and
they have been obliged to leave their homes re-
psatedly at the call Of these officials for the
purpose Of working the conviction Of the OBJ
Iects Of their political hatred and unrelentihg
persecution.
We deem il unnecessary TO refer now to the
charges and rulings Of the Jeffreys Court, the
packing Of Juries in the trials to secure verdicts
contrary to well know Law-that has become
a matter Of history to be read hereafter with
sbame-but we desire to speak of the manly
aud consistent course pursued by the prisoners
In the face of al these attempts to crush them
and their cause, and the complete triumph that
they have achieved.
After the Supreme Court at Columbus had
remsnded Bushnell and Langstou to Jail, the
boating of Marshal johnson and Judge Bel
den was very loud and insolent-they declaring
that no,p no quarters should be given to the
Oberlin men, that they should every one OF
them be tried and they should all be convicted
and that they should be taught to obey the
laws. &C., &c which was continued until the
return of their Kentucky associates for Their
approaching trials in Lorain county
Those chivalrous gentlemen never liked the
appearance Of things at ElyTia, and it was diff
fcult for the Government officials to coax them
into the custody of Sheriff Burr at the time
they surrendered themselves. They seemed to
lack confidence in the protection which had
been promised them, and when they came up
here ten days ago. there was evidently no better
show for them than before, notwithstanding all
the bravado uttered for them.
Meantime the Prisoners had settled quietly
in their quarters, ready to spend year if need
be, in Jail, rather than to give bail or do any
act which they considered recognition of the
validity of the Fugitive Slave Act. They had
gone to work advocating the doctrines in which
they believe by the publication Of The Reseu-
er," paper of their own getting up. The
power Of Free Press from prison is potent.
The people too, were being arOus,d as they
seldom are on any subject, and were contribu-
ting cheerfully for the support of the Prison
ers-in fact, the war bad but just begun
Moreover, all attempts at avoiding the trials of
the kidnappers at Elyria, before an honest ju-
~ of Lorain County had utterly failed, and Co
Iumbus bid more fair to be. the place where
Anderson Jennings would spend next winter
than did Frankfort, Ky.
Next, what do we sect Why these same
valorous Government Officials who had been
to Washington for orders, and had pledged
themselves to carry them out, are seen the day
before the Court opens at Elyria, making the
proposition to the Lorain authorities, to "cry
quits ITO take back all of their threats and
enter nolles against some twenty Lorain citi-
gems, if by that means they could get their
Kentucky friends out Of the scTape, and them
selves too
This proposition the Lorain officials mag
unanimously agreed to, not wishing to pursue
the deluded Kentuekians-guilty though they
undoubtedly were-sO long as the prime
movers in these outrages were willing to cease
their prosecutions of good men for such an of
fence as helping hunted man to get his lib
erty.
So the nollies are entered accordingly, and
the Rescuers of 0berlin 60 home in triumph,
so far as they are personally concerned. They
have made no concessions, asked no Govern
ment favOrs; only the rights of free men. But
the Infamous law remains upon the statute
book disgrace to the age in which we live.