The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-05-13
Letter from the Hon. J. R. Giddings.

in regard to tho past action, and the future u
course of the Oberin prisoners, now in jail
at Cleveland, for violating the fugitive slave I
enactment.
That measure was passed under the iniiu-
enco of threats and intimidation. Disunion I
and bloodshed were proclaimed as the alter.
native in case of refusal Before such inso-
lenco Northern members bowed in unmauly
submission, surrenderng their own individ.
ualty, the rights of their States, aud the
honor of the nation. The pago OF our po.
litical history that records the passage OF
that act will long be road with modification
and regret 1t constitutes legislative in
cdent in that war so long waged, and car
riod on by tho party now in power against
the colorod men of our nation; war III
which men, women and children have been
butcherod in cold blood for their love OF
! liberty. a war in which free persons are on
slaved, and slaves arc murdered even upon
/ the soil of Ohio with perfect impunity;
war which subjects colOred people to COM
murce, from the horrors OF which they
shrink, prefurring death by their own hands
rather than mOet its torturos II war in
which mothers are driven to tho horrible
choice of Staying their own children rather
than permit them to 1.-Two and become sub
iect to the degradation that awaits them in
life This war is sometimes called "prdtl-
cal" but | have yet to find the record of pi-
rates who doomed their victims to death,
merely for their love of liberty. 1t is u
saudor upon piracy, to compare this war
with that in which they sny their victims
} for tho com paratively oxcusabIe purpose OF
+ obtaining money. In this war moro than
twenty thousand human victims arc annual
iy sacrificed,
This slave enactment under which our
friends are imprisoned, was passed. in order
to involve the people of the FREQ States III
this guilt; for the purpose OF making them
= accessories to such crimes. 1t was passed
by Locofoco Congress. A locotoco Mar
sha!s elects u Iocofoco Grand Jury to find
D an Indictment drawn by Locofoco Attor-
) pev. to be triod by Locotoco traverse jury.
packed for the very purpose OF conviction,
before a Locoloco Judge, appointed by n
n Locofoco President, confirmed by Locoto-
# co Senate, for the purpose of intorcing o6e-
dienco to this law.
8 In disrcgurdiug this law. tho prisoners
n d,d yjghk Their grIor consisted in sparing
the lives Of tho slave. catchors. Those pi-
e rates should have been delivered over to the
colorcd men and consigned TO tho doom oi
}. pirates. which should have been speedily
executed You are aware that this is tho
doctrine which proclaimed in Congress- -
Y, | adhere to it. Had the prisoners executed
.r tho slave -catchers promptly, 1t would have
taught tho administration lesson not soor
a 10 he forgotten, We should have been NJ
I'd more troubled with that class of mscreants
u They would havo learned better than t.
'' show themselves among an intelligent peo
plc who know thoir rights and dare main
Il. tain them But in rescung their follow
:" man from the fangs of these blood hounds
70 tho prisoners dill right Present an'
r. coming generations will bless them for il
T.. Ii was "a high moral duty, the exercise OF
"' virtue which sheds halo of glory aroun
he the memories of our republican tathors.-
~. When arrested for such an act they did We
in refusing to give bail. When brougl
- into Court they did right in refusing to Civ
cd bail : and in my opinion they cannot no
recedo from the manly position which the
havo assumed. By theso noble acts the
he have inscribed their names upon most III
at. portaut page of our history. They no longt
=, act for themselves in this business. but tc
IT iustico, for liberty for the cause of freedom
on The eyas of the nation arc upon thom =
III They should bear in mind the character
y tho people of this portion of our gnllar
De State They should romomber the piIgr
rds fathers from whom thuy have descended.
,ua Cleveland is now tho Boston of l775, and
trust her sons will meet the responsibiiitl
es, thrown upon them with becoming firmnes
As to the future, SEQ 10 other cour
for tho prisoners than patiently to ava
cen events. Their counsel will apply to the S
bic premo Court of our State for Il habe
, corpus. Whenever sentence shall DO pr
nouncod upon any of their number
sh, hayo great confidence in the Judg
len composing that Court. But should tn
H.. prove unequal to the occasion, the case W
"0" thon be fully made up, aud the appeal mt
son then be taken to that highest of oartl
bcr Tribunals tho source of all political powt
The people. finding this government to Ina
)m, hooor,o !. dastrncrivo of tho lives tho lin,
Wv ties and the happiness of its citizens, "
ALTER OR ABOLISH IT; and organ!za
powers in such form as to them shall SEE
urg most likely to effect their SAFETY AND HAP
,lnp NESS"
This duty, so solemny enjoined upon
iteu by the founders of our government, in Il
,un- immortal charter of American liberty
,or which for almost n century VIC have be
IVY accustomed TO look for instruction and
zap rection in regard to our rights, WILL NOT
enty NEGLECTED.
L Yours for liberty and the Constitution
auu J. Il. GIDDlNGS
and Hon. RALPH PLUMB.
The END OF THE CUBA FILTBUs1
Ion. ExpEDITIoN.-The famous Cuba tillbus
Tho expedition has turned up at Port
'.:' Prince, Hayu, consisting Of Don j.
'r'e' Elias Hernandez and thirty two others,
ney, Cubaus. 1t seems that they agreed W
S. the captain of the brig African to
ke's them into boats within fifteen miles Of
CoI port of Nuevas Grandes, for which
was to receive the sum Of 5 900. WI
h'nS the time came for them to leave the yes
hern there was too much sea on, or too Ii
,sent courage among them, to venture, and
the vessel continued her voyage to I
au Prince. We give elsewhere all
wa documents which have been published
Dyed the Havana papers, including the pa
1era- protest signed by all the members, wi
cries present curious history Of this foolha
,.;n undertaking. We reprint also the
'''"g count we gave of the expedition 81
'and three weeks ago which, it will be seen
ever, confirmed in every particular. The c
1t so tain. General of Cuba has dspatche
from, vessel of war to Port au Prince to
. m6nd the expeGilionists, and, ifthey h