American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1859-08-11


act so baEbarOus as that law, ever insulted
her people. From philosPhic Germany
yon have listened TO the voice Of her great
est philosopher. her purest patriot and
most exalted philAnihTopists. Mr.. Hum
bOldt, declaring that he katea lkr. Webster
on account ofkis completely s0ith that La,O.
Aud he spoke with the voice Of Chrislen-
dom. Pardon me when l say you cannot
roll back the tide Of reproach which is so
rapidly oblilerating the memory Of New
EngIand's most talented statesman. had
hoped you would seize upon the first op.
portunity. declare Jour conviction OF the
infamy Of that messur and place yourself
on the side OF freedom.
In your late speech 10 Xenia you say
it is the scored duty Of sVsry good citizsa 70
obey the L0w When The Legislature and Ju
dietary haze decided IL such. This doc
tTins OF submission is unsuted TO our age
II condemns Jefferson. franklin. Wash.
ingtOn. Adams. and their associates, who
refused to submit to the stamp act,' but
the Legislature had decided it to be con
stitulional. So also Of The act levying the
duties on tea. They slew the minions OF
Governmeut who attempted to enforce
these constitutional laws. Republicans
bold 1.-THE sacred duty OF every good citi-
zen 10 resist despotlsm in every shape al.
though approved by the legislature and
by the Judiciary. They look upon that
man as already enslaved,, W bo fears to speak
and act his enlightened convictions. Sub.
mission TO jespotio power has become the
disgrace Of our nation. The doctrine has
become offensive to every friend Of liberty.
You further say il men disobey the LAW
ToU WILL BRING THEIR HEADs TO THE BLOCK
-provi1ed the law should require it =
This declaration OF hostility 10 Republicans
generally, was unnec ssaTy and unkind.--
Had il come from STAKEHOLDER or ser
Ivile Democrat. it would have exacted no
attenticn. The Republicans of Lorsin
county trampled upon that law, rescued a
fellow being from slavery and sot him aI
liberty. They indicted the man who re-
captured him. and would have sent him to
the Penitentiary, had not the administra.
ton receded from its attempts TO punish the
rescuers and permitted the fugitive to en-
10y his freedom. You WILL BRING THEIR
HEADS TO THE BLOCK. II you speak Re.
publican sentiments we are not united
party. You would hang the men who im
port slaves from Africa; but when the
same slave escapes to Ohio, you would
Clolhe the slavsbunter with all the power
Of an army or navy TO capture him, and
take him back TO bondage. Republicans
would hang the slavehuuter.
4 When Federal officers recently attempted
10 punish thirty citizens OF Oberlin fol
rescuing n man from the hands Of miscTe
ants who had ys'captured, and were at
tempting To re,enslave him, public atten
ton was attracted 10 TIE subject. People
regarded those Who enacted tho iaW, hos
, ,cho refainsd office and thus voianiarii,
sought 10 enforce IL. and the miscreant
who under it attempted toenslavs innocen
meu, as equally guilty. The popular mint
was for time dssuaded from executing
rstributive JUSTICE but give il as my
opinion that il the prosecution had beer
continued in The spirit eSiously manifest
4 ed. those officers mould hare been hanged BE-
fore their OUB doors. You would say
"that such an act would have been civi
war" 1t would have beeu resistance to 4
war commenced by Ihose who passed th,
fugitive act (for il is no law. war upol
"humon aaturs." a war carried Oh by tbos'
who uphold the act and by those who at
: tempt TO execute it, tits q war upon th'
weak. the friendless; upon a people wh'
are entitled to every sympathy Of ou
hearts: people who cannot project tbei
own rights. And l would suggest that |
becomes public men to step lightly whei
, they tread upon the liberties Of a dow
trodden people. Nor will great name
sanetify great crimes. You speak Of udg
Mclean . opinion Of thls law; but tn
people Judge their judges, and hold them Il
q rigid responsibility. Had these officer
: been hanged in the manner intimAted
Judge Mclean would not have tried them
United States laws would have no applica
ton to the case. They would have beer
tried under STATE law. and by Stale Judges
BY ajudgs Of the county who would hav'
determined both lao and fact. The arm
Of despotism is ever paralisad. when raiset
10 strike an intelligent people. They ma.
bring the necks OF despois TO the halter
: but despots never can bring their heads
: the bioek. They govern themselves accord
ing 10 the constitutional laws. bu. the,
cannot be governed by fear OF bayonet o
block
do not object to your giving utterane
' 10 your sentiments. only object TO you
: representing them as the sentiments @
/ the Republican party; detest the fugiliv
, law WOULD sLAr ANY SLAVE CATCHER VIII
WOULD PoLUTE MY RESIDENCE TO RE cAF
; TUKE FUGITIVE. But should feel some
{. what disgraced by having my head brough
!. to the block for doing that service to man
kind.
At the late Republican Convention c
our State, you were one Of the Commiltc
who reported that this law was DEsrRuC
: TIVE TO THE RIGHTS OF STATES THE LIE
o ERTY OF THE PEoPLE. AND ADHEREHT 7
b. THE FEELINos OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD. :
These are your own declarations as the
stand recorded; Yet you would have on
i people surrender their rights as Stat,
il permit their own liberties to be subverte
II in order 10 show their respect for this tug
4 two act. THIS is NOT REPUBLICAN, SENT
MESr. repeat It do not blame you f
T" your honest opinions, but you have n
right to say that suoh opinions are sn,i
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