Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-05-13
CLEVELAND FRIDAY MORNING, MAY I3, 1869

Court does not make The laws, Il merely finds them
upon the statute book and Is bound 10 enforce them
In consideration Of the circumstances IN your case
the sentence OF the Court IL that you pay fine Of
slo0 and costs OF suit, be the imprisoned 10
Tie County Jail 20 DAYS; aud if for any cause vou
cannot be confined In the jail Of this county, you
viii be taken by the Marshal TO some other jail in
this district"
After the sentence had beeu pronounced, Jul
s. J. ANDREws addi essed the Court in behalf Of
Mathew DeWolf, Abner Loyeland and Lofin Wads
worth, in each Of which cases he had been in
structed to enter noli contendere.
Judge Andrews remarked that while they
wished to enter this plea, they did not wish to be
understood as cOniessing that they bad knowingly
violated the laws, and they wished such 10 be
made part OF the record which noted the with
drawal Of their plea Of not guilty.
He further remarked that they had long been
residents OF Loran County, that they were law
abiding men, that they were accidentally connect.
ed with the rescue, that they went to Wellington
village TO help their neighbOrs who were suffering
rom fire, that while there in the midst Of an in
tense excitement which would naturally arise on
such an occasion in a small village the report was
made that justice had issued o warrant TO arrest
persons supposed Illegally 10 have in custody a
negro man, that they mingled in the crowd, aud
talked with the crowd and TO certain extent act.
ed with Toe crowd In endeavoring 10 ascertain
whether the man was legally in custody OF not
They supposed they had a right 10 enquire into
the matter, but a. soon as they found that the
negro was legally held they dessted They did
not intend 10 oyerstep the limits Of the law.
They may have and no doubt have gone beyond
the limits and technically violated the law but be
was persuaded that II was uaintentiona
Good m5n differ as 70 the proper course 10 pur.
sue in regard TO obedience 10 the Fugitive Slave
| Law, but these men had no sympathy with those
who would openly violate the law and resist il
even to blood. They thought such notions and
sentiments belonged TO a school Of a later dat,
than the one 90 which they were raised,
| They had no conception Of worse state Of soci
| ETY. than that where the decisions Of tho highes
Court should be disregarded aud every man be
come law unto himself They held themsolve
bound to obey the law and to defer 10 II whether
be right or wrong. They do not concern them
selves about the cOnsttutiOnality of an enactment
aud have no sympathy with that spirit whiCl
would bring the State and Federal authorities int
collision aud ultimately tend to dissolution O
the Uuion, They believed that laws must be re
formed, II they were wrong, by popular opinion
expressed through the Courts OF the law. The
sympathiae with slaves, but hold to the enforce
ment Of law
The Court having heard the remarks Of Judg
ANDREWS, accepted the plea of the defendant
and sentenced them TO a fne Of $50 and costs eact
aud to twenty four hours Imprisonment
Court then adjourned to Saturday morning
70" The Festival of the Flower Queen to be give
! at the Melodeon Ou the evening of Tuesday mex
will be fine affair. Keep this entertainment
|