The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-05-20
THE JEFFERsONIAN DEMOCRAT.
Speech Of tho Negro Langston.

Before receiving his sentence, Mr..
Langston. the condemned Oberlin res
cuer, made q fearless snd eloquent
speech in his own vindication. After
showing that. in the part he took in the
Wellington Rescue, he was actuated by
no motives unworthy Of aw.abiding
citizen, AMI commenting with much force
upon the position he occupied before the
Court, as one OF that unfortunate race ,
which the Supreme Court Of the United
States has solemnly adjudgcd to have
"no rights that white men are bound
to respect" he concludes as follows:
But in view Of all the facts, say, that,
il ever again man is seized near me,
and is about to be carried southwark as a
slave before any legal investigation has
been had, shall hold it to be my duty
as | held il that day, to secure for him u
possible legal inquiry into the character
Of the claim BY which he is held And L
90 farther; say that il it is adjudged ille-
Gal to procure even such an investigation,
then we are thrown back upon he last
deiences of our rights which cannot be ia
ken from US, and which God gave us
that we need not be slaves. ask your
Honor, while say this, to place yourself
in my situation, snd you will say with
me that II your children had been seized by
men who claimed them as fugitives, and
, the law Of the land forbade you to ask
t any investigation, and precluded the
r possibility of any legal protection or re-
, dress,-lhen you will say with me, that
you would not only demand the protection
Of the law, but you would call in your
., , neighbors ard your friends and would ask
= them to say with you, that these your
: friends could not be taken into slavery.
And now thank you for this leniency,
g this indulgence, in giving man unjustly
condemned, by a tribunal before which
y he is declared TO have no rights, the priv.
n lege of speaking in his own behalf.
;. know that it will do nothing toward miti
f eating your sentence. but it is q privilege
to be allowed 10 speak, and thank you
for it. i shall submit to the penalty, bt
it what it may. But stand up here ts
: say, tha. il for doing what did do OF
= that day at Wellington, l am TO 30 ii
J., Jail six months. and pay fue OF a thou
s sand dollars, according to the Fugitive
Slave Law, and such is the protection thu
laws of this country afford me, mus
take upon myself the responsibility OF sci
l. protection when come 10 be claimed
y by some periured wretch rs his slave,
p shall never be taken into slavery. An
T.. as in that trying hour would have other
y do TO me, AS would call upon my friend
e. to help me, as would call upon you
your Honor, to help me as | would ca
he upon you, to the District Attorney
OF help me aud upon you, to his counsel
bs so help me God ! stand here to say TIN
10 will do all can, for any man thus seii
q. Ss ed and held, though the inevitable penalt
=, ~ of six months imprisonment and on
n' thousand dollars fine for each otfenc
hangs over me | We have all n commc
IS humanity, and you all would do that
er your manhood would require it and n
in. matter what the laws might be. you woul
tn honor yourself for doin. IT, while yot
rs. friends and your children 20 all gener'
a lions would honor you lor doing ii, an
every good and honest man would say
uh you had done right (Great and pr
=, longed applause, in spite Of the efforts
!, Court and Msrshal.)