The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-07-14
THE OBERLIN VICTIMS OF GOVERN
MENTAL OPPRESSION.

! /. slave named John is alleged 10 have
escaped, nearly three years ago, from his mas
ter in Kentucky.
Z. In September last he was pursued. and
man living IN Oberin, and taken TO be the
same person, was seized by armed men, he be-
ing decoyed out Of the village at the instance
Of the pursuers.
3. He was hurried off to Wellington, 10 await
the first train Of cars going south.
4. 1idings having reached the inhabitants Of
Obern, excited already by the knowledge that
shareholders had been prowling about the vii
lage, few persons fastened to Wellington. for
the purpose Of rescuing one whom they believed
to be a kidnapped man.
,. Those men, with others, citizens of Vel
hngton, succeeded in delivering the negro from
his captors.
8. The officers of the Federal Government
arraigned these men as criminals, part being
white men and part colored men.
Z. A packed jury, selected by the Marshal.
every one ofwhom was a Buchanan Democrat.
found the two who were tried guilty. One was
sentenced to pay $500, and the other 800. and
both were imprisoned.
9. The rest demanded instant trials but the
Judge postponed the trials. and would have ad-
mitted the prisoners to bail if they had virtual
ly confessed that they were felons The sheriff.
bound by the law of the State to receive and
hold United States prisoners, said to these
prisoners receive you not as felons, but as
friends; for | would have acted as you have
done
.. The Wellington men made some conces
sions, and after being fined $25 each, and i'm
prisoned one day, were discharged.
10. The two convicted men were remanded
to prison; and eleven others, rather than give
bail on the terms required, went with them.
IL. The party has now been confined up
wards of seventy days, and they may remain
there ali summer or longer Professor Henry
l.. Peck is one of them Last year, he was the
Moderator Of the Ohio Congregational Confer
ence. He belongs TO a very rare class of men
I The Ohio Conference of this year have, by their
Moderator, addressed him in public letter in
which it is said /" am able to assure you
there is not one of Us who does not make your
cause his own, and who would not, if it were
possible, be willing to share with you your pris
on suferings. And we do all pray God to en-
able YOU humbly to endure your suferings for
weeks longer, if need be, rather than compro-
mise in any way, the principles of Justice and
freedom
II. The prisoners urgently need immediate
/ help. Nine OF the thirteen now in Jail are
married. Six of the number depend wholly On
/ their daily labor for support, and the rest are
men OF small means. Forty children of the
prisoners look to their imprisoned fathers. i'm
der God, for their daily bread Already have
the prisoners expended 800 for necessary ex-
penses attending the trials, and they owe $500
more for the same. They have had to pay
500 to the sheriff, for entertaining members
OF their families who have visited them, and
furnishing the prisoners such necessaries as
the Government will not provide.
IL, If the trials On on a.,
character Of the Judge and the District Attor-
ney, and the influence of the Federal Govern
ment, they probably will, there will be great
expenses to meet, for the prisoners mean, if
the prosecution challenges it, to carry on de-
tensive hostilities on large scale, the Govern
ment having opened itself TO assault in various
ways They believe that the opportunity for
proving to the American people what Federal
aggresslons are, should not be lost
~. The Congregational Conferences Of
Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, and Iowa, have Ut
tered strong words Of sympathy and the effect
oil the cruel treatment of the prisoners is APP
peanng IN Ohio and other States, in stirring
up to acton q the long-latent personal CHRIS
Hoa Anti Slavery sentiment of the people.
10. The Prsontrs believe that God approves
their course. He Sas raised up friends. has
visited the prisoners With peculiarly rich out
pourngs OF grace and has turned their sorrow
to good account IN a quidening of Anti-Sls.
very zeal, which is reported to them from va
rious parts of the land.
10. All communications of itouirv or do.
nations, NAV be directed to S. kumb f.
Oberlm, Lorain county, Ohio, or . tbe Iii
Amistad committee in New York. lb;cb i
still IN working order, unbroken-Lewl, Tan.
pan, Treasurer, NJ. A. Beekman street. New
York