Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-04-15
AFTERNOON sEssloN.

Court convened at 2 o'clock After the em-
pannelling of new Grand Jury, and the charge
being delivered to them by Judge WILSON Ga
note OF which with the names of the Jurors will
be found in another column the closing argu-
ment for the prosecution was commenced by
Judge BELDEN.
do not know whether shall address myself
to you Sir, to you, Gentlemen the Jury, or t
this audience. Why sir, the audience and the
multitude in the house, have been the tribunal
to which the gentlemen of the defence have
talked. Here are number of saints from
Oberlin, Saint Peck, Saint Plumb, Saint Fitch
and sub Saint Bushnell gathered here and their
counsel have, rs fit beginning and ft end
ing of bad beginning, set aside the Judge and
Jury and spoke TO multitude alone. One of
the gentlemen says he has but little reverence
and small opinion Of the merits of the Supreme
Court, and as for Judge MoLEAN he was but a
small sort of man who had but little legal know
ledge. Why, was this the same Judge Mclean
that Mr.. Spalding wanted to make President
few years agO2 c'Wanted TO get him off
the bench'--Judge Spalding) Look at the
constitutional arguments" which have been
brought forward, such as the boy who was
exhibited here before the court, with the Pro
bate, CrOi0bau Judge who took seat beside
Your Honor upon tho bench. What sort Of an
argument was that. Again the gentlemen reads
a series Of resolutions, which purpOrted to DO
sanctioned by your Honor. But it was known
or should have been know by him that this
placing of your Honor's name to those resolu-
tions was libel upon your name. At this meet
ing the name of your Honor was placed to these
resolutions without authority and without per-
mission ] have now note from one of the
most prominent members of the bar in this city
by which we learn that this law was referred
at the meeting, to a select committee TO examine
and report upon Judge Hitchcock who was
chairman of that committee reported upon il
that il was entirely constitutional (tI think,
Judge Belden, that this matter is foreign TO the
subject,-Judge WILLsoNl think SO too, and
will drop it, having been forced into it by the de-
fence.
This Oberlin "higher law"--which call
"Devips law" as interpreted by the Oberlin
saints is just what makes every mans con-
science his criterion az to right or wrong. Tho
true "higher law" ia the law Of the country in
which we exist, and there wonld be no safety
for the whole world or commpnity,--a perfect
hell upon earth would prevail If this law was
carried out, II gives all 10 the black man. but
the devil take the white man II places no
oonstraint upon any human being, save his
own free will, and takes all power from the
law
The ordinance which remanded fugtives to
slavery is within the letter and spirit of tho
Constitution, and there are always means for
peaceably and quietly executing these laws
Until this higher this devils law was actodlupOn,
the law for the recovery of .fugites was in force
1t was for modern wisdom to find out that this
law is unconstitutional. Daniel Webster be-
lieyed it to b0 constitutional, the statement OF
the gentleman for the defence TO the contrary
notwithstanding But disunion and opposition
arose and spread through the land, because this
does away with the right Of ha5eas corpus and
trial by jury, (lead from Webster in support Of
the law) The counsel for the defence has said
"liberty or no Union. OH what an estimate Of
liberty, Wipe out the union and yOn blot out
liberty. Break down the law and anarchy
stalks throughthe land, while "devl law" reigns
supreme.
advise one friends Of Oberlin, Saint Peck
Saint Plumb and the rest to 60 to some good,
church where the Bible is preached, and not
politics, where women do not point 10 your
church spires Rs hell poles because the Bible
sanctions slayery--fOr it does sanction II, in the
case of Paul snd 0nesmus. Christ preached
obedience TO masters. If these Oberlin Saints
had about one half as much piety as tho South
ern masters aud mistresses have il would be
we'll as between them and their God The
slaves are no more NJ for liberty than our child
rem at the age Of IL or Ia. You find but few
even in the North, who are worthy of their
liberty and prepared 10 use il, How many, OF
rather how few are there in Europe who are ca
pable Of taking care Of themselves, The "high.
er law" people appeal to the passions and not
10 common sense. To 60 70 the South now aud
set the slaves free, would bs horrible crime,
throwing them into a condition far worse than
they are now placed in, You may as we'll say
to this community, "throw away your marriage
relation because Il is sometimes abused.H Rn
a Northern man with National principles, and
l say that those living in slavery cannot be ret
free il it is wished TO preserve the Union, OH
you craven hearted, stingy crew, who point 10
England's free laws, why do you not do asthey