Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-06-23
A PRISONER

We have read of a man who won on elephant al
a rattle, and though he at first exulted in his good
luck, was afterward sadly puzzled what to DO with
the animal. He had no suitable place in which tC
keep it, no fodder on which to feed il, could end
no one to buy it, or who would accept it as o gift
aud he dared not turn the beast loose.
The United States Senate has been in almost Of
bad a predicament in regard to Thaddeus Hyatt
When it appointed its Mason committed it expec
ted it to gather up facts that would astound the
nation, and to make q report which would have @
far more startling effect than the report of John
Browns rifles in Virginia. Perhaps this might
have been the case had the proper witnesses been
summoned, and the Committee been able to com.
pei them to testify. Bu. men whose political
opinions we're of the Democratic complexion were
not called upon for evidence, even when they boas.
ted, like Gov. Wise, of what they knew, and de-
clared that rubies could not buy the disclosure.
And in the case of some others, it was found that
although the Senate had power to call, if not spir.
its, yet bodies from the Vastly Deep the bodies
would not always come, as in the case of Frank
Sanborn and John Brown Jr. And when they
did come, they sometimes would not testify, as in
the case Of the contuma iDus Hyatt, who was made
to feel the power, if not the right of the Senate to
imprison for contempt. An incarceration Of
three months in Washington jail did not increase
Mr.. Hyatt's respect for his Honorable ieilors. and
the close OF the season, and tn, near close of the
Congressional session found him as contumacious
as when first imprisoned, and even more SO.
The Committee had completed its labors, and
the summing up of the result was represented by
a formidable array Of cypers. And the question
What shall be done with Mr.. nyatt?' was as
perple&ing to the Honorable body as is to the NJ,
E.. Church the query What shall be done for the
extirpatiOn of slaveryr His Investigations and
revelations whilu in prison did infinitely more to
damage slavery than the bare fact of his impris-
onuent could possibly benefit it and yet the Sen.
ate felt that while it would be impolisic to longer
contin1e his i'm Imprisonment, it would be dame ging
to release him. Like the puzzled ass between two
bundles of hay the Honorable Senate felt an
equal doubt, and was ready to extlaim, with its
illustrious prototype
81 can and l ca MT, 1 will and l won't,
III be damned i'll do, I'll be damned if / don't"
There was certainly no use in imprisoning Mr..
Hyatt unless he could be brought to terms. But
he maintained his position in despite Of the SEN
ute, and when the order came for his release; he
was as full of contempt and contuhiacy as was
ever any rebel against unrighteous power. Mr..
Hyatt has not receded from his position, and
though the Senate has Withdrawn from the field,
the question of ito right remains unde ided. Mr..
IL. has, however, laid the matter fatty before the
people, and the security of their OWE rights de.
mands that the question should be looked
in the face, und definitely and properly set
tied. We trust that he will continue to press this
matter, SO that whatever the Presidential campaign
may leave of manhood and self respect may, at
least after the election, be enlisted in the discus
sion and settlement of a question which, though
sneered at by politicians as a mere abstraction, is
Of vital Importance to practical freedom.