Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-07-14
Letter Of Mr.. Booth.
Despotisn over the Soul.

To the Editors Of the Free Democrat:
l learn that it is reported, that it Is
my own fault that l am now in prison,
and that l could be released, at any
time, for the asking; and that there
are not wanting Republicans who say,
that if l am not willing to ask for par
don, ought not to be released. Let
Inc state the matter fairly.
The Supreme Court Of this State has
decided that the Act under which |
was convicted was unconstitutional,
was no iaw-not uoida5le, but Uoid-
and discharged me from the sentence
OF the U. S. District Court. By this
decision, it pledged the power, author
ity and sovereignty Of the State for the
protection of my liberty against any
attempted enforcement Of the original
sentence. That decision OF our ST.
preme Court stands mlreverSea as the
law u; this State, for it refused obedl-
enca to he mandate Of the u. 5. Su.
prene Court, requiring 1t to reverse its
decision, and denied its appellate iiuris-
dictlon.
the State, then, by its highest tri-
5unal, has declared me innocent, and
fully entitled to its protection from ar
rest ana Imprisonment. Its Executive,
Gov. Randall. in his Annual Message,
referring approyinsly to the decision
of the Supreme Court, declared it to
be the law of Wisconsin, and volunta-
riIy pledged all the power Of the State
to see it enforced.
l have, then, the judicial decree, and
tie Executive pledge-the word and
oath Of the State--guaranteeing my
liberty. l have also the declaration of
every Republican paper IN the State,
at the time Of my discharge, and the
resolutions of more than hundred
meetings, in favor of the decision Of the
Supreme Court, and of sustaining me
i'll the position [ had taken.
| have also the Legislative action of
the State i'll my favor, declaring slave
Judgments void, and furnishing, with
tine and Imprisonment, all who recon-
NIT and re-imprison for the same cause,
one who has been discharged on writ
of Hss5eas Corpus. / have, then, the
Judicial, the Executive, and the Legis-
Iative authority of the State for saying
that [ am now illegally imprisoned,
that was kidnapped, and those who
hold me 4 prisoner, have no more right
to hold me thus, than they have to i'm
prison Judge Cole or Gov. Randall,
without the pretense of authority of
law.
Now, what am I asked to do, to en-
title me to a release?
/. To deny the .faiM Of Wisconsin,
by acknowledging that the writ of Ha-
Jeas Corpus and the Right of Trial by
Jury may be unconstitutionally abol-
isheI, and that an unconstitutional
Act-a nullity-may be valid law,
strong enough to override the rights and
sovereignty Of the State, its Courts, its
Executive, its Legislature, and the lib
critics of the people.
2. I5 become a hypocrite. For ev-
cry one knows that if l should ask par
don for violating the Fugitive Act, and
promise to obey it hereafter, would
be lying.
For / DO NOT RECOGNIZE 1T AS A
LAW 1t is u bold usetrpatioa, striking
directly at the liberties Of the people,
and the authority Of Jehocah. What
God conneauas, 1t ,forbiG ! What
lie torbids, 1t commands! It is cruel,
bloody, wicked, despotic, damnabie !!
Those who uphold it, if they profess
deserve the scorn of
despots; if they profess christianity,
deserve the scorn Of inidels and athe-
lists, and richly merit the dannation
they assign to unbelievers. And ! AIN
asked to swear faa!ty to such law,
before I can be released-be fore the
question OF my release can even be con-
Sidered. The petitions Of leading dem
ocrats in this city, asking for my re-
lease, conld not even be considered till
asked f)r pardon under oath, wrote
Attorney Black, in answer to the pray
er of these petitioners.
4. =. Pratt, on his way to the Charles
ton convention, called on the President
AS did other delegates who felt
deep ,nterist in my case-and after his
with that cold public flnc-
tionary," wrote back to the Nsacs,
speaking by authority, with great ap-
parent satisfaction:
"Yo~ may sag to Mr.. Booth that
the President 'oiN remit hts fine Shen
he oac1as that he dane aorony liz break
ing the laos, and promises to do better
hereafter, and not till the,a.''
And the Nsaos, Immediately after its
editors returned from Washington, de-
clared :-".S. II Booth aoiH continue
to suffer the penalties Of uiolated za,os,
unzess he GETS DOWN ON HIS KNEES