Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-07-28
Ube Antt 9Ioucrp Buolr.
From the Wisconsin Free Democrat.
LETTER OF MR.. B10TH-D -DEsP0TISM
OVER THE SOUL.

learn that it is reported, that it is my owl
fault that | am now in prison, and that could bt
released, at any time for tho asking and tha
there are not wanting Republicans who say, tha
IF am not williue to ask for pardon, l ought no
TO be released. Let me state the matter fairly
The Supreme Court of this Statehas decided tha
the Act under which | was convicted was uncons
ttutional was , law-not roidable, but roid-anc
discharged me from the sentence of the u 5. Dis
trict Court By this decision, il pledged til,
power. authority and sovereignty Of the State fUr
the protection OF my liberty against any aite empted
enforcement OF the original sentence. That doc
sion of the Supreme Court stands unreversed as
the law of this State for it refused obedience to
the mandate Of the U. S. Supreme Court, requiring
i,,u reverse its decision, aud dcued its appellate
jurisdiction.
The State, then. by its highest tribunal, has de-
cared me Innocent, and fully entitled to its prOtec-
ton from arrest and i'm mprsunment. It's Executive,
Gov. Rtnidl in his Annual Message referring
approvingly to the decision Of the Supreme Court
declared it to be the law Of Wisconsin, and volun-
tsrily sed all the power tt the State to see i.
enforced.
1 have, thOn the Judicial decree, and the Execu-
auseeing my liberty l have also the declaration
of erery Repubtjcaa Paper in the State, at the time
Of my discharge, and the resolutions of more thGn
hundred public meetings, in favor Of the dec-
sion Of the Supreme Court, and Uf sustaining me
10 the position had taken.
have also the Legislative . ,tion of the Sta,e in
my favur, declaring slave Judgments void. and
puulshing. with fac ard imprisonment, all who
re-cnmmu aud re-imprisDn for Ihe same cause, one
who has been discharged on IA writ of hQbeas cor
pus. l have, then, the Judicial. the Executive
and the Legislative autho icy Of the State for say
ing that ain now iAeguliy imprisoned that was
Kidnapped and those who now hold me a prisoner
have more right u hold me thus, than they
have to imprison Judge Cole Gov. Randall
without the pretense of authority OF law.
Now, what am | asked to do, to entite me to n
release
l. 10 deny the .titA Of JPiscoasin by acknow.
edsinS that ,h' writ Of haJeas corpus and the
Right OF Tih 10y Jury may be consttutionaly
abolished, and that unconstitutional Act-a
multi --msy Sc valid law, strong enough 10
override the rights and sovereignty of the State.
its Courts, its Executive, its Legislature, and the
liberties OF the people.
2 TO become u hypoc'ite. For every one knows
Chat if | should ask pardon for violating the Flu.
gilive Act. and promise to obey it hereafter,
would be lying
For Dn NOT RECOGNIZE 1T AS A LAW. u is
bold uSupation, striking directly al tie HDer-
ties Of The people, and Tie aa|horHy IF JehocaA .
What God commaadS. il forLidS What lie t6r-
bids il comMands 1t is cruel, bloody wicked,
despotc, damoable Those VIII uphold it, if they
profess Repu Jicauism, deserve the scurn OF des'
pots if they profess christianity, deserve the
scorn of nfiels and atheists, and richly merit tie
damnatiOn they assign to unbelevers. And ! am
asked to swear tealy to such a law, before | can
be released before the question of my release can
even be considered. The petitions of leading dem
ocrats in this city, asking f1r my release, could
not be considered till asked for pardon. un-
der oath. wrote Attorney General Black 10 answer
to the prayer Of these petitioners.
A. I. Pratt on his way u the Charleston Con-
vention called on the President as did other del.
ogates who Ielt deep Interest in my case. and af
ter his interview with that old public !unctonary'
wrote back to the NeUs, speaking by authority,
with great apparent satisfaction
You may say to Mr.. Booth that the President
will remit his fine Uhen he pW oUn up that he did
prOng in breaking the la,Os. and promise to do bet
ter keregtier. and not till Men.'
And the News, Immediately after its EDITORS re-
turn from Washington, declared IS. M Booth
,oW continue TO suffer the penalties Of violated laws
unless he GETS DOWN ON KNEES AND BEGs FOR
MERCY. Let him do this, and we doubt not his
prison bars would open.'
This is the debasement required of me, as the
condition precedent of my release Nor is there
any certainty of my release, shoud thus humil-
late myself Does any honorable man-any Re-
puScan-say | ought to comply with such re-
qusition If so, | wLuld like to know his name.
This whole proceeding shows, in n striking
light, the despotc character Of slavery and of our
Federal Government under its present administra.
ton Here is a statute wbioh the moral sense
of the people of the Free States regard as usur-
patton violation, Of tie Constitution, and dam
gerous to liberty. Aud of those who hold it to he
Constitutional, most Of them regard it as iuhuman
and oppressive, and when put TO the practical
test, would themselves disregard it by giving aid
and comfort TO the fugitive. This statute, so often
siVe to the moral sense and SO opposite to the So
Der Judgment OF the people, is attempted TO be
enforced, in my case, with periinacty a rigor.
and q vindictveness characteristic only Of the des.
potism of slavery.
For the sentence of Judge Miller, against me. {
can only be fulfilled by perpetual imprisonment. or
be remitIed by my acknowledging the justice Of c
the Fugitive Act, and getting down on my !
knees" before the president, aud begging for i
mercy = |
have now been four months in prison. My /
business has been interrupted and broken up, my
plans all frustrated, my pecuniary interest injur-
ID. and how much damage this i'm prsOnment has f
oeen and 10 likely to be to me. any business man {