Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1860-07-14

AND BEGs FOR MERCY. Let hin. do
this, and zoe doubt not has prison, bars
aoould open.''
This IS the debasement required of
me as the condition precedent of my
released! Nor is there any certainty Of
my release, should I thus humiiate my
self. Does anybody-any Republican
SAY I ought to comply with such
reauisition ? If so, would like to
know his name.
The whole proceeding shows in
striking light, the despotic character
Of slavery, and Of our Federal Govern
ment under its present administration.
Here is statute at which the moral
sense of the people revolts, which the
greater part Of the people Of the Free
States regard as usurpation in violation
of the Constitution, and dangerous to
to liberty. And Of those who hold it
to be constitutional, most of them re-
gard it as inhuman and oppressive, and
when put to the practical test, would
themselves disregard it by giving aid
! and comfort to the fugitive. This stat
ute, 50 offensive to the moral sense,
and so opposed TO the sober judgment
OF the people, is attempted to be en-
forced, in my case with pertinacity,
a rigor, and vindictiveness character
istic only OF the despotism of slavery.
For the sentence of Judge Miller,
against me, can only be fulfilled by per-
petual Imprisonment, or be RENTED
By my acknowledging the justice Of
the Fugitive Act, and "getting doacn
Oh n.y yA,aees'' before the President, and
"6eggi,g for neercy""
l have now been four months in pris-
on. Ny business has been interrupted
and broken up, my plans all frustrated,
my pecuniary interests injured, and
how much damage this Imprisonment
has been and is likely to be to me, any
business man would readily perceive,
if he had been suddenly arrested and
confined as I have been. have a
family needing my care and efforts to
provide for them. There is every in
ducement to lead me to wish to be at
liberty, and it is no light sacrifice l am
compelled to make III remaining here.
But have no other alternative. can
not de what is requir ed for my release,
without dishonor, without sacrificing
the most cherished convictions of my
life, and without complete surrender,
on my part, Of the glorious position i'll
behalf of Freedom assumed and main
tanned for five years by the State Of
Wisconsin. I hold her honor now in
my keeping, and if her courts and au-
thorities and people all deny the faith
they have professed, and succumb, like
trembling slaves, to the one-naa7a po,o-
er, and permit Judge Miller to ride
rough shod over the constitution and
laws, over the sovereignty and rights
and liberties Of the people of Wiscon-
sin, and set at defiance and treat with
contempt her courts, that he may i'm
prison her citizens and work his des-
potic will for the establishment Of sla-
very on our soil, and play the part of
bloodhound for the slave catchers of
the South / trust that while life and
reason remains to me, shall not he
found among the recreants to liberty
and that shall be able to oppose to the
despotism Of the the slave power that
now holds me, will as strong, pa
tience as enduring, faith as firm, a
courage as unfinching, and hope as
cheerful in the services Of Freedom,
as my kidnappers and jailols show in
the service of slavery.
Ifliberty is crime and the love of
it felony, then am justly imprison
ed. But if it be the foundation and
corner stone of our Republican edifice,
and the permeating spirit of all our Re-
publican institutions, then is my con-
tinual imprisonment a lnonstrous anon
ally and wrong, and disgrace to the
State of Wisconsin, which should red
den with the blush Of shame, the cheeks
of every honest, liberty-loving citizen.
In postscript to y business letter,
written me not long since, Senator Dur
kee says: GLOW strange it is that yol
have to lie in prison contrary to the
laws of our State l. there not virtue
enough in the people to maintain their
own honor and vindicate the decision
of their own Courts %
l leave this question for the people
to answer. S. NJ. BOOTH.
U. S. Custom HOUSE, June %, 80.