Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-11

" est Side, called the attention OF the peopie
to the imprisonment in the County
Jail of the Rev. George Gordon, and proposed /
that meeting be held in the evening to take |
note OF this case and to give such expression |
Of views as might seem proper. An invita-
tIou was extended to Rev. Mr.. Oormac OF the
Sd Baptist Church to be present.
In response to this call the church was
filled with an audience composed Of mem-
bers of several congregations, and other cit
iEens, interested in the occasion.
After the usual religious services, the pas
tor read In the 18th chapter Of the Acts,
the account OF the imprisonment Of Peter by
Herod, and Of his rescue by the angel Of the
Lord in answer to the prayer Of the Church
at Jerusalem, and of the subsequent horrible
death Of Herod. Without remarking on the
portion of Scripture, the pastor greeted the
large assembly with expressions OF gratilica-
tion that 30 many Of his fellow citizens and
christian friends of different churches had
manifested their hearty interest in the casein
hand by coming together. He spoke OF the
pride with which the citizens of Cleveland
had formerly boasted that their city was the
metropolis of the anti-slavery Reserve, and
that fugitive slave could not be taken back
TO bondage from their streets. But the peo-
pie had been humbled by series Of pro-
slavery acts in the midst of this goOdly city,
and in the high places thereof commencing
with the imprisonment of the Oberlin and
Wellington Rescuers, eliminating in the
seizure and rendition of the slave Lucy, and
ending with the incarceration of Rev. George
Gordon in the common jail.
The pastor read from Mr.. GOrdon's state
ment made before the Court after the render
ing of the verdict the facts relative to his
personal participation in the obnoxious af-
fair at Iberia; and then presented for delib-
Grafton and action the following
PAPER.
The Church and Congregation being called
together to take into consideration the Judicial
proceedings in the case of Rev. Mr.. Gordon,
learn with surprise and sorrow and mortih-
cation that a highly esteemed clergyman,
the President of the college of Iberia, and
an earnest Christian Philanthropist, has
been sentenced by the Judge of the U. s.
| District Court to an imprisonment Of six
months in our county Jail and to close con-
| fnement therein, and to pay fine Of $500,
| with costs, for the alleged offense Of lob
structing process in the execution of the
| Fugitive Slave Law.
We learn from Mr. GArdon's address to
the Court, in which the false testimony OF
the prosecution is exposed, that the sum to-
tai of his agency in the transaction charged
as criminal, is that he was present sbOut ten
minutes in the close of 6sgellation inhict-
ed upon one or more slave hunters near his
residence, and consented to the punishment,
without any knowledge of the official rela-
tions of either of the men. He dealt no
blow, used no threat furnished no rod, en-
ployed no urgency, but simply expressed his
conviction that they deserved stripes, and
stood by while the remainder were laid on.
In consideration of the -undisguised alb
herrence with which the good people of
Ohio regard the Fugitive Slave Law, and of
| it inhuman, unchrstian, and unconstitu-
tiOnal character, we cannot look upon the
act of the Rev. Mr.. Gordon as one worthy
ofpunishment, at least of punishment so Sc
we're as should be meted out only to henious
crime.
And in view of the present revolt and
reasonable attitude Of the Slave power, in
/ open war upon the Government Constitution
and liberties of the country, it would seem
/ to be a superhuity OF zeal for slavery, an in
excusable exhibition Of sympathy with op-
pressors and traitors, to visit the rigors of an
odious law upon worthy citizen of Ohio,
whose emily fault has been an incautious ex-
preston of his cherished sentiments.
We do therefore deplore this sentence as
! properly Ut u-vllruJiGs INT 'Vuf6lsoi yftfsed
] m fha al lar Of in
/ its rebellion, and condemn it as maj ked with
features Of uncalled for severity, constituting
| it cruel and bsrbarous decision.
We do profoundly regret that our Pros
ocuting Attorney, in whose avowed opposi-
tion to slavery and the Fugitive Slave Law
we have confded, has officially participated
in this persecution Of a good and righteous
man, and has not rather given to one whose
offence was q selt-risking love of another's
liberty, the benefit Of every legal technicali-
ty, and of his own clemency.
We are at loss to understand the silence
Of our city Press during the prosecution of
this extraordinary case, a silence continued
since the rendering of the verdict and the
committing Of the prisoner, and broken
cnly when the proceedings had in another
place, rejecting on this extraordinary policy,
demanded some expression. To this Dc .istent
silence we are aware of but solitary eXcep-
tion. The Morning Leader, in publishing the
remarks of Rev. Mr.. Gordon to the Court
spoke with becoming severity ofthe sentence.
characterizing it as ga pure act of cruelty and
Vindictiveness on the part of the presiding
Judge. The consequence has been that the
people here and elsewhere have been kent in
inrnn ~ vubfoI h,I l.
been given to it, would have excited general
interest and called forth in every quarter ex-
pressions of censure and of sympathy. We |
have never known an instance of more mex |
cusable recreancy to a sacred trust on the |
part of our usually faithful and ut-spoken
press
We would hereby tender 10 the Rev. Mr..
Gordon and his devoted wife, our Christian
and assure them of our earnest
prayers and indefatigable efforts TO secure
his speedy release from an unrighteous i'm
prisonment, and disproportionate and empov-
erishing fine.
May the God Of Joseph, of Peter, of Paul
and Silas be with him in his prison cell. and
give him songs in the night, and timely de-
iveranee.
The reading OF the paper was followed BY
IN address from Rev. Mr.. Cormac, glowing
With sympathy for the prisoner, and indigna- !
ion OF the judicial wrongs inflicted upon a
5ood and godly man.
On motion that the meeting approve of the
entinents of the paper, the people generally l
ose to their feet, and the motion passed with.
ut dissent
1t was further moved that the proceedings
e presented to Rev. Mr.. Gordon, and offered
the city press for publication.
he Mason and Sllden AaaIr--Tqe Case
Settleq IN AdYaHce--ImportRnt UDinIoI
o. the Law Officers of the CrOWu.-flanF |
wilkes Act Sustained.
IFrom the Edinburg Scotsman, Nov 9l1 ,