Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-12-07

the object which he had In view-the liberia
ton OF the enslsved--should be earnestly
embraced by our Government and pressed
to speedy execute on.
2. Resolved That we cannot but regard
Il as a remarkable fact, II not an arrange
msut of Divine Providence, that the two
Grand armies drawn up against each other
III battle array, and the chief devastation Of
the war should be about the scatfold OF this
noble martyr.
1. RssoIusd That il is with extreme NOR
ti6oation and indignation, that We have |
learned Of the sentence of that noble phi |
lanthropist, Rev. Geo. Gordon, President OF
Iberia College, by Judge Wilson Of the
n s. District Court for Northern Ohio, to six
nontbs imprisonment and three hundred
dollars fine, for the alleged crime OF interier-
inc With U, s. Marshals in the execution OF
the unjust, unconstitutional and infamous
fugitive slave act.
2. Resolesd, That while We do not wish
10 commit ourselves to the undignihed bus
iness Of whipping U. 8. ARrshals, we regard
q sound Aogging as the least punishment
that any man deserves who will assist Of
6cislIy or unoficially in the return of tu-
vitiye slave; and we cannot withhold our
svmpathy from q good and prosecuted man
/ because he witnessed such q chastisemept
with satisfaction. F
8. Yesolped, That the slave power is the
oulV power in rebellion against our Govern
ment. and that any willing tool Of that
pover. who shows himself eager 10 in1ict q
severe penalty upon nob.e man whose
gauerous indignation at brutal effort to
execute the fugitive law, only betrayed him
At the worst. into an indiscretion, should be
regarded as in symps hy with the rebellion,
and dangerous 70 the welfare Of the country.
4. ReSolgsd That we tender to Rev. Geo.
Gordon our warmest sympa.hies, and we as
sure him. and through him his afflicted fam
ilv. that we will remember them with
pecunisry aid and with fervent prayer to
God whom they serve, and who in the end
will bring them of triumphant.
We are not authorized, nor is it necessary,
to express complete justification OF the treat
ment the United States Marshals received in
vour community. Il Is sufficient to say that
h vss such treatment sc might be expected
from a people reused to the highest pitch Of
righteous Indignation, by such acts OF vii
} lainy as they were perpetEaung IN your
midst and If not iusti6able, was at least ex-
cusable. The business of hunting fugitive
slaves is so wicked and detestable, that any
man who can be hired to pursue it should be
hissed from the community in which he lives
} and go loaded with execrations, that be will
never have the hardihoOd to return. We are
told that the laws must be executed, and the
officer is bound by his oath to carry it out
according to its letter and spirit, and dare
| ~ VTe that the fuci,
tive slave law was copcocted by the rebel
L. traitor Mason, and is as Villalnous as us
: author, and as unconstitutional as his present
rebellion. Il was denounced by all parties
> on its passage, as infamous and Darbarous
intimate acquaintance with it has not raised
Il in the estimation of the good. Any Officer
who will consent TO enforce 1t, II ne canno'
} be legally punished, should have guard O
virtuous citizens placed over him, TO watch
! him night and day, and restrain, by every
legitimate means, his sbominable efforts. Nc
i people can desire more than we to esteem anc
reverence our rulers; but when, in violation
: of their oatha and IN contempt Of virtuoui
} public sentiment, they frame and execute
: such infamous enaetments as the fugitive
slave law, we cannot respect them, and We
! will not pretend to do it.
{ We know as well as others that it is &
D wretched state Of things when our Legislators
: and executive officers are despised by our bes
T citizens; but the remedy for it is not to b'
e found In degrading the public conscience tC
3 the level of their barbarity, but in ciVilizine
2 and christisnizing our public men. Any
0 community has been awfully degraded, wher
; the fugitive law can be executed in the
r midst Of it without raising such storm o
? indignation as will cover with infamy al
{ concerned in It. We feel mortified anC
: abased that your trial could have passed, snC
0 your sentence been pronounced, within al
; hours ride Of US, while the daily papers Wer'
: coming to all our homes, and we bs kept Il
# perfect ignorance Of it Whose fault 1t Il
we do not know, but We have a painful con
s viction that it rests on somel from whom VI
t had reason to hope for better things. Be as
g sursd, If we had known Of your trial, seort
: of as would have been by your side to sus
g tain and comfort you. But happy were vi
e to learn, from your speech before the court
7 that You had grace equal to your day witheu
: human support. In this we were not disap
= pointed, for some Of Us have know
q You for years, and have known yoI
! only to admire and love you as an earnest
i B6lI-Q6uTluE5 uunAlCIAAB PAA2oAAAASb-7pa 4
8 is 70 manifest our esteem for you and th'
: community in which you live, and our con
0 tempt for the fugitive law and all its suPpor
a ters that we visit you. And to tighten il
9 some degrees your heavy burden, We bring I
t small donation, $56-the contribution of Al
: over taxed but willing community. AnC
q further to manifest our regard for you, ",
bring You an invitation from our pastor, Rev
t NJ. W. Fairfield, to exchange with him, 8
your earliest conEenience, il such an arrange
8 meat can be made, he to live In jail for you
s while you preach for him.
' And now, dear brother, during the tediou
Q motnhs you are to.remain1her we will lneVe
= forget you. You shall have our influence
6 our sympathy, and our prayers; and we hal
: with you the dswning Of that day, wheI
D such infamous proceedings as have brought
! you here, shall be remembered only wit
5 shame snd disgust.
u E. b. FATRcHILD,
q. EVANS,
e 8. PLUgB,
]. u. FITCH,
fr-. -. s.. Committee.