Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-08-09


The trial of the Gordons, in Boston, on
charge of treason, has produced a remarkably
bold and earnest speech from George Sennott,
lawyer of that city, who will be especially
remembered as the volunteer counsel Of John
Brown.
The Gordon family consisted of the father
and four sons, silversmiths by trade, who were
induced to attend private meeting, over
which one Deacon Palmer presided. The
meeting was held in the cellar of this Palmer,
and the charge of treason made against the
Gordons by Mr.. Washburn, Mr.. Hobart, Mr.
Hayes, member of Kalloch's church, and
some other rampant 'loyalists." Mr.. Hobart,
in this cellar inquisition, asked one of the
Gordons if he would hang out tie flag, to
which he replied angrily that he would not,
under coercion, do any such thing, whereupon
the inquisitors lodged an information for the
District Attorney, fortified by their oaths, that
the Gordons were traitors. They were re-
manded to Fort Warren, and finally granted
trial Ca sublime condescension,) but before
the suit was fairly commenced, nole prose
qui was entered by the L. 5. District Attor-
ncy, and the case dismissed. This. Mr.. Sem
mott. the Gordons' counsel, would not permit
the Court granting him leave to make his de-
fense, which we present here below. How
much the whole affair looks and sounds like
similar affairs under old tyrannies and dynas-
ties, we leave our readers to Judge. We
hope no single person will pass it by unread.
After stating the case as above, Mr.. Sennott
said
The assistant District Attorney was then
informed that the Gordons had given aid and
comfort to the enemy. This information he
saws upon his oath that he believes In con-
sequence they were arrested. Their whole
/ life and conversation for a year has been
sifted and pried into. Their friends and
neighbors have been summoned to testify
+ about them. and on the testimony so obtained
we are to hold them if it offers probable cause.
/ Now. does it
PEEPS AT LIBERTY THROUGH PIS HOLES.
And here, how simple and how easy is the
task of the mere lawyer-of the mere COM
missioner But if | regarded such a case as
this is. or if You did, with the eyes of a mere
lawyer, l should despise myself, and, sir,
would be astonished at YOU. What would be
J the use, sir, of liberal education outside OF
our profession, as well as severe training in
it-what the benefit of active exertion in the
political affairs of our country. beginning for
each of Us long before he could yote-whai
+ the value of the continued exercise of every
manly and more than kingly prerogative
which dignifes our existence as citizens OF
this imperial repubhc-if we should merely
peep through the pin holes of evidence at q
ease which involves in its principles the LIB
ERTY of us all! | shall take leave. sir. not
TO do so. And while | shall take care not &c
present an un-lawyerlike view. or to say any
thing at all inconsistent with a legal analvsi:
OF the charge; while shall even use the tes-
timony faithfully, as the stimulus OF reflection
and the occasion OF argument, shall leave
the Law part where it should be left, in this
stage Of the case-towit, in a subordinate
relatlon-and speak of it briefly, and in the
conclusion of the matter
FINDING FAULT WITH THE GOVERNMENT
Viewing the testimony. then. does it show
any offence committed except By the conspi
rators-the spIes-the infomers-the cellar
inquistion, who have borne false witnes.
against their neighbors to destroy him? sup
pose them to have acted against their nature
and TO have told the truth under oath. Then
the Gonlons, in various WAYS. have found
fault with the Government That i the es-
sence. the spirit. and even the scope of the
testimony. l. that fredSOnf l. IL treason
herey This was the home of tree speech
and all the colors of republicanism from black
TO bilious. declared that speech should b,
free. The chief reason why | went u carr,
fire and sworn into the South is because they
refuse me NV right of free speech, given tC
me by that Almighty God who was pleased tC
create me free man. A right the creator