Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-08-21
1f(isttl(aurous.
From the Boston Post, July 21th
Freedom of Speech in Boston
Persecution Of Democrats ReJuked.

U. S. COMMISSIONER CoURr.- We'd
n ,sday-Bcfore +. Merwin.
U. S. as. f. S. Gordon ct ot charged
with being Sccessionists, with giving aid
and comfort to the enemies OF the Unite
States This case was further continued.
L. X. Lathrop for U. s.. Geo. Scnnot
aud II. NJ, Parker for defendants.
r. IL, Dana, .jr. the District Attorney.
appeared aud said in substance that there
was no statute Of the United States un-
der which the Gordons could be held
merely for expression of hostility to the
Government, or for receiving intelligence
from the South that such things were
not actually treason, there being no ov-
EFT act proved -; that the line must hc
drawn somewhere, and that, although the
conduct of the Gordons was pretty close
mp to it, he must enter a nole pyoSequi
in the case.
II. NJ. Parker, ESQ, replied that after
what had been said by the attorney, it
was his duty to protest against any dis
position of the case now except by a hear
ing and determination by the magistrate
He said that no one of the five Gordons
had been shown to be guilty of even i'm
proper talk, except Harry, the youngest,
and then under the influence of liquor.
He also warned these self constituted
committees that the community would
not tolerate such Interference as they had
been guilty Of. He thought the counsel
for the defendants ought to have an op.
portunity to vndcate the character OF
these men. He had not himself prepar-
ed to urge this case, having from the be-
gining left that to Mr. Sennott, the i'm
ior counsel.
Mr.. Dana stated that an argument in
the case after the Government had aban-
doned it would be useless. But if any
thing could be said in vindication of the
Gordons it would be quite fair to allow it.
Mr.. Scnnott was obi iged to the Dis
trict Attorney for that. He said that after
what the Gordons had suffered, it would be
no advantage to them to argue their case
What they wanted their counsel to do
was to vindicate their character, and eX
pose the meanneSs of the prosecutors -
This he proposed to do now. He ther
addressed the Commissioners as follows
Charles 7. Gordon is sixty years old
He has four sons. They are all native,
of New England, and silver smiths by
trade, They reside in the suburbs, and
do business here, on Washington street
in the building Of deacon Palmer. They
are men Of respectable standing, and as
to their political sentiments, they voteC
for Douglas. They are the parties pros
ccnted.
Mr.. Peter Hobart is a house builder
and deacon of Park str ct Church.
NJ. Hayes is a Superintendent of the
fremont Temple, and was member o
I the Church of Mr.. Kalloch. Mr.. Thrash
er is an acquaintance and an associate o
theirs. Mr.. Palmer is another deacon
in whose building a committee met 10 try
the loyalty of these suspected persons.-
Mr.. William Washburn is an architect
/ formerly member of the City Council
These persons are of Republican politics
and are the real prosecutors.
Mr., Thrasher complained to Mr.. Hobart
that the Gordons were dsaffected people
who hosympathizcd with The South. Mr.. Ho
bart, acting upon that information, wrot
them a letter, winch with its answer from
Gordons, is in the case. The next day, tn
by the invitation of Deacon Palmer, tht
above name persons met by concert in hi
basement, with number of others elec
ted deacon Palmer chairman Of the meet
ing and then called the Gordons befor
them.
The eldest son being asked by Mr.. Ho
bart, the letter writer, if he would satisi,
them of his loyalty by putting ont flag
replied in an outburst of passion that h
would not be coerced, especially by hi
enemies. Mr.. Washburn attempting t,
interfere, was interrupted by this Gordon
to whom, for some reason or other, Mr.
Washburn is peculiarly odious, and in
formed him that from him nothing woul,
be heard. From this violent scene tn
son was drawn away by the father, an,
the strange committee dissolved and dis
appeared through Deacon Palmer's bacl
door. The Assistant District Attorne
was then informed that the Gordons ha
given aid and comfort to the enemy
This information he says, upon his oath
he believes. In consequence they wer
arrested. Their whole life and conver
sation for year past has been sifted an
pried into. Their friends and neighbor
! have been SUNNI oned to testify about them