Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-08
Gbe Obio 3tatcsmran
z ERMs
TRIAL OF THE GORDONS IN BOg
TON FOR TREASON
A BOLD AND MANLY SPEECH BY GEO.
sENNoTT.
beauty OF Puritan AbOIitiOnism.
Whitening DenunciAtion Of Power
proud Aristocrats.
Beauty OF Puritan AbOIiuOnisn.


charge Of treason, hae produced q remarkably
bold and earnest speech from George Sennott, a
lawyer of that city, who will be especially re.
membered as the volunteer counsel OF John
Brown.
The Gordon family consisted Of the father
and four sons, silveramiths by trade, who were
induced tost.end a private meeting, over which
one Deacon Palmer presided. The meeting
was held In the cellar of this Palmer, and tho
charge Of treason made against che GOrdons by
Mr.. Wasbburn, Mr. HobIrt, Mr.. Hayes, q
member of Kalloch's church, and some other
rampant "loyalists." Mr.. Hobart, in this cell
lar inquisILion, asked one of the Gordons If be
would hGng out the fog, to which he replied
angrily that he would not, under coercion, do
any such thing, Whereupon the inquisitors
lodged an information before the District At.
torney, fortified By their oaths, that the Cor
dons were traitors. They we're remanded TO
Fort Warren, and Hualy granted a trial (sub-
lime condescenson), but before the trial was
fairly commenced, nOLLe pToseqm was entered
by the United States District Attorney, and the
case dismissed. This, Me Sennott the Cor.
dous' counsel, would not permit, the Court
granting him leave to make his defense, which
we present here below. How much the whole
sffAir looks and Nouuds like similar affairs
under old tyrannies aud dynas,ies we leave our
readers to Judge We hope no single person
will pGes IL by unread
Alter stating the case as above, Mr.. Sennott
said:
The assistant District Attorney was then In.
formed that the GOrions had given aid and
comfort to the enemy. This Information he
says upon his OATH that be believes. In conse-
quence they we're arrested. Their whole life
aud conversation has been sifted and pried into. Il.
Their friends and neghbors have been sum.
moned to testify about them, and on the tesli-
mony so obtained we are to hold them II 1t
offers probable cause. Now, does itl
PEEPS AT LIBERTY THROUGH PIN HOLES.
And here, how simple and how easy ia the
task Of the mere lsHyer-oi the mere com ms-
sioner! Bot if regarded such Gaze as this
or II you did, With the eyes Of mere lawyer
should despise myself, and, sir, would be as.
tonished at you What W0uiG be the use, sir
of liberal education outside of our profession
as well as q severe training within it-what the
benefit Of active exertion in the political affairs
of our country, beginning for each of US long
before he could vote what the value of the
continued exercise of every manly and more
than kingly prerogatiye which digniies our ex
stence as otizeus of this imperial yepublic--i
we should merely peep through the piO holes O
evidence at cpse which involves in its p.inc
pies the LIBERTY Of us all! shall take leave
sir, not to do 30. And while shall take car,
not to present an uniswyerlike view, or to ssl
anything at all inconsistent with q legal anely
sis of the charge; while | SHAY even use th,
testimony faithfully, as the stimulus Of rtfec
tion and the occasion Of argument, shal
leave the Law part where Il should be left, Il
this stage Of the case-to wit, in subordinat,
relation-and speak OF it briefly, and in th
conclusion OF the matter.
FINDING FAULT WITH THE GOVERNMENT.
Viewing the testimony, then, does it show an,
offense committed except By the conspirators-
the spies-Lhe iDformers The cellar i1quisition
who have borne false witness againtt their neigh
Dor to destroy him1 Suppose them TO have act
ed against their nature and TO have told the
truth under oath, Then the Gordons, in Vari
Gus ways, have found fault with the govern
ment That is tie essence, the spirit, and ever
the scope Of the testimony. u that treason
| Is it treason here? This was the homo of FREE
speech-and all the co!css of republicanism
from black to bilious, declared that speecl
should be free. The chief reason why wan
to carey FIRE and sword into the South is be
cause they refuse me my right of free speech
given to me by that Almighty God who wa
pleased to create me free man. A right th
creator and preserver OF all my other rights. 4
right 80 much more import,nt than the Cons.i
tuition that the Constitution was invented merel
to assert and secure il, aud is not worth the pa
per 1t blackeus, unless it docs assert ii and sc
cure it. despise the Southern temper Of MIND
which allows them to part with hat right fC
themselves, and mean to dc my utmost to d
stroy forever the power OF enS negro-bEeedt
to hinder its exercise by me. lt
THE sAcREDNEss OF FREE SPEECH.
| declare before God that, as underssan
that right, | value 1t more than | do my lif,
And call this whole country to witness, If
have not before now proved the sincerity of th
declaration by my actions! And the right
vindicated at the hazard Of my life, before
Southern tyrant, will not give up for the sak
of my business to a Yankee sneak. NelthG
shall the Gordons. Their case is ours w
are tried with them. And 10 defending then
we defend ourselves and our country from
gang compared with whom Leadbetter is human
and Gen Floyd respectable. Mr.. Sumner We
once the advocate of free speech. He elaine
to be almost one OF its martyrs. And in deieDi
Of IL, or in consequence of it, he certainly ws
the victim Of cowardly assault, inflicted wit
ferocity, and endured with a meeknese uue,
ampled in the annals of cudgeliDg! He no
changes bis opinion, or at least his languag
With the felicity of allusicn, which belong
among the public writer's of America, to bill
and to Governor Andrew alone, he advises b
friends TO put their "heels" upon those who di
fer from them, and who dare to speak out. tt
advice is given In letter to the late war NEE
Vo,L Il
pertinent made upon poor mechanics, by fe
small conspirators, 10 pursuance o! an agre
msnt between the principal Thugs at Washing
ton, 10 order, II it works we'll, to sacrifice mo-
important victims to the Abolition Kalee2 Il
not know-I know that the gentlemen of Il
Republican party do not countenance il, ar
that IL will fail here, because, to reach their p
litical opponents, they must cut down their poll
ical aud personal friends. II free speech
treason here, our excellent Governor Wou
speedily be known as the late unlamented Jol
A Andrew, for his speech ia exceedingly fr
and eaey--quite loose. as you may say. Th
what would become OF Mr.. Phillips2 Does
speak in favor of the Government Has
ever said anything in favor of any geverumel
except that Of Hayti2 Did he not lately advi
o large and patriotic assembly not to give m
or dollar to the Government of the Unit
States9 And did not that patriotic society q
plaud the liberal suggestion7 Shall We pro-
cute Mr.. Phillips, therefore9 Not with /
good will. Not without my active resistant
should violate the very frat principle
Democracy, which Is greater 20 me than al
thing but Che word of God himself. il did
fght for Mr.. Phillips's right to talk treason
any fool who wants TO hesr him. In a lett
the Governor refuses to supply troops TO
President. In fact, hesupplies many and. .ur
a more to 20. DO we prosecute hint No, bT
v tempest Of derisiOn breaks over what he @
his head from every part Of the United Sta
"a aun. fam Ennlnnd ia that - nar, a.