Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1869-12-15
Letter frcm ThuTstoH.
SIX WEEKS ~ JAIL,
wuArIuAvE 5-ES AND LEARNED.


/ am well aware Of the fact that pub
/ lie sentiments against me in this COM
munity, and whether justly, in my
position, is not for me to say, feeling as
] do, that anything 1 might say in re-
gard to my innocence Of the crime that
/ Is laid 20 my charge would not probably
mitigate my offence in the eyes of the
public. My past life is already known
to most people in this place, and rs l
now look back upon my career for the
last five Years, would to God [ could
retTace them, but they are gone forever.
1 have often stTived, and it seemed to
me, against fate, TO lead q different life,
but the tempter stepped in between me
and right and Ihaye fallen. Now mark
the cause: lNTE1IPEEANCE, the monster
demon that is hidden in the cup. Oh !!
what an avalanche Of misery and suffer-
ing can be hidden in the wine cup, al
though but a small goblet that you can
hold between your thumb and finger.
Look at the multitude of widows and
OTphans-lOOk at our prisons and asy-
IumS crowded to OyoTflOWing, and what
is the cause? If the multitude that
have returned to dust could be permit
ted to arise and speak, they would an
swer INTEEIPEBANCE3. Since my incar-
ceratIon in this prison, have had am
pie time and opportunity to see its de-
Yastating and ruin0us effects on the in
mates. OF tweut-One brought here
since my imprisonment, all, with the
exception of one female, told me they
would not have been here but for their
drinking. GTay-haiTed mothers, JOtter-
ing on the verge Of the grave, lament
ing and wTinging their hands for their
rra7 174s1Fr1ro t1nf-
bands and fathers-these are scenes har-
der to witness than the grief that would
be shown had the victims been laid in
their last resting place. II is q callOus
heart that could remain unmOved in the
presence Of such scenes. But where is
the remedy? Our laws must be main
tanned and suitable punishment meted
out to the guilty, lest crime unchecked
should soon sweep us into irTetrieVable
ruin.
THE writer here enters into q discus
sion Of our Prison System, but we omit
this portion of his Ictter.-ED. BEPUB.
As l said in the outset, I know it is
useless for me to attempt to vindicate
my innocence. Time alone viii tell.
I harbOT no i'll viii against any one.
Some of the editors, [ thought were
rather severe against me at the time
was arrested and tried, but I suppose
they were prompted by a sense of duty
to the community.
Here, in my cell, I have had my
thoughts and meditatiOns on many diff
ferent subjects, one Of which I will note
down, not with any selfish motive, but
with the hope that some one may be
benefited thereby. There are times in
the career of men when one kind word
or act may sustain q felIoW-being, or
set him on his feet in the path of Tecti-
tude and virtue, and on the other hand
an unkind word or act may plunge him
into ruin or misery. How careful then !
should we all be TO guide erring man
Alright if we may find any going astray, !
and by kind words and actions encOUr-
age to reform, and to an honest upright |
life. Blessings would be upon the head |
OF such as would aid in the reformation |
Of their felloW-men.
In conclusion, do not wish to have
any one think for Il moment, that
in preparing for this publication, I do it |
with a view to shield myself from any
just punishment. AL ask is that pe0- |
pie should not be too hasty to say that I /
am guilty. Time may reveal another |
state Of facts III am punished I will /
serve for all offence [ am innocent of !
cOmmitting.-AiGadyiYe RCpuJIicaH.