The advocate., 1895-05-01


Just as the sun rose above the horizon, three
hundred armed men, moving silently and in
military order, entered the little town of
Worcester and marched directly to the Court
house, where they halted. Sentinels were
posted; and when the Court room was opened, Sgd
ney Stone occupied it with portion of his little
army, the remainder standing in line on either side
of the entrance to the building The first people to
stir abroad were astonished at these signs Of war,
and the news soon spread all over town. Job Cotte
was not in the ranks, but, as pesceable, lawabid
ing citizen, went early to work in his shop where he
was certain to hear whatever gossip of importancetO
the rebels might be ahoat
In due time the judges came. They were allowed
to pass unmOlested to the court house door, where
they were peremptOrily halted by double row of
bayonets affixed to muskets in the hands of good
humored and polite, but determined men, The Chief
Justice expOstulated
"Once you take your seat upon the bench, Mr..
Chief Justice" answered Sydney Stone, "yOu be-
come the abject slave of law and precedent. You
have parted with your right to be humane When
cases are regularly presented to you, judgments
must be rendered according to law, no matter for
such triAes as justice and humanity The judgments
once rendered. executions must follow, and debtors
must be stripped of all they hsVe even the most nee
essary things of civilized existence be driven from
their homes and then if the creditors are not yet
satisfied the debtors themselves must be thrown into
prison for the crime of having nothing more to be
seized. In short, for not being able to pay debt
citizen of Massachusetts, is treated saVagely by
the law as if he had attempted to murder his wife or
children. You know perfectly well that the only
reason the people do not pay that they cannot and
that the General Court treats with contempt their pc
titions for means of payment. Yet, once you have
rendered judgments, you become poWerless to pre-
vent the outrage and the suffering which must en-
sue From what we know of your character, we
doubt not you feel sympathy for the people whom
heartess rich men rob through your acs but are
pOWerless in the grasp Of law and precedent. Nor
do we blame you for not resigning; somebody, per-
haps men Of less feeling, would take your places
Once in this Court room and sitting a Court, you
judges are the Commemorative abject slaves so we
have resolved, gentlemen to enable you to be men,
and to indulge your human sympathies by keeping
you out Of this Court room and preventing you from
holding Court Toward you personally, we have not
the slightest i'll will; but we are determined that
there shall be no Court"
"But, sir, reflect" solemny replied the Chief Jus
tice. 'What you are attempting is treason against
the Commonwealth; and you have already exposed
yourself and your deluded followers TO severe pen
aties Grant all you say about the rgors of the law
in the present condition Of the people-and you
rightly say the people have my sympathy-what can
you hope to accomplish beyond bringing greater
misery upon themP Surely you must know the
Commonwealth will not suffer itself to be overcome
in this manner nor will the General Court be coerced
Your insurrectiOn is certain to be put down should
you perseVere. Then why begin it ?"
"If 1 mistake not" answered Sydney, ''you were
at Bunker Hill. Did you learn from the ministers of
George III. the arguments you addressing to us?
Did you heed such arguments in those daysP Ought
we to heed them now-our cause being justP Excuse
me, sir, but from a rebel of so recent date, your
words have remarkable sound"
The Chief Justice keeny felt this shrewd reminder