New-York tribune., 1904-08-14
CAUSE OF THE CIVIL WAR
Death Of Dian Whose Resistance of
Fugitive SlaUe Lao Brought 1t On.

FDS7tlUe OtGUe Lao brought 1t On.
To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: There died on Wednesday last a man OF
whom 1t might be said without gross exaggeration
that he was the Of the Civil War. It Is
needless to say that behind it all was 'the ir-
repressible conflict" but the only overt acts that
the South could muster in support OF its charges
against the North were those In resistance to the
enforcement OF the Fugitive Slave law. And the
most hagrant and sensational Of thess the
event in which Sherman NJ. Booth was the central
figure. This could be plausibly cited demon
strating the deliberate purpose OF Northern State,
with the sanction Of its courts. 10 nullfy the act
of 1850
The underground railroad had a number OF
stations in Southeastern Wisconsin. where run
away slaves were harbored until they could be put
aboard vessels Lake Michigan that wolld land
them IN Canada. At OF these, near Racine.
Joshua Glover found refuge after escaping from
his master IN Missouri He was betrayed BY one
OF his race. a miscreant named Turner and
a warrant procured from the United States
district judge and placed In the hands OF Deputy
United States Marshal Cotton Cotton. with
posse OF six men. went to the house where Glover
playing cards with Turner and another col
ored The officers demanded admittance, and
Turner Immediately unboted the door. Glover was
knocked down with bludgeon. and treated with
the utmost cruelty before he was manacled- put on
a wagon ana driven of
When the people OF Racine heard of these pro-
mass meeting was held and resolutions adopted
demanding that the alleged fugitive slave have
fair trial 1t learned that Clover had been
taken to Milwaukee and placed In the county TALL
A COMMITTEES OF one hundred citizens took the first
boat for that city avowedly IN furtheraneS OF the
resolutions mentioned
At this time Sherman N. Booth. who was
graduate OF Yale College. the Editor and pub
Usher OF The Milwaukee Free Democrat" the
organ OF the most radical abolitionists- He was
bitter writer. orator OF considerable power and
a born agltator. 1t he who advised by
telegram from the Mayor OF Racine Of the arrest
Of Glover. Forthwith he issued an extra, which
was distributed about the streets OF Milwaukee
Then a report gained currency that Glover would
be tried that afternoon and spirited back to bond
age Booth. who nothing If not theatrical,
mounted a horse, and, hatless, with his long hair
floating In the wind. rode through the city shout
ing. "FTeemen. to the rescue!' CNobody has ever
accounted for the fact, but the abolitionists or
that day almost invariably wore their hair reach
4"s ~ msss reeIine vas held In the courthouse
square, which assumed such proportions that the
militia was called out. ouI refused TO RESPOND Inc
prevailed in the end and il was resolved to have
recourse TO the expedlents OF the law VIII OF
made return that Glover was in his custody.
Then a like writ was served on the deputy mar
noIInced that it would not be obeyed. and that no
earthly power could take Glover out OF lai oeIpEs orc
hearing But mob is an unearthly power
In
who had a warrant for the arrest Of Deputy Mar
a Charge of assault and battery. Both called en-
the crowd 70 go to @ supper Pc 9gS Seaq nGss s S Save
was on his way to Waukesha behind fast team
and considerably ahead of baied pursuers Thence
he was smusgled back to Racine. put on ooard !
boat and delivered safely in Canada
rested n fS by the sherif OF Racine county Judge Mil
Ter issued writ Of haoeas corpus ana ana released
him on the ground, amGng others that ne, ne was as
justified in using any degree Of violenee even pc 20
Booth arrested for violating the Fugitive slave
law and upon hearing before United SIltes
OF the grand jury. Bail was prompts fortheom-
ing. but soon after ne Was surre9drred oS s ms
bondSmen Tor the purpose OF proceeding bF u VIII
The writ was granted by A. .. smith Associate
upon the return and arguments of counsel Tooth
based on several grounds the principal one Delng
that the Fugitive Slave law was unconStl9ullouaI-
nnanmously afirmed. Justice Crawford concur
Ts E Of the Act Of iS For this he
was retired from the bench at The next election,
Court in January. 1850. Judge Miller charged the
jury that the fact alone that tn prisoner GLaltsa
and presented at the meeting In the courthouse
square the following resolutions was Sumeieh1 10
Every person has an indefeasible right 10 a fair
and impartial trial by jury on al questions M
.rThaSt the writ of habeas corpus is great de
fence Of freedom and that We We uTl,, ,c i0 m tst
this sacred writ shall be obeyed - -, -
oner and do our utmost 10 secure him fair and
impartial trial by Jury
Alter celebrating FOR seven hours. 5ne jury re
turned a verdict of guilty. Three OF thelr nu-lher
presented a declaration To the ehect thar while
th7v felt bound TO perform = most painful duty;
they regarded the Fugitive Slave act as cruel
and odious law and the acts Of the prisoner as
ssnohIe benevolent and humane. A motion Tor a
nev- trial was promptly denied and Booth vas
sentenced 10 one months Imprisonment and u tine
of 81 600 and costs.
VyiSronsn for a writ OF habeas corpus, which was
nron7nfIv granted ON the day fixed for the re-
urn OF the writ the prisoner and his counsel were
sSrorfes Ia the station take the train for Madi
son 5v a band OF music and a large crowd OF citi-
5s1s amid the ringing of bells and the firing OF
cannon a few days later the Supreme Court ren-
5sra5 ira decision dischargng Booth from the Gus
todv OF the United States marshal 1t also in
strS;c+sd The clerk not 10 send UP the papers an
appesi to the Supreme Court of ths United states.
s55 to JisoLey writ of error from that tribunal
The United States Supreme Court took COS
ni-ance Of the case without the records. and us
decisions may Be found in In re Y. 5; v Boosa'
IS How AIS and Ableman v Booth q HOW oeo
II sent down its remittitur recurring the STATE ststs
ro,,rt to review its action, and to remand Booth
20 Sa7aral custody serve his sentence Ihis the
SI,nren1s Court OF Wisconsin refused 10 do, denS-
me that the Supreme Court of the United states
ba authority to control it's action in the premises
TubIic opinion, by clear majority. was Iavor-
aSie To the State court. Meetings were nelc IN q
S,Ia@ fund resist the opera