Page:Speechofrevsamue00mays.djvu/25

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APPENDIX.


A.

On the 15th of October, the day after the foregoing speech was delivered, eight of our fellow-citizens were arrested by the U. S. Marshall, to be taken before the U. S. District Judge, on the charge of having prevented the execution of this law. So soon as it was known, that they were thus set upon by the agents of our government, they, and a large number of their fellow-citizens assembled in the Congregational Church, to consider what should be done. There was but one opinion expressed, but one feeling manifested, and that was to meet the question calmly, at the tribunals of our country. Here was no emergency, that would warrant any uprising of the people—any interference in behalf of the sufferers. They would have all the benefits of the "due process of law," "trial by jury," &c., and there was no little reason to believe, that if any of the arrested should be proved to have aided in the rescue of "Jerry"—it would be hard to get a jury of their peers, who could find them guilty of a crime, worthy of fine and imprisonment. Resolutions to this effect were passed unanimously, and the meeting adjourned—the arrested to go in bonds, and many of the rest to go, as bound with them, to Auburn, to be examined by Judge Conklin.

Much deep feeling was manifested by the crowd around the Depot—but no offer of resistance to the law was so much as spoken of. The same populace, that could not bear to see a poor man seized, and reduced to slavery, consented that eight of our worthy fellow-citizens, against whom there had never before been a breath of reproach, should be arrainged for "the rescue." For the sentiment was universal, that for such a deed, if they were found to have committed it, they could not be made to appear like criminals in the eyes of a people, who love liberty, and revere justice. If our Government shall punish them for giving to a man his "unalienable rights"—the disgrace will attach to the government, and not to the sufferers.

No attempt was made, on the examination, to repel the charge by opposing testimony; and so all who had been arrested, were of course bound over to be tried for the alleged offense. To all this our citizens have quietly submitted; and yet there are those, who are clamoring it over the