\ ^Ws?'- **^ ** --ipr/ ^^"■'^ '.^nw/ r\ '-m V .•j:^' »^ •• ^^'-^ '■ *• ^^"% • ^•\ft'> "V^ ***^T^*\^^ ^o/'?^*\o'> 'V^***^^*^^.^^ JP^-fi. V ^-^^ » •« r.n* .^^ r ... \<^' -^ ^v" ' • • • ^v ^Vl» i''^'^^.. V ^^0^ .-f^" J^ ,,. % '•• ^^.J" V05 .- J"\. \^^ SPEECH OF GEORGE SENNOTT, On the trial of Gordons, in Boston, for Treason. THE BEAUTIES OF PUBITANIO ABOLITIONISM. Withering DenimGiations of Power-Proud Aristocrats. The trial of tlie Gordons, in Boston, on a charge of treason, has produced a remarkably bold and earnest speech t'rora George Sennott, a lawyer of that city, Avho will be especially remembered as the volunteer counsel of John Brown. The Gordon family consisted of the father and four sons, silversmiths by trade, who were induced to attend a private meeting, over wliich one Deacon Palmer presided. The meeting was held in the cellar of this Palmer, and the charge of treason made against the Gordons by Mr. Washburn, Mr. Ilobart, IMr. Hayes, a member of Kalloch's church, and some other rampant "loyalists." Mr. Hobart, in this cellar inquisition, asked one of the Gordons if he would hang out the flag, to whicii he replied angrily that he would not, under coercion, do anj^ sucli thing, whereupon the in(juisitors lodged an information for the District Attorney, fortified by their oaths, that the Gordons were traitors. They were re- manded to Fort \^'an-en, and finally granted a trial (a sublime condescension.) but before the suit was fairly commenced, a nolle prose- qui was entered by the U. S. District Attor- ney, and the case dismissed. This, Mr. Sen- nott, the Gordons' coimsel, woulil not ])ermit, th(! Court granting him leave to make his de- fense, wliich we i)resent here below. How mucli the whole a.feir looks and sounds like similar affairs under old tyrannies and dynas- ties, we leave our readers to judge. We Iiope no single jierson will pass it by uni-ead. After stating the case as above, Mr. Sennott said : Tlie assistant District Attorney was then informed that the Gordons had given aid and comfort to the euem}-. This iuformrotion he says upon his oath that he believes. In con- sequence they were arrested. Their whole life and conversation for a year has been sifted and pried into. Their friends and neighbors have been sunmioncd to testify about them, and on the testimony so obtained we are to hold tliem if it offers j>rohuhle cause. No'.v. does ii. ? PEP:rS AT MBEKTY TIUIOUGH PXN HOLKS. And here, how simple and how easy is the task of the me?-e lawyer — of the 7nere com- missioner! But if I regarded such a case as this is, or if you did, with the eyes of a mere lawyer, I should despise myself, and, sir. 1 would be astonished at you. W^hat would be the use, sir, of a liberal education outside of our profession, as Avell as a severe training in 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 prerogative which dignifies our existence as citizens of this imperial republic — if we should merely peep through the pin holes of evidence at a case which Involves in its principles the Lin- ERTY of us all! I shall take leave, sir, not to do so. And while I shall take care not to present an uu-lawyerlike view, or to say any- thing at all inconsistent with a legal analysis of the charge; while I shall even use the tes- timony faithfully, as the stimulus of reflection and the occasion of argument, I shall leave the law part where It should be left, in this stage of the case — to.wit, in a subordinate relation — and speak of it briefly, and in the conclusion of tlie matter. FINDING FAULT WITH THE GO VElfJSMKNT. Viewing the testimony, then, does It show any offence committed except by the consjii- rators — the spies — the informers — tlie cellar inquisition, who have borne false M'itness against their neighbors to destroy him? Sup- pose them to have acted against tiielr nature, and to have told the truth under oath. Then tiie (iordons, in various ways, have found fault with the Government. That is ,the es- sence, the spirit, and even the scope of the testimony. Is that treason? Is it treason here? This was the home of free sjDcech — and all the colors of republicanism, from black to billlous, declared that speech should be - O character, is simply to say that eaves dropping and tale bearing are not low and mean occu- pations. Under its influence nothing is known of a man's real character or disppsition. Habitual -watchfulness on one side, awakens habitual hypocrisy on the other. And it is only when the little saint of Boston expands into the gigantic villain of New Orleans, or or San Francisco, that you can tell how vast a benefit you derived from his emigration- The wickedness looked little here, because we saw but little of it. The enormous pres- .^ure of universal listening and peeping had driven it deep in the innermost fibres of our society. So pressed. It produces smelling committees — it elects Hiss Legislatures. It brings such men as Deacon Palmer to associate, .>ut of fear, with men like Mr. Washburn, whom they re(;eive into their cellars and dis- miss through back doors. Nobody will deny the fact, or its application here, who Is not [)repared to deny the existence of the Rev. Mr. Kalloch. or his church member, Mr. Hayes, who peeped after him, and black mailed him, and then exposed him. It Is Mr. Hayes' turn to-day. It may be Mr. Kalloch's turn to do tliat dirty work for Mr. Hayes to- morrow. It is Mr. Washburn's turn now. It may be the Gordons' turn by and by. But be the turn whose It may, the system of a barbarous age and people, applied to the con- trol of civilized mankind, awakens the fiercest resentment. Men have put up with the sava- gcst task-masters. They have endured the bloodiest tyrants without resistance for many years. They have submitted to the King of Prussia — to the Czars — to the House of Am- trla — and even to the Turks. But a Govern- ment of meddling philanthropists they cannot hear. It resembles the Government of ver- min more than any human despotism. Indi- vidually vile and odious, but quite insignifi- cant, when collected, they are all-pervading, e.ll-d.evouring, appalling, loathsome to every sense, and Intolerable to the strongest body, and firmest mind ! Thus the Government of the RobespieiTcs, the Marats, the Washburns, the Hobarts and the Hayes, is the op]3ressiou vyhich maketh the wise man mad ! It made the Gordons mad when It was first applied to them, and what they uttered under its iutlu- once was temper — not treason. WHICH WOULD A M.V.X PKinM.K .'' Yet there was a sense as well as temper — if they preferred Jeff. Davis to an abolition Government. As I understand an abolition Government, a man might endure it. A man might endure the Government of Mr. Phillips, for he is a gentlemen — or of INIr. Garrison, for. whatever may have been thought of his sanity, his integrity was never questioned; but the abolition Government which they under- stood was thi> inquisitorial — the cellar — the sink and cess-pool committee which stood be- fore them, ordering them to put out a flag — and I think there is no man of spirit with that in his mind who would not prefer the wolf- ishness of a Davis to the pediculousness of a Washburn ! The Gordons liave done no wrong. They do not hate their native country, though they cannot like Its imbecile Government. A Government which has everything given to It by a generous people, and which does nothing but waste time, make proclamations and feed contractors, cannot be liked or trusted until it alters its course. It must continue suspected and unpopular, If it Is, with every advantage and opportunity, unable to secure peace or make war! These sentiments I understand them to express. They have a right, moral as well as legal, to express such sentiments. They ought to express them ; and wo to the fanatic who shall meddle with them, or with any one else In this way hereafter. [The commissioner then delivered his opin- ion. He said there was no case proven, and dismissed the complaint. The crowd in the court-room burst into applause which nobody checked, and many persons went up and shook hands with the Gordons.] WEEKLY STATE SENTIMEL. iMUNTKD AND I'L'DI.IMIXU KVKKV JIONWAV ATTHK yiF.W f§EIVTI.\£:E. OFFICE, XO. 2 SOUXn MER[l)IA>' .STKKKT, OPPOSITE 'rsJK POSTOi'-FlCr.. ELPEIl, HARRNESS i^ BINGHAM TICKMS OK WEEKLY SEXTINJCL. 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