Fugitive Slave Law in earnest. have just your Wheaton noted to Smith. “I rec’d letter,” “We he continued, due time do something in the direction which you suggest in respect to shall,” “in prosecuting those engaged in the In response to arrests, Wheaton and Smith had Gov’t side.” concluded together, there needed to be arrests in kind of those who had sought to jail William Henry and return him to the south. the side of the oppressor we see there is “On power,” Wheaton wrote, they mean to use it, to the obliteration of the conscience + the humanity, “and and the Christianity of the Wheaton admitted to Smith that he had often asked himself, Nation.” the language of the How long shall the wicked “in Psalmist, figuratively, ‘How Long? Oh Lord! the midst of the gloominess and Wheaton continued, triumph.’” “In darkness morally speaking,” the abolitionists required, than an arm of flesh to referencing the Old “more lean upon,” Testament oppression of the Hebrews by the Assyrian Empire. Still, Wheaton expected to be persecuted by what he saw as an oppressive regime. expect to be indicted for he “I something,” assured Smith, know Wheaton closed his missive to Gerrit Smith with “but don’t exactly what.” the gravest of warnings. am Wheaton confided in Smith, officials delayed their “I told,” “the The United States prosecutors had one aim in estimation: that, proceedings.” Wheaton’s “they might reach, You, Mr. May + Me, as the ring Wheaton warned his fellow abolitionist leaders.” to not, alarmed or disappointed if you should find the on your “be ‘hounds baying track.’” Smith had preempted fears, however. Just a few days before Wheaton wrote Wheaton’s his letter, Gerrit Smith, while visiting his wife in a water cure asylum in South Orange, New York, began thinking, our emputatively guilty He captured his thoughts on “upon country.” paper and forwarded them on to Judge Alfred Conkling himself. have long believed that the “I day is not the Peterboro businessman wrote to the U.S. District Court Judge, distant,” “when both the Federal + State Judges at the north will take the ground, that the Constitution does not
Fugitive Slave Law in earnest. “I have just rec’d your letter,” Wheaton noted to Smith. “We shall,” he continued, “in due time do something in the direction which you suggest in respect to prosecuting those engaged in the Gov’t side.” In response to arrests, Wheaton and Smith had concluded together, there needed to be arrests in kind of those who had sought to jail William Henry and return him to the south. “On the side of the oppressor we see there is power,” Wheaton wrote, “and they mean to use it, to the obliteration of the conscience + the humanity, and the Christianity of the Nation.” Wheaton admitted to Smith that he had often asked himself, “in the language of the Psalmist, figuratively, ‘How Long? Oh Lord! How long shall the wicked triumph.’” “In the midst of the gloominess and darkness morally speaking,” Wheaton continued, the abolitionists required, “more than an arm of flesh to lean upon,” referencing the Old Testament oppression of the Hebrews by the Assyrian Empire. Still, Wheaton expected to be persecuted by what he saw as an oppressive regime. “I expect to be indicted for something,” he assured Smith, “but don’t exactly know what.” Wheaton closed his missive to Gerrit Smith with the gravest of warnings. “I am told,” Wheaton confided in Smith, “the officials delayed their proceedings.” The United States prosecutors had one aim in Wheaton’s estimation: that, “they might reach, You, Mr. May + Me, as the ring leaders.” Wheaton warned his fellow abolitionist to not, “be alarmed or disappointed if you should find the ‘hounds baying on your track.’” Smith had preempted Wheaton’s fears, however. Just a few days before Wheaton wrote his letter, Gerrit Smith, while visiting his wife in a water cure asylum in South Orange, New York, began thinking, “upon our emputatively guilty country.” He captured his thoughts on paper and forwarded them on to Judge Alfred Conkling himself. “I have long believed that the day is not distant,” the Peterboro businessman wrote to the U.S. District Court Judge, “when both the Federal + State Judges at the north will take the ground, that the Constitution does not