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I am too busy to write you a long letter, but I must write a few lines to relieve your anxiety to know what is the present aspect of our controversy with the
Government.
After a fortnight's diligent search after materials to make out a case of ‘constructive’ treason against
Gerrit Smith,
Charles A. Wheaton,
Samuel J. May, and five others, and to find grounds for the indictment of sixteen for aiding and abetting the rescue of poor Jerry, we were informed last evening that the
District Attorney had made application to the
Judge for warrants for the alleged twenty-four offenders, and had been refused, on account of the insufficiency of his evidence.
How this may be, we shall know, I suppose, to-day or to-morrow.
It is probably true, and the bluster of the
Attorney and his compatriots will die away in examinations before the
Commissioner, which I think will end in the commitment of no one; for I am told that all those individuals who can be identified as having taken part in the rescue of Jerry, have gone away where they cannot be followed.
We yesterday had a large county Convention here, that the
5 people might express their detestation of the
Fugitive Slave Law. It was fully attended.
Several excellent speeches were made, and an address was prepared for publication, as the sentiment of the
Convention, to be signed by the
President,
Vice-Presidents, and
Secretaries, and circulated far and wide.
It is an excellent and bold document, which I think will make some impression.
I made a speech which the
Convention voted also to publish and send throughout the land, so I must hasten
