Speech of John Hossack, Convicted of a Violation of the Fugitive Slave Law | Page 6

in
this nation? Yes, the jury say guilty, but recommend me to the mercy of
the Court. Mercy, Sir, is kindness to the guilty. I am guilty of no crime,
I therefore ask for no mercy. No, Sir, I ask for no mercy; I ask for
justice. Mercy is what I ask of my God. Justice in the Courts of my
adopted country is all I ask. It is the inhuman and infamous law that is
wrong, not me.
My feelings are at my home. My wife and my children are dear to my
heart. But, Sir, I have counted the cost. I am ready to die, if need be, for
the oppressed of my race. But slavery must die; and when my country
shall have passed through the terrible conflict which the destruction of
slavery must cost, and when the history of the great struggle shall be
candidly written, the rescuers of Jim Gray will be considered as having
done honor to God, to humanity, and to themselves.
I am told there is no appeal from this Court; yet I do appeal to the Court
of High Heaven, when Judge Drummond and Judge Caton, the rescuer
and the rescued, shall all have to stand at the judgment-seat of the Most
High.
I have, Sir, endeavored to obey the Divine law and all the laws of my
country that do not conflict with the laws of my God. My humble wish
is, that it may then appear that I have done my duty. All I wish to be
written on my tomb-stone is, "He feared God and loved his

fellow-men."

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