* * *
I had been troubled, ever since I saw you had gone to your
circuit, with apprehensions that you would be assassinated, or
at least subjected to some gross outrage, and cannot express
my admiration of the serene heroism with which you went to
your post of duty, determined not to debase the dignity of
your exalted position by wearing arms for your defense,
notwithstanding you were fully conscious of the danger which
menaced you. It didn't surprise me, however; for I knew the
stuff you were made of had been tested before. But I _was_
surprised and disgusted, too, that _you_ should have been
charged or even suspected of anything wrong in the matter. The
magistrate who issued the warrant for your arrest may possibly
have thought it his duty to do so, without looking beyond the
"railing accusation" of a baffled and infuriated murderess,
which all the world instinctively knew to be false, yet I
suppose there is not an intelligent man, woman, or child on
the continent who does not consider it an infamous and
unmitigated outrage, or who is not thoroughly satisfied that
the brave fellow who defended you so opportunely was legally
and morally justifiable in what he did. I have not been in a
condition to _think_ very coherently, much less to read
anything in relation to the question of jurisdiction raised by
the State authorities in the _habeas corpus_ issued in your
behalf by the U.
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