Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-09-23
NO. Is.
Great Debate between Parson Brownlow
OF Tennessee, and Rev. A. Pryne, of
New York.

Great DEBATE between Parson Br0Wnlow
of Tennessee, and Rev. A. Pryne, Of
New York.
The great debate on slavery which has
been noticed by probably every paper
in the Union, to take place between
Brownlow and Pryne, came off accord
ing to appointment at Philadelphia on
the 18th inst. A correspondent of the
N. Y. Tribune, gives the following ac-
count Of it:
Parson Brownlow, the clerical bully
from tennessee, who would any day
rather fight than preach, has been hold
ing public discussion OF the humanities
as embodied in slaveholding, his antag-
onist being the Rev. Abram Pryne of
CORTLAND county, n. Y, editor of the
central Refognaer. The discussion
opened on Tuesday evening, in presence
of an audience of some six hundred per-
sons, many of our prominent men being
present, but only dozen women. The
parson being afflicted with bronchitis,
was compelled to have his remarks read
by another. But first came the cores.
pondence between him and Mr.. Pryne
which lead to this public display. 1t
was treat to hear it read. 1t seems
that Mr.. Pryne gave the challenge to
discuss. Thereupon the parson wrote
to him asking, /" What church are you
connected WITH" Next, care YOU
white man, or gentleman of color ?"
The last and most vital fact being as
certained, long correspondence follow
cd, touching the terms and place of dis
cussion. The parson opens the ball,
and the speeches are limited to an hour
each, the question being, "Ought Amer
lean slavery to be perpetuated?" The
whole debate is to be published under
one cover. Mr.. Brownlow's speech was
an admirable condensation Of the well
known scriptural sanction of slavery.
He denounced all who differed from him
asvagabond philanthroplsts, but he kind
ly condescended to also denounce the
foreign slave trade. He said the states
north Of Mason q Dixon were never
much Of slaveholding communities, as
the virtuous and pious people who lived
there were occupied chiefly with slave
stealing and slave selling. 1t cost less
and paid better. AS to the abolitionists
if he found any of them in heaven, he
should think they got in by a fraud on
the door keeper, or were let in as dead
heads. The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. withal
were nicely inpaled for not letting
the negroes get into an omnibus, a rail
car, asteamboat cabin or white church.
They refuse even to have them buried
in the same grave yard. The negro
n WV oil loI 1rhi
ly worse than any slave quarters he had
ever seen + and such pleas as these were
the staple Of his address. Itwas listen
ed to with attention, and was sometimes
applauded. Mr.. Brownlow is probably
fifty years old, Of tall stature, eadaver-
Gus skin, ungainly features, and is evil
IDENTIFY suffering from i'll health. But,
really, to look at him any one might be
sworn he was a STAKEHOLDER.
Mr. Pryne came forward as the par
son sat doWn--a chunky sort of man.
well put together, with black hair, and
true clerical whiskers, in age about for
ty. He had not been ten minutes on his
feet when it became evident to the au-
dience that parson Brownlcwhad caught
a tartar, and got more than he bargain
ed for, coming all the way to Philadel-
phia to boot. Mr.. Pryne's address was
most admirable, contounding by its pun
gency, and excoriating as the lash of
the slavedriver. No description could
do justice to it, nor to the animated zeal
with hich he threw his whole soul into
the subject He is evidently an honest,
conscientious man, and will do good
wherever he opens his mouth. His elo-
eution was very chaste and correct. his
gestures graceful, and he sat down at
the close Of his hour amid the hearty
plaudits Of the audience. But this was
only the beginning of his triumphs. The
second evening, larger audience was
assembled, and a still larger one on the
third. On this occasion the parson
seemed to be exhausted of argument,
and went in for ridiculing the abolition
lists and northern people, Yankees in
particular. But Mr.. Pryne literally
crushed him out. Why it seemed to me
that his head was dictionary of statis-
tics. He had facts and figures on every
subject, north and south, with fuency
and point that astonished the audience.
Certainly never heard anything like it.
lie was cheered 50 long and loudly as
co cause him to beg his hearers to cease,
as they consumed to much of his hour.
When he closed, the hall rang with
deafening acclamations, and strangers
rushed III crowds to shake hands and
become better acquainted with this elo-
quent champion Of freedom. It was a
brilliant success.
The following table shows the miles
of submarine cable laid in all parts of the
world:
Date. Miles.