The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1858-09-23
DrOWnlOw versus Pryne--A ne
PafS0n t'CatCfeS a Tartar
correspondence of the n. Y Tribune']

correspondence
PHILADELPHIA, Sept IA, 1883.
Parson Brownlow, the clerical bully
from Tennessee, who would any day ra-
ther fight than preach, has been holding
public discussion of the humanitles as
embodied in sIaveholding, his antagonist
beng the Rev. Abram Pryue of Court
iand County, n. Y, editor Of The Gen.
fral Retorn.er. The discussion opened
on Tuesday evening, 10 presence of an
audience Of some 900 persons, 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 correspondence between
him and Mr.. Pryne which led to this pub
tie display. 1t was treat to hear it read
It seems that Mr.. Pryne gave the chal-
lenge to discuss. Thereupon the parson
wrote to him asking, "What church are
YOU connected With" Next" Are you
Awhile man, or a gentleman of color?"
The last and most vital fact being ascer-
fained, long correspondence followed,
to4Ghing the terms and place of the dis
cussioa The parsor opens the ball, and
the speeches are limited to an hour each,
the question being, Ought American
Slavery to be Perpetuated?" The whole
debate is to be published under one Gov
or. Mr.. Brownlow's speech was aH ad-
lnirable condensation of the well-kpown
scriptural sanction Of Slavery. He de-
nounced all who differed from him as vag-
abond philanthropists, but he kindly con-
descended to also denounce the foreign
slave-trade. lie said the States north Of
Mason & Dixon were never much Of slave
holding communities, as the yirtQous and
Dious people who lived there were nccu-
pied chiefly with slave-stealing and slave
ceiling. 1t cost less and paid better. AS
to the Abolitionists, if he found any OF
them in heaven, he should think they got
in bv fraud on the doorkeeper, or were
let in as dead heads The A bolitionists
-pious withal--were nicely impaled for
not letting the negroes get into an omnl'
bus, a rail-car, steamboat cabin or
white church. They refuse even to have
them buried in the same grave yard. The
negro dwellings in Philadelphia were In
fnitely worse than any slave-quarters he
had ever seen; and such pleas as these
were the staple Of his address. 1t wa:
listened to with attention, and was some
times applauded. Mr.. Brownlow is prob
ably fifty years old, of tall stature, cadav
crous skin, ungainly features, and is evl
IDENTIFY suffering from i'll health. But, re
ally, to look at him any one might bC
sworn he was a STAKEHOLDER.
Mr, Pryne came forward as the Par
son sat down-a chunky sort of man, wei
put together, With black hair and true
clerical whiskers, in age about forty H'
had not been ten minutes on his fee
when it became evident 10 the audience
that Parson Brownlow had caught q tar
tar, and got more than he bargai9e{d for
coming all the yay to Philadelphia to Poot
Mr.. Pryqe's address was most admirable
confounding by its pungency, and exeo
rating as the lash of the slaye-driyer,-
No description could do justice to it, mol
to the animated zeal with which he threw
his whole soul into the subject. He il
evidently an hopest, conscientious man
and will do good wherever he opens hi
mouth. His elocution was very chast
and correct, his gestures graceful, and h
sat down at the close of his hour annie
the hearty plaudits of the audience Bu
this was only the beginning OF has trl
umphs. The second evening, large
audience was assembled, and still large
one on the third. On this occasion th
Parson seemed to be exhausted of argu
meat, and went in for ridiculing the Alb
olitionists aud Northern people, Yankee
in particular. But Mr.. Pryne literal
crushed him out Why it seemed to me
that his head was a>dictionary of stats
tics. He had facts and figures on ever
subject, North and South, with Auene
and point that astonished the audience
Certainly I never heard anything like il
lie was cheered SO long and loudly as
cause him to beg his hearers to cease, a
they consumed too much of his hour
When he closed, the HALL rang with dea
eniug acclan.atious, and strangers rushe
IN crowds TO shake hands and become be-