Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1859-10-22

| npoHe On tnf fufltiYe slave Law ana my
own rescue, of course; so ar as had any
reierencc At ali, WINS disposed 10 Justify The
Ooerlin people for rescuing slave, because
l have myself forcibly taken slaves irom
bondagej ] was concerned in taking eleven
eiay"s from Missouri 10 Canada last winter,
l'nk ! spoke in Cleveland before the Con-
vention; do not know that had any con-
yersation with any OF the Obcrlin rosouers;
was sick part Of the time ! was In Ohio; had
the ague; was part Of the time in Ashtabula
county.
Mr.. y.--Did you SEQ any thing of Joshua
r. GiddiDgs theroi
B.--I did meet him.
Mr.. Y.--Did you consult with himl
B.--lf | did, ! would not tell you, OF
course, anything that would implicate Mr.
Giiddings, but ! certainly saw him and had q
conversation with him.
Mr.. V.--About that rescue easel
! B.--Yes, did hear him exprcssshis opin-
ion on il very freely aud frankly
Mr.. Y.--JustiGing Il?
B.-Ies sir; do not compromise him in
saying that
a Bystander-Did you 20 out to Kansas
under the auspices Of tho Emigrant Aid So
ciety?
D.--No sir; / went undor tho auspices OF
old John Brown, and nobody else.
Mr.. WIN you answer thisl Did you
talk with Giddings about your expedition
here! .f
B.--No sir, | wont answer that because
a denial Of il | would not make, and 20 make
an affirmation Of it | should be great
Ounce.
Mr.. B.--llaye you had any correspondence
with parties at the North on the subject Of
this movement
! B,-I have had correspondence.
Bystander--Do you consider il q reli igious
movement?
Bit is in my opinion the greatest SER
vice man can render to God.
! Bystandcr--Do you consider yourself an
instrument in tho hands Of Providence!
B.--l do.
Bystander-Upon what principle do you
justify your actsl
B.--By the golden rule. pity the poor
l. bondage. That is why | am here. IL is
not to crafty any personal animosity, or feel
ing Of revenge or of yindictye spirit. It
is my sympathy with the oppressed and
wronged that are as good as you, and as pre-
cious in the sight of God.
Bystander-Certainly, but why take the
slaves against their will2
! B.-Warmly--I never did
Bystander- You did in one instance, at
least.
Stephens, to the inquirer, interrupted
Brown--you are right sir, in one case. "a
| groan from the wounded man.) In one case
l know the negro wanted TO 20 back
! To Brown--Captain, the gentleman is
right
Bystander to Stephens--Where did you
come from.
S.-I live in Ashtabula county, o.
Mr.. N.-Ilow recently did you leave
Ashtabula county.
S.-Some months ago. never resided
there any length of time. have often
been through there.
Mr.. V'--How far did you live from jeff
ersonl
b., to Stephens--Be very cautious, Ste
phens, about answering that, it might commit
some friend. | would not answer it at ALL
s., who had been groaning considerably,
although the exertion necessary to conyersa
tion seriously affected him, seemed content
to abide by my Captains" decision. lie
turned over and was silent.
Mr.. ", to Brown--Who were your adj
visers in this movement!
Bel have numerous sympathizers
Il oughout the entire North.
Mr.. Vim Northern Ohio!
B.--Noj no more there than any where
else in all the Free States.
Mr.: V.--But you are personally acquant-
ed in Southern Ohio!
B.-Not very much.
Mr.. V.--Were you at the Convention last
June!
B.--I was; | want you 10 understand,
gentlemen, that l respect the rights Of the
poorest and weakest Of the colored people
oppressed by the slave system, Just as much
as do those of the most wealthy and pow
erful; that is the idea that has moved me,
and that alone. We expected no reward
We expected the satisfaction of endeayoring
to do for them in distress--the greatly op-
pressed--as we would be dono by. The
cry OF distress, and ofthe distressed = is my
reason, and the only one that impelled
me-
Bystander--Why did you do it so secret
ly?
B.-Because | thought it necessary to
success--ior no other reason.
BystandeT--You think that honorable. do
you! Have you read Gerrit Smiths last
letter
B.--What letter do you mean!
Bystander--The N. Y. Herald Of yester
day IN speaking Of this affair mentions let
ter IN which he says, that it is folly to attempt
to strike the shackles off the slaves by the |
force Of moral suasion or legal agitation, and |
predicts that the next movement made in |
the direction of negro emancipation will be |
an insurrection in the South
B.--I have not seen the New York Her.
aid for some days past, but | presume from
your remarks about the gst OF the letter | |
should concur with il: | agree with Mr.. |
Smith that moral suasion Is hopeless. | |
don't think the people of the Slave States |
SFill ever consider the subject Of slavery in /
Us true light, until some other argument is /
Iesorted to than moral suasion.
Mr.. V.--Did you expect general rising
of the slaves, in case Of your suocessl
B.--No sir, nor did wish it; expected
to gather strength from time to time, then |
could set them free.
Mr.. V.--Did you expect to hold possess
sion here until then!
B.--Well! Probably had quite differ
ent idea; do not know that l ought to re-
veal my plans; l am here prisoner, and
wounded, because ioolishly allowed myself
to be SO. You overrate your strength when
you suppose that could have been taken. |
was too tardy, after commencing the omen
attack, in delaying my movements through
Monday night, and up TO the time was at
tackled by the Government troops. Il was
All oocasioned by my desire 20 spare the
ceilings ofmy prisoners, and their families,
and Of the community.
a..