The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-30
ADLRESS or JOSHUA R. GlDDMGS.
His Views Of John Browns Harper's Ferry Plot
What he Knew Of the Affair, &C.

What be Knew Of the Affair, &C.
PHuapgssHIa, Oct 2s, 1859
Hon. Joshua r Gidngs of Ohio, delivered discourse
this evening he National Guaras Han, tho subject
Of the Harpers Ferry nsarectson," and John Brown,
Vi ossawa,tornie.
Mr. GDDRos sad--There is al t,lis time unusual
element In the community. Nineteen men, week
since, invaded the Old Dominion, captured two thousand
Of her nhabnu and sent CONSERVATION throughout her
vast territory Her Governor has taken the Geld in per-
son, called ont her military forces and placed arms ami
troops at all svashc POINTS Maryland too Supplied
her quota Of and arms while the President of the
United States ordered such portions Of tho army
were within convenient distance repair 70 the Of
conflict, and placed the militia of the District Of Columbia
in active 10 protect the pubic property He also
placed arms and ammunition m the City Hall 70 be used
n case Of emergency.
lbe invaeie force is nearly all slan-perhaps four
them remain alive, but nearly dead o wounds Others
have ded, but probsbiy oil are by this time prisoners
Yet IA this CITY, and in several States, there appears
20 be degree Of excitement and CONSERVATION. s In
truth, the nrst instance In which any number Of white
nen have combined for tho purpose Of giving freedom
the slaves Of our nation.
Such scenes have long been foretold More than
seventy years since Mr. Jene pointed his country
70 the time where this condition Of things take
place, and soiemnly warned them that in such a
tes, God had 40 attribute that would enable him take
sides with the STAKEHOLDER. Nearly twenty years since
Mr. Adams with prophetic assurance, said the day Of
the delverance Of the slave must comc--wbether in
peace in blood could NOT tel-bnt whether came
in peace or in blood, y he said, "Let It come"
The sympathy Of the Christian world is with tho
slaves For their liberation ministers pray,
statesmen labor and their freedom the object and de-
sire with all candid, intelligent men; while all feel IN
willing their freedom stained with blood. Men Of
age, Of experience, look cooly upon these facts They
should moi be moved, permit themselves TO become
excited. depore the Ioss Of human life deeply
any men. l witness human woe, nor can hook
upon human suffering unmoved; and yet would ask
for the save for the master for Brown for his
fellow prisoners, any thing anything less than
justice.
This interesting incident in our country's history,
stands connected with some well defined cause. The
subject which excited the invaders to action Is unnstak
ably set forth in all the accounts have received. The
institution Of slavery was the moving GAUGE Whether
Brown and his men guilty as they represented
not their object seems have been the liberation Of
the slaves Of that region Pennsylvania had slaves She
emancpated them, and now enjoys the quiet and pros
perty consequent upon her justice Virginia retains her
slaves and consequently subjected to annoyance Thus,
and effect are always connected.
Imake these remarks show the certainty with which
every effect may be traced TO its appropriate cause al
though unthinkng seldom trace events TO tber
mote origin This may be clearly traced to the
exciting any other event Of tho present age II
ascertain the cause, cannot fail TO see clearly the
remedy In order properly to trace out the more remote,
well the proximate Of this Iamentbe
renee necessary 70 aude historic facss
and TO some importan, imrnusable principles.
Virginia held slaves while colony From the landing
Of the Dutch ship in 1620 with her small cargo Of human
chattels, up to this day, the Old Dominion
has cherished the peculiar psution. All the Other colo
MES held slaves until after tho close q the Revolution
At the formation Of the federal government new doc
trnc adopted The Declaration Of Independence
the bond of the Uncn and by that agreed that the
new government should ffee each State holding its
slavery subject the will Of s people, without refe-
the federal organization At the adoption of
constitution the States each retained this and
preme power the institution within its territory
having the right TO abolish at pleasure, ana to
It's soil and its institutions to freedom. do in
tend gne tins point- merely lay them down
controverube principles. therefore that each
State may pleasure establish liberty WITHIN limits
and that other has any right Interfere That
PenDsy has the undoubed right TO be free, while
slavery.
Anoher proposition lay down as incontrovertbie--
thai every attempt Of the federal government involve
the people Of P.nDey other free States in the
penHe, the crime, disgrace OF slavery consttuiesan
stepping Of its legitimate, its constitutional powers.
In aging this certainly aware that Virginia and all
the States deny this proposition and insist that al
though we had the right 10 abolish slavery own
States We are bound to them 10 uphold
ii in Virginia ! thar this constitutes the
great issue between political parties. But repeat it
is no part o. my present purpose to argue these
to say, that nearly all Of our people Of the
free States MAINTAIN and believe the doc
trine as ! have laid It down-that our obligation
defend the slave States against invasion domestic
violence has no more reference to slavery than 70 her
imprisoned offenders.
Perhaps for the better illustration Of my subject
ought say that by the constitution Pennsylvania
the States oovenanted with each other to surrender
fusve slaves and 20 grant 70 the citizens O. each State
ali the and privileges Of citizens Of the
States. That both these covenants have proved nconve
nient The slave States say they grant to the
and privileges which their citizens enjoy without
endangerng the institution Of slavery That Il doubtless
true Neither the free States seize and return fugitive
snves without establishing slavery 70 that extent within
their territoriee The covenants mutual and de-
pendent. one be performed both doubtless will be.
II be violated the other ought not 70 be performed
do argue this point lay it down plain propo-
son saying that The people Of the free States generally
believe u This belief OF the great body o people
the predicate from which draw deductions. certainly
hazard nothing in saying that the people Of all the
States their duty each other are
Wnng c1Cn ctAte huAu ENJOY all WS conStibuuQnai
privileges and that patriotism demands that they shall
maintain their rights and the rights Of their State.
Pennsylvania and ether States have abolished the
stuton her people desiring to be free and entirely pur
fed from the coniogion OF oppression. However ndi
vdues from political Interested motives may labor
subject her people to the support Of slavery, hesitate
say that nine tcbths Of her citizens Of all parties
wish TO be entirely separated and divorced from any and
from al participation in the support Of slavery and this
is the prevailing sentiment Of all the free States.
II is certain that strong feeling Of dissatisfaction
exists throughout all the free and most Of the slave
States Indeed the dissatisfaction does express
the popular feeling. In Of Northern States
has thai OF indignation against those who
prostituted and prostitutng the influence aud
power Of government 70 the support and extension Of
slavery instead OF freedomo invade the rights OF the
free States instead Of maintaining the rights Of ali the
states This feeling has been produced by the constant
encroachmens upon the rights Of the free States for
many years One outrage alter another has been perpe-
traed, each exciting remark, denunciaton and deeper
feeling until they oulmnated in the despotism exert@d
ard the murders committed In Kansas There they drove
Brown and his associates 10 that desperation which
will long mark in political history This is not
the time TO speak Of Brown and his companions Theee
who most bitterly assan his movements speak Il him
more highly than could at thus time. must speak for