The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-24
MR. GIDDINGS'S CONVERSATION WITH
JOHN BROWN,

III Oapihet COUNCIL. Iney all Dear the same
date.
Mr.. GIDDINGS'S CONVERSATION WITH
JOHN BROWN.
In his lecture at Philadelphia, Mr.. Giddings
gives the following account of his acquaintance
with John Brown. 1t will be seen that he had
not the faintest idea that Brown meditated an
attack on Harper's Ferry, or any scheme of
warlike aggression upon the South:
My friends have requested me to state nv
own knowledge of Brown and his designs And
for this episode In my lecture they must be
held responsible. / do not think the inouisi-
tive gentleman from my State has been very
faithful he ought to have found letter of
mine, addressed to Brown /; at least, wrote him,
addressed to West Andover Ohio, SAYING we
should be glad to see him at Jefferson He had
been at Cleveland, and had lectured there. Our
people had felt great desire to see him, and
we were little surprised that he did not call
at our village which is the seat of Justice for the
county, as it was when ne had visited son
who was living in that vicinity.
g / am entirely unable to state the time he
was in our place, but have no doubt Brown was
correct in his statement. When / came to this
city, would have said never saw Brown but
once. Upon reflection, however, / am of opin-
ION that he came to Jefferson on Saturday after
noon-that, so far as / was informed, his object
was TO make arrangements for the lecture
On Sabbath, after the regular service he
spoke in our church. The minister of that
church and of other churches, think, attended
the lecture. Ladies and gentlemen were pres
ent. Republicans and Democrats all listened
with attention. 1t is impossible for me at this
time to give an abstract of this lecture. Ifany
a IL Il
refer him to Hon. Jonathan Warner, a Demo
cratic leader of that county. He was present,
and one or two of his sons; and being very
Pro-Slavery, he would be more likely to recol-
iect particulars than myself Laughter and
applause. He spoke of his Kansas troubles !;
OF his expedition into Missouri, and bringing
off some twelve or twenty slaves; and he urged
At a solemn Christian duty to assist slaves 10
obtain their freedom. He gave us clearly TO
understand that he held to the doctrines of the
Christian religion as they we're enunciated by
the Saviour.
q" am not aware that he spoke of going into
slave States to aid slaves in escaping from
bondage; but | had the impression that he
would do so, if opportunity should present 1
think, however, that l inferred this from the
fact that he had done it in Missouri, rather than
from what he said.
e after he closed, | addressed a few words to
the audience in favor of a contribution; refer
ring to his condition, to the death of his son,
and the fact that, in his situation, he had no
business which he could follow for his support.
L believe nearly every Democrat as well as Re-
publican present gave something.
II" After the close of the meeting / cordially
invited him to take tea at my house. While
there, at the 6reside, inquired as to the partic-
ulars of his Missouri expedition. Mrs. Gid
dinss also put questions. / fully expressed my
own opinions as to the crime of Slavery, the
right of slave to his liberty at all times and
under all circumstances. | did not express as
radical views as had done in Congress such
as not my habit. This l presume is the con-
versation which Brown delicatey refused to
make known to the inquistive gentleman
from Ohio. While we were thus engaged, his
carriage came, and he left me. These are the
only times | ever saw him. Neither in his
lecture, nor in conversation, did he say one
word as to his having any associates, or assist
ants, or arms nor did he speak of Virginia,
or of Harper's Ferry, or of organization, of
provisional Government; nor do | believe that
any man save his associates had information
on those subjects; nor do / believe he had
any established plan of action when he was in
Ohio; but this is opinion merely.
% see the telegraphic dispatches represent
that some informed Mr.. Brown, or somebody
else, that j. R. g. had taken three hundred
dollars stock, dc. 1t would hardly be supposed
that | wonld reply to such an intimation from
an anonymous writer, directed to an anonymous
person. This report will gain credence
where L am known. No man knowing the
limited state of my finances will believe ! ever
gave three hundred dollars to Captain Brown
or to any other man. / did, however, under
stand that Brown was in the West, that he had
led the party which rescued Doctor boy, who
had been kidnapped in Kansas and taken to
Missouri. That fact was published in our
papers, and | supposed it true. That was
subject in which 1 took a deep interest, and
understanding that he in want of money,
L gave three dollars to his son to relieve his
necessities.
think there was not day from the time
that Browns son murdered in Kansas, to
that of his capture at Harper's Ferry, that |
would have hesitated to give him whatever
money had, if informed that he was in want.
But little dreamed that this three dollars was
to it out military expedition, with arms, am
munition, and men, capture Harpers Ferry, effect
the conquest of the Old Dominion, strike terror
to the executive heart and imperil the Govern
ment. Laughter. Of Stephens, who was
SAID to refuse giving answers relating to me,
have no recollection or knowledge whatever.
he may have seen me often, may have spoken
with me, but have no recollection of him.
When l left home, the capture of Brown
had been known some few days; but l heard
no intlmation that any man from that county |
was with him. l never at any time heard of
MS being, or intending to be, in Virginia. /
never heard from him, nor from any person,
ms name, or intentions connected with the |
state, or with Harper's Ferry; and when
read the account of his being there, it was as
much news to me as to the President of the |
7 nlted States and when read the account of |
ms long residence there, vas as much aston
Ehed as any other man."
In the same speech, Mr.. Giddings gives his
views of the relative duties of the North and |
South as follows:
Perhaps, for the better illustration of my |
subject, ought to say that by the Constitu |
''on, pennsylvania and all the States covenant
cd with each other to surrender fugitive slaves,
ana to grant to the citizens of each State all |
Fhe immunties and privileges of citizens of the |