Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1859-12-30
political.
SPEECH OF
Hon. BENJAMIN +. WADE,



investigdtion IN the Hdr-
per's Ferry Invasion.
1t WIS not my Intention, Mr.. President, to say any
thing upon the subject Of this resolution until late yes
terdoy, when my name. believe, was called in question
by two Of the Senators this floor. made up
my mind the Introduction Of this resolution, that
would vote for II not however with the hope that any
beneficial result would probabay flow from IT. for y
seemed to from the first that the only effect would
be likely to have would be to increase that state Of excite
ment that already to be sufficiently strong, at
least or all practical purposes But upon this resolution
the whole subject Of controversy between the northern
and southe<n States has been discussed and | have
been alluded TO In such terms suppose renders It
almost essential that should say something. have no
desire to speak frequently this most hackueycd sub
icct have not, during the whole time have had the
honor OF seat here, been very forward in pressing my
views this subject upon the Senate the public but
when measures Of great public importance 20 the north
em States, as deemed them, were pressed upon our
consideration, have been compelled TO state the views
that entertained upon them. have not ohtrudcd my
sell upon the Senate ana am constrained 60 speak now
simply because Of the illusions which have been made to
me in the course Of the debate.
II was said by the mover Of this resolution that one
great object Of It to elicit the state N northern feel
ing with regard to the recent invasion at larpcrs Ferry
Mr.. MASON. VIII the Senator indulge me moment?
The NIcB PRESIDENT Does the Senator from Ohio
yield to the Senator from Virginia;
Mr.. WADE. Certainly.
Mr.. mason. That has been aseribed to me once or
twice in the OF the debate, perhaps upon both
sides Of the Chamber. 1t MISREPRESENTATION. did
not say or mean to say that any object OF the resolution
was to elicit the state Of northern feeling in reference to
the occurrence at Harper's Ferry My colleague may
wish design aud hope TO ascertain by the investigation,
ifo find ont from what source the funds and the counsel
were obtained that led To induced that iucurson at
harpcrs Ferry. had reason to believe. aud have
reason to believe that it came chiefly from the New Eng
land States.
Mr. wAbE Mr. President | stand corrected I'm that
particular, although got the impression that 1t
part and an essential part Of the design o tho mover NJ
the resolution, % inquire into the Stale NJ northern feel
ing that subject. II seems was mistaken. believe
the colleague " the Senator from Virginia, avowcd that
10 be the principal object Of the resolution had sup.
he Ia
resolution for the purpose Of ascertning what public
sentiment at the North was on the subject Of this ya-
sion Of Harpcrs Ferry from any know
very well that for the basest political purposes. that
great and rshadowng party to which belong hss
treated the accusation with scou aud contempt We
who have before been charged osteusiby with any
crime whatever. who have maintained peace and good
order are all at once charged in general TERMS through
Of tho papers Of the North and le papers Of the
South with being parties 10 treason, murder and stir
ring up instruction The charge is entirely
strained that must say il fell upon my without
creating one single emotion care nothing about
charge Of that kind made in such general and sweeping
terms.
But, Mr. President, know wha, the effect Of It may
be Ia tina, part Of the country where there is an acute
jealousy existing the motives IT northern men The
charge is made through the only papers that reach
the ears Of the southern people, and where no anudotc
will be suffered 90 20 l order explain public opinion.
1t TO me that the southern people misguided
upon this subject that they entertain the idea that
northern men in considerable num0cs respectable men,
are concorncdn some deliberate conspiracy 5gius their
rights Now sir, must say that 10 such state OF feel
selves principally responsible for IT, They will suffer
no opinons 20 he circulated among then unless they are
hrst cut and trimmed to their pre- iddires. II
northern man goes down there and honestly ayows his
opinions, he is in peril Of his c he b. turned ont Of any
southern State his sentiments however honest and his
motives, however noble VIII not cNculpate him nom the
charge Of cling Aholitionist. Something Of that
kind and he will be hurled Of your States and you,
who speak the observance Of constitutional rights will
you stand by him there when he inyokes the Constitution
Of the United States shield him against your unwar-
rantabe peiudicesp Not at ali sir You Xiii no more
fl uartnn urfrftf sfaa
leaves his mtnhnod and his independence behind him,
than she Chinese would suffer stranger uyad their
cities You Will suffer the papers Of great and all
prev-ing party the North circulate among YOU 80
that may learn the designs Of the party through that
source which cnnies It's intelligence 70 the party in the
North.
Then sir, can you but be deludedi Should suppose
II there any danger Of circulating incendary matter
among The people Of the South that would be the
dangerous Of all which went to teach the people there
that great party, controlling all the free States
sympathizing with raids upon the South ready to
lend themselves TO any uprising that might be got up
there II were to Judge Of dangerous incendiarism
should say that would the most dangerous Of an vet
it is carried into those States without said before
any antidote anything to explain it, The Governors
ofyour States may proclaim that the great Of the
northern people ready abet the Of those who
recently made an attack on Hafper's Ferry. What
could be dangerous to the institutions Of any south
State than statements like this, pomug there
why, sr II 10 strange state OF things that We hnd
prevailing all around us. strange state ~ sentiment
has sprung up al at beg 70 know what has TAX
en- place that has given rise TO this inquiry, and will say
It, 10 these most Incorporate speeches that have been
made on the subject Why, sir twenty-oue men, all
told, deluded mem yea, sf-Juiging from the very
they undertook to accomplishments men, have invad-
ed great aud powerful sovereign State and they have
that retibuton which every knew must be
their lot IN Undertaking what they did When gang Of
oonsprators apprehended aud brought justice in
every other case as far a. know all excitement cesrs
the graves Of the efaetors and why herci
Mr.. President, understand il is said that the north
ern people sympathize with John Brown in the raid that
he made upon the sovereignty Of Virginia and that is
great OF complaint Sir, do stand here to
control tue sympaihies Of the human heart under any
circumstances because they not subject human
control but thnk can explain the reason why many
northern have deeply sympathized with old John
Brown the leader Of this gang ask you here, howe,-
or, always 10 discriminate between the and the
that he committed. Gentlemen seem incapable ofdraw-
ing that line OF discrimination. They have right to
treat him so but he " Il go down to posiety in
that light It all l think l know why it is that some
considerable feeling aud sympathy exist in the North for
old John Brown and it cannot be understood unless we
go back for four years and what taking place in
distant Territory Of the United States and what plrt
John Brown acted on that theatcr,
Sir il the people Of Virginia are excited almost 10
madness because conspiracy has been formed and
traitors have made raid upon their sovereignty what
do you suppose the feelings Of northern men whose
relations and friends had gone into t Dis ant Tefrti-
~ and formed colonies there, weak and feeble
through wilderness; when IT was the deliberate pur-
pose Of great powerful, and almost alper aiding par
ty, TO drive them out to them 10 subscribe To
opinions and Institutions which they abhorrcd from the
bottom OF their souls Many were murdered in cold
blood and others driven and their property was
DESTROYED They appealed to Congress but they got
insult instead Of sympathy When | state this state
what know My blood boiled then in view Of the on
preston and tyranny that sacrificed that Territory
need not 80 through all the volume Of tcsmonev on that
subject. lspeak by the book One hundred Witnesses
attest the ruth Of every word say Their record is in
dehle II will 70 down te posterty, and it will show
the damning fact that this Government did loas
nive at the acts Of bands Of conspratnr who
ing themselves lawlessy with Of the Federal Gov
ernment invaded peaceabe Territory took possession
Of the ballotboxes drove its people from the polls
PEELED them from their possessions exercised acts Of
tyranny hem deprived them Of every right and,
in great many instances murdered them ruthessy in
cold blood.
But, sir, that great way off II was in a Terri
tory Of this Union. 1t every on this floor
who had friends there exposed those attacks, and
hence they did not create the excitement that is
created when the invasion comes home But
declare here in my place that in my judgement the only
difference between the two is this that in the
Of Kansas the invasion made with other purpose
than to fix slavery there at all hazards and by force Of
arms, while Old John Brown and his men, with like un-
lawful purpose, undertook extrpate slavery from the
State Of Virginia.
The free-State Of Kansas got no consolation from
this Government remember well when their petitions
came In here asking for redress, and remember that
Senator stood forth IN his place and said 1--WE will sub
due YOU you are traitors we will hang every man Of
you this Government has proved itself the strongest
Government under heaven TO protect the civil rights Of
men, and now want to how strong II Is TO punish
traitors That the language dealt out To the citi-
dress Understand me, sir do not go back to the his
tory Of Kansas for the purpose Of justibng old John
Brown and his in their invasion of Virginia but in
order to show you why it is that Of the free States
70 some considerable extent do sympahze with this old
hero. In the darkest Of Kansas righs