Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-03
Giddings on Old John Brown and
Old Osh GiddIngs.

The following is an extract FROM speech
made few days ago by Mr.. GDDNGs 10
Philadelphia
least the most tort0iaie among them have
departed. The others will probably soon
follow. Their sad fate will occupy brief
page in the history of our nation. Those
who yet survive seem to have anticipated
the result. and are now waiting its consuma-
ton. | recOllect an instance OF somewhat
similar character. When the Africans OF
Algiers seized and ensaved Americans we
sent an army and navy TO butcher them,
declaring them unworthy of existence
While our feet lay off the port of Algicrs,
large ship was in sight lying under protcc-
ton of the guns Of that immense fortress. The
American commander prop sed tO send Il
boat for the purpose of blowing up the ship.
The plans were laid, arrangements were per-
fectcd, and at the silent hour of twelve, at
night, about twenty men sOlemnly and
silently shook hands with their companions,
entered The boat, and struck out boldly 10
capture an immense ship, in order to libcrate
their fellow men from bondage. They died:
not one returned. Their plan was ill-con-
ceived. 1t failed but their motives were
sublime and we honor heir memories.
Right and wrong are immutable II slave
ry were wrong then, it is now. II 1t were
wrong for Africans to enSluve Americans, it
is no less wrong for Americans Ia enslave
Africans. [Applause.l In all our words
and thoughts aud actions, we should ever
keep in view those attributes ol Deity. Truth
and Justice. tAppi"nse.l
Now as to Brown, l entertain the opinion
that his own account of his objects aud de-
signs are correct | presume he has told the
truth, when saying that his sole object in
going TO Virginia was To free the sLdreS. On
that point. / suppose, no one will doubt.
file declares he had no intention Of shedding
blood. He only did that when compelled TO
do it. | therefore say, that in regard TO his
desire for freedom TO the slave, he agrees
perfectly with nine-tentbs of the people OF
our free States, with nine tcnths of our
ministers, who every Sabbath put up petit
tions 10 the Most High for the relief of the
oppressed. ! don't think he has at any
time come up to my own views. do not in
tend saying what those views now are. |
am told il would not answer for me to tell
them before Philadelphia audience. But
while serving in Congress, Mr.. Haskell, u
slave holder of Tennessee, enquired of me
publicly, whether believed it morally right
for slaves TO leave their masters, | ielt
bound TO speak frankly. ] answered that
not Only believed it right for slaves 10 leave
their masters whenever they could do SO.
but that il was morlally wrong and wicked
for them to remain in slavery one hour when
they had The power to escape, even by slay-
ing those who opposed their freedOm; that
were | slave | would escape il in my
power, though compelled to walk upon the
dead bodies of slave holders, from Mississippi
TO Maiden.
On another occasion when i was stating
the number Of fugitive slaves who dined at
my house at any one time, Mr. Bennett, of |
Mississippi, publicly inquired IL was not |
prepared TO 90 one step turiherf | answered |
was; il n slave catcher had attempted 10 |
enter my dwelling to capture those people, |
would have stricken him down upon the |
threshold of nv door. Gov, Gayle, of Ala |
lama. inquired II J were willing 10 make /
uch remarks when slaves were pres,'nt 10 1
iear them told him was; nd u had \
he power, would release every slave upon /
-arth before tue sun would go down. have
iot changed my opinions.
/ wish. on this as ON all occasions, TO leave
Ipon record such au expression of my own
news. that | shall not blush, and that my
hildren will not blGsh 10 read them here
liter. And as an illustration Of my doc
rines. have tor many years paid probably
No hundred dollars per year from my limited
icanS. To free slaves from bodags,. | have
lso fed and clothed these who called on me
lhen fleeing To land Of liberty.
To others. who were pursued, | have given
rms 10 deiend themselves. have Instructed
hem In their use, and have constantly spoken
I these thugs 10 pahlic and ia private; By
he wsy.side and by the ire-side. | am op-
osed TO taking human lite except IN defruss
( life or liberty. In such eases beliefe il
duty. In these opinions l think large
ortion of our people ia Northern Ohio con-
a.. We do these things where ne can do
lem without violating any enaetmeHt; bat
II will zee thai the place cannot change The
loTal character Of an act, and feeling this.
zen may become 80 exeitsd a. 10 go even as
r as our government did with the Al, J
crimes. would not. l haze nos the hero
IN 20 do L. u u
4, viii ne xesn bv the above thai old Josu