Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1859-10-28
old Brown before tho Grand
1nQuiSition.

'aiitifuiRbain, tmcm nor OF Congress from
oa'o, and other gentlemen, had converse.
tim with Old Brown while he lay in the
-Arln ,ry. A reporter Of The .Nc,c York
Hsra d was present, and reports the questions
and answers verbatim. We copy at length
Mr.. Mason-Can you tell us. a, least, who
furnished money for your expedition ?
Mr.. Brown-l furnished most of it myself
! cannot impieate others. 1t is by my own
folly that have been taken. could easily
hive saved myself from it had exercised my
"wn better judgment, rather that yielded to
nj feelings
Mr.. Mason--You m an If you hal escaped
Immediately
Mr.. Brown should have gone away but
had thirty odd prisoners, whose wives and
daughters were in tears for their safety, and
falt for them. Besides, wanted 10 allav
the fears of those who believed we came here
u burn and kill. For this reason allowed
t''e train to cross the bridge and gave them
fdll liberty to pass on. did it only to spare
the feelings of those passengers and their
families, and to allay the apprehensi3ns that
You had got here in your vicinity II band of
men who had no regard for life anu proper
~, nor any feeling of humanity.
Mr.. Masnn--It YOU would tell us who
that would be information of some value
Mr.. Brown-I will answer freely and
faithfully abou. what concerns mvself-l
will answer anything l can with honor,
but not about others.
Mr.. Vallandisham, (mcmher OF Congress
from Ohio, who had entered)-Mr Brown,
who ser. You here ?
Mr.. Brown-No man sent me here; il was
my own prompting and that # my Maker ,or
that of the devil, whichever you please to a.
cribe it to. | acknowledge no man in hu
inan form.
Mr.. Vailandis ham-Did YOU get up the
expediii N yourself?
MIR. Rrnwn--I did
Mr.. Vall.ndisham-Did you get up this
docum Mt that is called constitution
Mr.. Brown did. They are constitu
ton and ordinances of my own contiiyins
and getting up.
Mr.. Vailandisham-liow long have you
been engaged in this business
Mr.. Biown-FrJm the breakin out of the
difficulties in Kansas. Four of my sons had
gone there to settle, and they induced Inc to
20. did not - there to settle, but because
of the difficulties.
Mr. Mason-tiow many are engaged with
you in this movement | ask these ques-
tions for our own safety.
Mr.. Brown-Any questions that can hon
orably answer, | will, not otherwise. So
far AS aui myself concerned, have told
everything truthtully. | value my word,
sir.
Mr.. MAson-What was your o ject in COM
ing?
Mr.. Brown-Ws came to free the slaves.
and only that.
A Yoeng Man lin the uniform Of veiun-
tecr company}-How many men in ali had
you?
MIR. Brown-t came to Virginia with
eighteen men only, besides myself
Volunteer-N hat in the world did YOU
suppose you could d. here in Virginia with
that amount Of men?
Mr. Brown-ioung nan, don't VISA to
discuss that question here.
Volunteer You would not do anything.
Mr.. Brown-W ell, perhaps your ideas and
mine on military subjects would differ mate
rally.
MI. Mason-How do you justify your
acts
Mr.. Brown-I think, my friend, YOU are
guilty of great wrong giinst God ana hu
minity-I say it without wishing t" be oAen-
sive- and 1t would he perfectly lsht tor any
one to interfere with You 5, Tar rs t. tree
those YOU wilfuly and wcktdiy hold in
bondage. do not say this insuItIngly.
MIR. Mason-I understand that.
Mr.. Br9wn-l think did right, and that
others will do right who Interfere with YOU
at any time and ut all times. hold that the
golden rale. ..Do unto others as YOU would
that others should do unto you, applies to
all who would help Others gain their liberty.
Mr.. Mason-You considered yourself the
Comm IN Ter Chief Of thos. provisional
military forces.
Mr.. Brown was chosen agreeably to the
ordinance of IL certain document C1mmander-
inChief Of that force
Mr.. Mason-W hat wages did YOU otter
Mr. Brown-None.
Lieut. Stuart-''Tha wages Of sin is
DEATH"
MIR. Brown-I would not have made such
remark to YOU, if you had been a prisoner
and wounded in my hands,
Mr.. Vallandi.ham-.W hen in Cleveland
did YOU attend the Fugitive Slave Law Con
vcntion there
Mr.. Brown-N,. was there about the
time OF the setting of the court TO try the
Ober in subject. spoke of the Fugitive
Slave Law and my own rescue. Vi course so
far as had any influence at all. WAS dis
posed to justify the D berlin people for rescu-
Ing the slave. because have myself torcibly
taken slaves from bondage. was Concerned
in takin. eleven slaves from Missouri to
Canada last winter. | think spoke IN
Cleveland before the Convention. l do not
know that had any conversation with any
of the Oberiin rescuers. WAS sick part Of
the time | Was in Ohio with the a,ue.-
was ptIt of tn, time in Ashtibala county
Mr. 'v.,Ilandiy ham-Did You See anything
OF oshua r. Glddings there
Mr. Brown did meet him.
Mr.. Vallandis ha.n-Did you converse will
him
Mr. Brown did. would not tell you
Of course, anything that would implicat'
MIR Glddings; but certainly met with HIN
and had conversation with him.
Mr.. Vall..dis haln-About that rescue
case?
Mr. Brownies, did. heard him ex
press his opinion upon it very freely am
frankly.
Mr. yalandig it,
Mr. Brown-fes.s sir, do not compromis
him certainly by saying that.
A Rystander-Dld you go out to hansa
under the auspices of the Emsrint An
Society
MIR. Brown-No sir. | went out unde
the auspices OF John Brown, and nob'd
else.
Mr.. Yaliandigham-Will you answer this