The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1859-11-11
Beccher on Old Brown.

| Tho Rev. Henry Ward Baccher
gave an eloquent discourse last eve
ming upon the subject Of the late
riot at lIarper's Ferry. He was
particularly severe upon the coward
ice Of the Virginans, dwelling i'm
pressivrly upon the fact that two
thousand oi the latt r were held in
awe by an armed torce Of seventeen
men, led by lunatic. He paid II
tribute OF respect to the chai acter
and attitude of John Brown, de.
claring that, even out OF his senses
he was, morally, "head and shoul.
ders above his captors, Governor
Wise, the milati, ol Maryland and
Virginia. tho Executive and the
Federal forces" The orator strong
lly denounced all of that class OF
aboltioniSts who go among the
slaves to stir up disatfection, incite
to rebellion, and entice them away,
declaring that they were, in hs
experience, untrustworthy with mo-
ncy, or with the interests OF the
slave. His attitude toward both
the slave and his owner, he defined
AS one Of strict impartiality aud
justice, founded on a spirit Of Christ.
ian love and forbearance. HIS re-
marks upon the prescription Of free
negroes at tho North from ali honor
able and profitable employ,nunts,
created n marked sensation among
his audience. The negro must be
raised to tho platform OF equal rights
among ourselves ere he could be
aided elsewhere. The day was past
with him when he could fear that
slavery would destroy tho Union -
No! Slavery was doomed to fall
before the wholesome reforms that
would be enforced by public senti-
ment. The right Of chastity for
slave women, the institution OF mat.
rimuny, the inviolability Of the iani.
ly relation-these alone would cause
slavery to become unwieldly, m
profitable and incxpedient. For
with these common decencies Of life
conceded, the slave would become a
sert, would no longer be, individual.
ly, q currency would assume per
sonal rights and relations inconsist.
ent with chattel condition would
cease to be u thing, and be rscog-
nized as man. Thus would the
Reverend gentleman abolish slavery
by the practice Of the Gospel pre-.
cepts. Tue Reporters who heard
the opening Of his discourse would
DO disappointed. hut they might
make the most Of it. lie loved the
slave owner. He loved the slave
They were his brothers in Christ. -
lie loved tho wronged ones. lie
loved the wrong-doers; they were
fellow sinners with himself, and CO.
hoirs with him OF salvation through
the blool OF the Savior. II he went
South, ho would not be puzzled. -
lie would preach ~ he now preach.
cd. ue would inculcate obedience
to their masters as the best policy,
rs the Christian duty, Of the slave.
But the Gospel did not forbid the
slave to break his- chains, although
it certainly made docility duty
while tho relation of slavery was
voluntarily Sustained. lie would
overtheless aid the slave when he
escaped, considering that tho re
sumption OF his rights as u man
came of the direct inspiration oI
Deity. The base attempts OF por.
tion or The press TO implicate the
best and brightest men Of our couu
try In the mad esospade OF Brown
were foolish ,snd their authors 'self.
convicted ,nsiignity and insignifi.
canoe. g Srheint telligeut public wodld
soon know;ailethe truth, aud lau D l
at and despise tue miserable crea.
turss now attempting 10 mislead
1thsm by'talse reports..' ola 10 1901
This siort;of the Re yersnd eeu.
ftlsMAn awas -Ifecvivet q with prea,
}sssisfactiou. THO dpssyeis os6d ben
tsdiction were peoatiatly impressive,
and the choral and instru msnta
music worthy Of the occasion.