Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-10-25
9ailg air9iaiau.
Correspondence ofthe New York Herald.
Old Browns Conversation with Senator
Mason, Mr.. Faulkner and Mr.. Vallandig-

Mason, Mr. Faulkner and Mr., Vallandig-
ham.
Brown is tilty-hye years Of age. rather small
sized, with keen and restless gray ewes ard grg.
zly beard and hair lie is wiry, active man,
and should the slightest chance for an escape be
afforded, there is doubt that he will yet give
his captors much trouble. His hair is matted and
tangled, and his face, hands and clothes nll
smouchcd and smeared with blood Colonel Lee
stated that be would exclude all visitors from the
room il the wounded men were annoyed or panied
by them, bur Brown said he was by no means an
noyed on the contrary, he was glad to be able to
make himself and his motives clearly understood.
He convcrses. freely, 0uently and chccrully,
without the slightest manifestation of fear
uueasincss, evidently weighing well HIS words,
and possessing n good command of language-
His manner il courteous and atiable, and he ap-
pears to make IL favorable impression upon his
auditory. which, during most OF the day yester-
day. averaged about ten or n dozen men.
When arrived in the Armory, shortly after
two O'clock in the afternoon. Brown answer
ing questions put to him by Senator Mason, who
had arrived from his resldcnco ut Winchester,
thirty miles distant, Colonel Faulkner member of
Congress- who lives but few miles off. Mr.. Val
iandigham, member of Congress of Ohio, and sew
eral otter distinguished gentlemen. The following
is rerbatim, report of the conversation
Mr.. Mnson--Can you tell us, ut least, who FUR
nshcd money for your expedition?
Mr.. Brown furnished most of it myself.
caHnot implicae others. 1t is by my own folly
that | have been taken. could easily have saved
myself f:om it had exercised my better judge
mcnt rather than yielded to my feelings.
Mr.. Mason-lou mean if You had escaped i'm
medmtely =?
Mr.. Brown-No; had the means to make my
sell secure without nny escape. hnt allowed my
eelf to be surrounded by n force 10y being too
tardy.
Mr.. Mason-'rarly in getting away
Mr.. Brown shonhl have gone away, but
had thirty odd prisoners, whose wives and dauSh-
ters were in ters for their safvt,. and felt for
them, Besides. wanted to allay the fears OF those
who leleved we came here to burn and kill. For
this reason allowed the train 10 cross the bridge.
and gave them full liberty to pass on. | did it
only to spare the feelings of those passengers aud
their families, and to nllay the apprehensons that
YOU had got here in your vicinity band of men
who had no regard for life and property nor any
feelings Of humanity
Mr. Mnson--But yo': killed some people pass
ing along the streets quietly.
Mr.. Brown--W ell sir. il there was anything of
that kind done, it was without my knowledge.--
Your own citizens, who were my prisoners, will
,cl you that every possible means were taken To
prevent it. did not allow my men to fire nor
even to return II fire, when there was danger f
killing those we regarded as innocent persons, il
| could help it, They will tell you that we allow
ed ourselves to be fired at repeatedly and did not
return it.
A Bystander--That is not so. You killed an
unarmed man at the corner of the house over
there, (at the watcr-tahk) and another besides
Mr.. Brown-See here, my friend, 1t is useless
TO dispute or contradict the report If your own
neghburs who were my prisoners.
MIR. Mason-lf YOU would tell us who sent you
here-who provided the meansthat would be in
formation of some value.
Mr. Brown will answer freely and faithfully
about what concerns myself will answer any
thing | can with honor but not about others
Mr.. Nallandigham (member Of Congress from
Ohio, who had jast entered Mr.. Brown, who
sent you here
Mr. Brown--No man sent me here it was my
own prompting and that Of my Maker, that Of
the devil, whichever You please to nscribe it to-
| acknowledge that no man in human form
Mr.. Valands shan-Did you get up the cxpeli-
ton yourself?
Mr.. Brown did.
Mr. Valand ghnn--Dd you get up this docu
ment that is called n constitution ?
Mr.. Brown did. They are constitution
and ordinances of my own contriying and getting
up.
Mr.. Vallandigham long have you been
engaged in this business
Mr. Brown--From the Breaking out of the DIFF
fcultes in Kansas. Four of my SONS ad gone
there to settle, and they induced ire to go. ] did
not 60 there to settle, but because Of the difcul
ties.
Mr.. Mason-How many are engaged with
you in this movement? | ask these questions
for our safety.
Mr.. Brown-Auy questions that can honora-
Lly answer | will, not otherwise. SO fur as / am
myself concerned have told everything truthful
ly, | value my word, SIR
Mr.. Mason-What was your object in coming
Mr.. Brown-We come to free the slaves, and
only that.
4 young man lin the uniform of a volunteer
communicative many men had you in all
Mr.. Brown came to Virginia with is men
only, besides myself.
Volunteer-W in the world did you suppose
you could do here in Virginia with that amount Of
men?
Mr. Brown Young man, don't wish to dis
cuss that question here
Vounteer-Y You could not do anything.
Mr.. Brown--Well, perhaps your ideas and
mine on military subjects would differ materially.
Mr.. Mason-lIow do you Justify your acts :?
Mr.. Brown think, my friend, you guilty
of great wrong against God and humanity-l
say itwithout wishing to be offensive-and it
would he perfectly right for any one to interfere
with you far as to free those you wilfuly and
wickcdly held in bondage. / do not say this in
sultingly.
Mr.. Mason-I understand that.
Mr. Brown think did right, and that others
will do right who interfere with you at any time
and at all times. hold that the golden rule, "Do
unto others as you would that others should do
unto you," applies to all who would help others to
gain their liberty.
Lieutenant Stewart-But you don't believe in
the Bible.
Mr.. Brown-Certainly do.
Mr.. vallandigham-Whe did your come
from? Did some Of them come from Ohio?
Mr.. Brown-Some of them.
Mr.. Vallandigham-From the " estern Reserve?
None came from Southern Ohio.
Mr.. Brownies, l believe one came from be-
low Steubenville, down not far from Wheeling.
Mr.. Vallandigham--Ha You been in Ohio this