Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-12-22
House oil Representatives-Thirty
Sixth Congrcss-fiTst Session.
WAsHrsorox, Dec. Is, le59.


&c OF investigation on the llarpers
FersS invasion. came up. Il
Mr. Wade OF Ohio, said that at first
il was not his purpose to speak on the
resolution. lie made up his mind
when the resolution was introduced
that he should vote for it, not on ac-
count OF any particular benefit he sup
posed would result from it, for be
thought it would probably have the eff
feet of increasing in Virginia tue ex-
element which already seems to be
sufficiently strong there, at least for all
practical purposes. but over this reso-
luton the whole subject of controversy
between the Northern and Southern !
States on the Slavery question has
been discussed and allusions have been |
made to him personally in such terms
IA 10 render ii essential that he should
reply. lie hal no desire to get mp
frequently to speak on this most hack
neycd subject; he had not been very
forward i'll thrusting himself before the
Senate: but when measures OF great i'm
portance had been pressed. he mad been
compelled to give his views.
1t was said by the mover of this res
olution Mason that one great object
of it was to arrest the State of North
ern feeling respecting the invasion at
Harpcr's Ferry.
MIR. Mason desired to correct the
Senator. That assertion had been
once or twice ascribed to him In the
course of this debate. but it was mis-
apprehension. What he said was,
that he wished to ascertain from what
source Brown derived the funds and
counsel which led to the invasion. He
had reason to believe it came chiefly
from the New England States.
Mr.. Wade continued, for the basest
of purposes the great party to which
he (Mr. Wade) belonged, had been
charged with completely in the affair,
but he treated the chargewith scorn and
contempt. 1t had been so entirely over
strained that it now fell on his ear
without giving him single emotion,
but he knew what the effect OF such a
charge would be in tina, part of the
country where jealousy exists with re-
gard to the acts and motives of North.
ern men.
Mr.. Wade said he regarded John
Brown as insane. and asked the Sena-
tors 10 discriminate between the MAJ
and his acts. If the State of Virgins
feels deeply at the incursion into he
territory. anil the murder Of her citi
zens, what were the feelings of tn,
Northern men. few years ago, who's,
relations and friends had gone into
far distant Territory. and formed colo
MES there. weak ard feeble, scattere,
through that wilderness. when the,
found that it was the deliberate pur
pose of great, powerful and all-per
| vading party to drive them ont an'
GEORGE them to obedience un,ier insti
tutions which they abhorred from tn
very bottom of their souls. They wcr
c driven ont; they were murdered in col
: blood; theirproperty was destroyed
: They appealed to Congress for rcdres,
and they only got insults here, in
stead of sympathy. When state thi.
| state what | know. This Govern
ment did at least connivc at that ban
: of conspirators who, among then
J, selves, lawlessly. with arms belongin
V to the government, innovated til;
y peaceful territory, took possession
the ballot boxes, and drove the cit
zens away from the polls; drove thel
le away from their possessions and exc
: ci>ed tyranny over them. But til;
20 took place u great way off, and did M
:. create much excitement as when sin
" liar transaction comes nearer home
In his judgement. the only different
between that case and this was. tn
in the case of the Kanses invasion
TT was made with no other purpose than
:, introduce Slavery there at all hazard
and bv force of arms. Whereas o
:" John Brown with his men, and iii
III unlawful purpose. undertook to exit
he pate Slavery from the State OF Va
IN The Free State men then got no co
ISOLATION from this government; b
one Senator used the language
, I'VE will suhdue you-you are ira
. ors-we will hang every man of you
u Mr.. Wade said he did not go ba
'st to those things for the purpose of il
o. tifviny John Brown and his crew
~ the invasion of Virginia, but only
y show why it is the men of the Fl
{" States to II considerable extent,
sympathize with this old hero.
In the darkest of Kansas. when
#. her rights were in peril and ever
pm thing looked gloomy there, and I
,o Federal Government failed to int
pose in their behalf. then it was Il
~ Old John Brown appeared on the sta
of action. arming himself as he mig
use and commenced TO 90 That justice
in himself and fellows that the Cove
by ,nent denied; he did it with heroi
- and determination that challenged
hat miration from his friends and even
the spect from his enemies. He drove
an border rutfans from the Territory a
Dry conquered a peace.
= Mr.. Wade believed that Brown y
de- maddened by the scenes of blood
IN. had witnessed in Kansas. for he
his nos think any sane man on ca
re- would have undertaken the enterpr
in lie hail never seen single person v
ION justified Browns raid. tor the Nor
rho ern people do not sympathze W
of crime. lie then proceeded to repl,
i Mr.. Johnson criticism of the Rep
had lican platform.
- Mr. Wale said he WAS not on