The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-29
ADDRESS OF JOSHUA R. GDDMeS,
his viewsof John Browns Harper's Ferry Plot
What he Knew Of the Affair, 10.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. %, 1850
hon. joshua H. Giddings, Of Ohio delivered discourse
~ evening" a. the National Guards Hail. on the subject
mo halpersf eHy insurrection,' and John Brown,
Of Ossawattomie
Mr.. GIDDNGs said-There is at this time an unusual az
element in the community. Nineteen men, ope week
since, invaded the Old Dominion captured two thousand
OF her Inhabitants and throughout her
vast territory Her Governor has taken the field in per-
SON. called out her military forces placed arms and
troops at all available points, Maryland too has supplied
her quota Of and arms while the President the
United States has ordered such portions Of the army as
were within convenient distance repair the scene OF
conflict, and placed the militia Of the District Of Columbus
active service to protect tho public property He also
placed arms and ammunition in the City Hall, be used
IN case Of emergency.
The invading force is nearly all sainperhaps four Of
them remain alive, but nearly dead Of wounds Others
have fed, but probably all by this time prisoners.
Yet even In this city, and in States there appears
to be degree OF excitement and s in
TRUTH tho first instance in which any number OF white
men have combined for the purpose Of giving freedom To
the slaves OF our nation.
such scenes have long been foretold More than
seventy years since Mr. Jefferson pointed his countrymeu
TO the time where this Of things must taka
place, and socmnly warned them that in such con-
test God had attribute that would enable him 70 take
sdes with the Shareholder. Nearly twenty years since
Mr. Adams, with prophetic assurance said "the day OF
the deliverance of the slave must come--whether in
peace in blood could not ell-but whether came
in peace or in blood, = he said, "Let 1t come"
The sympathy Of the Christian world is with the
slaves. For their liberation our minister's pray our
statesmen labor and their freedom the object and de-
sire with all candid intelligent men; while all feel
willing to their freedom stained with blood. Mem Of
a,faw
should not be moved permit themselves to become
excited. deplore the loss of human life deeply az
any men. never witness human woe, nor look
upon human suffering unmoved and yet would no. ask
for the slave, FOR the master Brown for his
fellow prisoners, anything anything less than
justice.
This interesting incident our country's history,
stands connected with some well defined cause The
subject which excited the invaders action unmis.ak-
ably set forth in all the have received The
institution of slavery the moving cause. Whether
Brown and his men guilty they represented
not their object have been the liberation Of
the slaves Of that region Pennsylvania tad slaves She
emancipated them and enjoys the quiet and pros
pery consequent upon her justice. Virginia retains her
slaves and consequently subjected TO annoyance Thus,
cause and effect always connected.
Imake these remarks to show the certainty with which
every effect may be traced its appropriate cause al
though unthnking seldom trace events to their
mote origin This event may be clearly traced to the
exciting any other event Of tho present age
ascertain the cause cannot fail to clearly the
remedy In order properly to trace out the renote,
wen the proxma Of this hmentble oocurt
renee necessary to alude to historic factO
and to some important immutable principles
Virginia held slaves while a colony. From the landing
of the Dutch ship In 1920 with her small cargo Of human
chattcs, up 10 this day, the Old Dominion
has cherished the peculiar institution All the other colo
MES held until after the close Of the Revolutos
At the formation Of the federal government ID
trne was adopted The Declaration of Independence
the bond the Union, and by that agreed that
new government should be Free each State holding
slavery subject the will of its people, wthoutr
renee to the federal organization. At the adoption Of
constitution the States each retained this entire and
preme power over the institution within its terri
ha ing the right to abolish at pleasure, and TO
crate soil and its institutions TO freedom. do
| tend to argue this point. merely lay them down
| conference.-the principles. therefore assert tbs
| State may at pleasure establish liberty within iu
and that other power has any right TO interfere
Pennsylvania has the undoubted right to be fire.
Virginia has the power and privilege to man
slavery.
that every attempt Of the federal government
the people Of Pennsylvania, other free states
pense, the crime, or disgrace of slavery, cor
oyer-serping Of its legitimate, its constitution 81
In saying this am certainly awse that Vrg al
the slave States deny this proposition and MIA
though we had the right to abolish slavery sst
states we are nevertheless bound to aid the, in o.
il in Virginia. ] am aware that this nowo to
great issue between our political parties. nsht,
is part Of my present. purpose TO 1t i re
points. 1t is sufficient for my PR argu
10 say, that nearly all OF our sent
free states maintain and beNey eople
trine as ! have laid il down-that the
| 10 defend the slave States against nvas our OBJ
violence has no more reference TO sia on or d.
imprisoned offenders. Iery than
| Perhaps, for the better Illustration
ought to say that by the constitution OF my sui
1 all the States covenanted with zach fennsylva
fugitive slaves and to grant TO the eli otner 70 SUI
1 al the mmunies and privileges Of cit zens Of eac
States. That both these covenants be zens Of the
nient. The slave States say they We proved In
cooed citizens of our own free State cannot grant
ties md privileges which their ownt me same in
endangerpg the institution of slave liizens enjoy
true. Neither the free States Sc " That is dot
slaves without establishing SLAYER re ana return fl
| their territories The covena 70 toat extent
| pendent IL one be performed, Us are mutual al
il one be violated, the other ought DOH doubtless vi
i / 90 not argue this point ayf not 70 be perfoT
son, saying that the people q how'd s q a plain
believe IT, This belief Of the gr ,ne Tree states gene
the predicate from which draw -. pody OF our PEG
| hazard nothing in saying thai ,eaueuvns. Ger,
States desire do their dutym ne people OF all the
| willing that each State shall marus eacn otner, an
privileges, and that patrotsy enJuy an its constitu
| main,ain their rights and ucinanas tnat they
l Pennsylvania and other ~. e isnts " tner stat
sttution, her people desiring -, W. lave a1ohsned
led from the contagion Of 70 pc Tree and entirely
.sI,ais FROM ,o,;cai or int oppression. However,
subject her people to the snnrn no ~ may lab
not 10 say that nine tent ulPvl. % slavery, hef
wish TO be entirely separW 81 - sA1en5 VI AZ ps
from all participation in ~ .anu divorced rom any
is The prevailing sentimeD S OF slavery, and
II Is certain that a 81 - az we Tree states.
exists throughout all h "s aeeilDg OF dissatisfat
l States. Indeed, the tern ,,. - ano most OF the
the popular feeling In sor ~ @ does not exI
| has risen 10 that OF In ,;n., our Northcrn Stat
| pYosti,ued and are n s a.iuu against those who
| hover q, orr goyernm w prostinting the influence
slavery instead Of m 49, WIG support and extensiO
free States instead seaom-to invade the rights Of
| states. This fceliDgl as hns.nlnS the rights OF all
| encroachments upor ~ .n p.oduced by the cons
many years. One trace n's oL inc Tree States
| trated, each exctI ~ re ,e' anotner mas been pc
! feeling until they cr,m;na.' remuneration and dee
and the murders q pyr;,,I ~ ~ me despotsm
Brown and his ssoc;a,aa ~ hansas There they dr.
viii long mark m era in 80. ~ Una, desperation VIII
the time 81 esk Of pro,,~ potcai history This Is
who most itse rlv aesa; anu ms companions IN
more highly this conid ~ H., osements speak OF
| the future In INST NOT -. o arc. must Speak
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