Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-02-04
LITTER OF BROWN TO JOHNSON.
NJ. JOHNSON.
DORSET, Ashta bula, Co., o.,
JGnnarq 25ih. 1890.

January 25th, 1860.
NJ. ~JonNsoN. Esq, U. S. Marshal, Cleveland. Ohio,
Sir: | have received your favor of the 9th inst
informing me that you had left at my house a sum,
mons from the Select Committee OF the U. S. Sen
ate, commanding me to appear before that Commit.
tee on the 30ih met.
After q full and careful consideration of the
reasons which you offer why l should obey tina,
summons, | have for two reasons resolved not to
do so. The first, is that in going to and return
ing from Washington, l must of necessity pass
within the jurisdiction of either Maryland or Nir
ginin. Tho latter State has especially exhibited Of
late such a remarkable facility of perpetra,ing the
srossest irjustiee under the forms of law, that no
sane man would. in the circumstances in which /
am placed, trust her for n moment. Even if that
State could not crush me by n judicial process, the
widest enthusiast would not dream her power
would be thrown between me and the violence Of
her mobs.
The protection under the law Of Congress. to
which Senator Mason refers, you will see if his
language is correctly quoted, applies only to "a
person who has been examined as a Witness" bu,
supposing otherwise. what regard has the Nullify-
'S 1'"NS - "i u q u VI CobSiCoo uiN
would interpose between n victim and the malice
of her Shareholders? l have experienced 700 much
of slaveholding peridy to rely on the faith of q
State whose honor and magnanimity are represen-
tee By the author of the Fugitire Siare Bill, and
whose chief revenue is derived from the sale
of her ouoa sons and daughters.
The second reason why l refuse to appear before
that Committee is, that in swearing to tell the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the Truth"
SO far as my knowledge extends in reference to the
facts sought for in that investigation, l should
obligate myself to make known that which would
~implicate others. which, as the Lord liOeth, I wiH
not do. You say that by giving my testimony |
can exempt myself from further trouble. In an
swer, l would say that l cannot purchase immuni-
ty from further prosecution by an act of t~eachery.
To that system Uf piracy which reduces to chattels
every sixth man., woman and child Of our land, ]
owe 10 Obligations, 1t has no rights which ] am
bound to respect" but, to tho noble men and
women. who, in tho same spirit which prompted
effort in behalf of Greece, Italy and Hungary, la,
bored by word and deed to aid Native Americans
descendants of the first families Of Virginia.
to throw off their yokes-to them l owe unswerv-
ing nuehty. oome OF them resiue In oiaVe otates,
and my testimony would place their lives in jeo-
rardy. On their account, if for no other. l refuse
to appear and answer, and shall patiently wait for
the infiction of 1.-THE pains and penalties 10 such
cases made and provided" VIA.
And now to save unnecessary delay in pouring
out upon mo the "Vials" of pro-slavery. wrath" |
will say that business does not now call me to
Canada. Should | revisit that temporary home Of
our American Exiles, it will be from other consid-
eraiions than these Of personal safety.
Possibly, at some time l may ''leave my country
for my %country's good" but nerer for the good of
the Slave Power. ., .5s.
With due respect, l remain. &C.,
JOHN BROWN, Jr.