Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-02-03

JOHN BROWN Jr. does net seem disposed to
obey the summons of the Senate Investigating
Committee. The following is his letter to
Marshall johnson, who called at his residence
to serve the summons but did not find him at
home:
DORSET, AsHTABULA CouNTY, ONO, 4
Jan. 25th, 1860.
Mi. JoHNsos, ESQ, q. 9. MARSHALL, CLEyR-
LAND ONO - 49, @ -
&r:I have received your favor ofthe 9th
inst, informing nae that you haVe~left~at my
house q summons from the select committee
of the United States Senate, commanding me
to appear before that, committee on the both
inst.
After a full and careful consideration of the
reasons which you offer why I should obey that
summons, l have for two reasons resolved not
to do SO. The first is, that in going to, and re-
turning from Washington, I must of necessity
pass within the jurisdiction of either Maryland
or Virginia. The latter State has especially
exhibited of late, such a remarkable facility of
perpetrating the grossest injustice under the
forms of law, that no sane maj would, in the
circumstances in which | am placed, trust her
for a moment. EviAf if that State could not
crush nae by a judicial process, the widest en-
thusiast would not dream her power would
be thrown between me and the violence of her
msbs. I'll i+
The protection, under the law of Congress,
to which Senator Mason refers, you will see, If
his language is correctly gu oted, applies only
to "a person who has been examined as a wit
ness but supposing otherwise what regard has
the Nullifying State of Virginia. for a law OF
Congaeas which would interpose between a vic
tim and the malice of her shareholders ? I
have experienced too much of slave-holding
p~erfidity' to rely on the faith of a State whose
honor and magnaminity are represented by the
author Of the Fugitive &aUe Bill and whose
chief revenue is derived from the sale fher oaen
sons and daughters.
The second reason why | refuse to appear be-
fore 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 inves-
LEGATION, I should oblige myself to make known
that which would inplicate others, which as
the Lord kfUeth I piH not dc. You say that
by giving my testimony I can exempt myself
from further trouble. In answer l would say
that cannot purchase immunity from further
prosecution by an act of treache=y. To that
system of piracy which reduces to chattels
every sixth man, woman and child of cur land,
I owe no obligations. It has no rights which
| am bound to respect" but, to the noble men
and women, who in the same spirit which
prompted effort in behalf of Greece, Italy and
Hungary, labored by word and deed to aid
"Natiye Americans, descendants of the first
famI'es Of Virginia" to throw off their yoke,
to them l owe answering fidelity. Some of
them residing in slave States, and my testimony
would place their lives in jeopardy.
On their account, if for no other, I refuse to
appear and answer, and shall patiently wait
fer the infection Of the pains and penalties
in such cases made and provided"
And now, to save unnecessary delay in pour
ing out upon me the "vials p" of pro-sIavery
e WRATH l will say that business does not now
call me to Canada. Should | revisit that tenn
Porary home Of our American Exiles, it will be
from other considerations than those of person
al safety Possibly at some time I may leave
my country for my country's good" but nerer
for the good of the slave power.
With due respect, I remain. &C.,
JOHN BROWN. .JR.