Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1860-03-22


tpbuIa---A Pledge Made TO De-
fend Criminals at all Hazards
Against the Omccrs Of the In w
---CiddinRs' "Sons Of Liberty"
Armed for the Battle.
JEFFERSON, Ashtabula Co., o.
March 16, 1860.
Editor National Democrat;
The Stephens and Hazlett sympathy
meeting is over 1t was largely attend
ed-the more fanatical portion of the Alb
olitionists filing up every nook and cor
ner of the Court House. The speakers
wore John Brown, Jr., and Owen Brown,
sons of the John Brown hanged at Har-
per's Ferry-Coppic, Rcdpath, and 9TH
ers, among which is included one of the
Editors of the Plain Dealer of your city.
The meeting was got up less to sympa-
thize with the men hung for their crimes
this day at Charleston, Virginia, than to
give an assurance that the criminals
should be protected in Ashtabula county,
against the officers Of the law. There is
a band here pledged to aid in resisting,
even unto death, whose distinguishing
mark is black ribbon worn around the
neck. The Browns were heavily armed,
as indeed were most of the others present
yet | could not help thinking that, armed
with United States warrant and doz-
en- or so of resolute men, / could have
spoiled the whole meeting and dispersed
it in five minutes by the running off the
speakers.
John Brown, Jr., is the nblest man of
the lot, and seemed to be the finest speak
er. In praising Stephens, he admitted
that he committed a murder in Mexico,
for which he was condemned to death,
but his sentence was commuted by Pres
ident Polk to two years imprisonment,
from which he escaped and went to Kan
sas, where he became acquainted with
John Brown, Sr,, and finally engaged in
the Harper's Ferry affair.
The speech of Owen Brown, one of the
Fugitives whom Gov. Dennison refused
to deliver up, was broken and discon-
nected, and after speaking for long
time, he was finally put down by cries
for Coppic, another Fugitive, who fled to
Iowa, but whom the Governor of that
State, for reasons about as silly as those
given by Gov. Dennison, refused to de-
liver up.
Coppic taking the stand, was greeted
with much applause. He was unwell
and could not speak, he said, more than
to thank his friends for their kindness.
John Brown then again got up. He
said the papers sent to Iowa in Coppic's
case were informal, and that Coppic was
advised that they would be amended, and
that Gov. Kirkwood would then surren
der him to Virginia, as were the other
martys to liberty. He had consulted the
ablest counsel he could find, and was told
that if he went to Canada, and demand
was made for him there, under the Extra
dition Treaty, he wonld be given up
Where, then, can he and these other brave
men go? Cries of stay here-we can and
will protect you all in Ashtabula county.
No officer dare come here. This is free
soil, and Buchanan's myradons dare not
here, &c., interrupted the speaker for some
time. The speaker continued: Thank God
there is one free spot left. where man
who acts up to his convictions of right
can be protected. Here we can give m
assurance of freedom to all, by the aid Of
our strong arms and sound hearts and we
will protect ourselves, and we will pro-
tect all who may come to us for refuge
from the slave dealer and from slave laws.
The object of the meeting seemed to be
to get on expression from the crowd in
favor of resistance to thelaw. Giddings'
"Sons of Liberty" have thrown aside
theis peeled sticks for Colts revolvers, and
have adopted the black ribbon about the
neck as token by which to recognize
one another. In looking at some of them,
l thought hempen cord, fastened with
running moose, would be more appro-
pirate, and that to that complexion must
they come at last.
Several Ministers of the Gospel, and
others professodly Christian, made speech
cs in favor of the objects of the meeting.
saw one of the Editors of the PLAIN
Dealer, of your city, cheek by iowl with
Brown and others, seemingly much inter-
ested, and occasionally applauding the
speakers. l understand that he finally
became converted and made a speech. |
did not hear him, for felt disgusted to
see a man protesting to be Democrat
thus giving aid and comfort to the enc
mics of the Union and of law and order,
and | left. Yours, truly, n