Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-11

peared before the Barpers Ferry Investigating
Committee on the 3rd inst. Mr., Giddiugs stated
his wish to be examined without delay, and the
Committee politely consented. After answer
Ing interrogations as to bis residence, aud the
time he had served in Congress, he stated bis
presumption that a note submitted TO him, was
written at the time indicated by lhe date. Its
object was to answer q lettsr from John Brown,
intimating that he would be 10 Andover, aud
could lecture in Jefferson, where MIR. Giddings
lived. John Brown came there accordingly on
Saturday afternoon, while gentlemen Of the vii
lage we're playing ball. IIe Mr.. Giddiugs, was
called aside and introduced to Brown, and con-
suited as to the arrangements for lecture next
day. He was not engaged more than three min
utes on this subject, being indisposed TO any
conference concerning the dollars and cents,
but told Brown to come aud lecture Brown
did so the following afternoon. After the lee
ture Mr. Gddngs appealed to the audience, re-
citing the prosecutions TO which Brown had
been subjected in Kansas, the murder Of his son,
and the fact that he then was an object of sym
pathy, having no regular business on which to
rely for support. A satisfactory sum was con.
trbutsd. Brown accepted an invitation to tea,
and remained three-quarters of an hour after
ward. These were the only occasions when Mr.,
Giddings had seen him. Brown, in his lecture
spoke Of the duty of Christians to aid the slave
in regaininS the natural rights which God gave
him, and Of doing unto the slave as we would
have him do unto us. From the fact that
Brown had carried slaves from Missouri into
Canada, and his arguments in favor Of uid to
slaves to gain their liberty, aud that he had no
established residence or business, Mr.. Giddings
concluded Brown would aid slaves to escape,
if opportunities offered. He had no other
authority for this impression than the reasons
given and that was only generally entertained.
Mr. Mason stated that John Brown had said
in letter that Mr. Gi6diDgs would endeavor to
form societies 10 raise funds and asked an ex-
planation
MIR. Giddings answered that he was unable
to say what Brown thought. That John Brown,
jr, called at bis house one morning and said his
father was in want of money. He was just
starting to deliver lecture in Portage Coun-
ty and the following day had agreed to be in
Raveuua, where one, o. p. Brown, who had
been Senator aud was man of influence, liv-
ed ! that he understood society existed there
for charitable purposes, such as assisting lugi.
tive slaves to escape; that in this hurry Mr..
Giddings stated this TACT to j. Brown, Jr a said
he would ask o. P. Brown to assist his father
That owing to indiaposiIion, be returned home
without going to Ravenna to fulfill his promise
Mr. Mason desired to know if Mr.. Giddngs's
lectures had not direct reference to the insti-
tuition of Slavery.
Mr. Giddings replied they all referred to the
fundamental principles Of human governments,
10 the imprescriptible right of man 10 the ma
tural law or will Of the Creator, as defined by
publiciSts and philosophers in Christendom for
the last two centuries. Those teachings assert
the rights of every human soul to enjoy life,
liberty, and happiness.
Mr.. Mason inquired If this teaching OF the
Fl CHER Law was regarded superior to human
laws and the Constitution.
Mr. Giddings answered, by the improper use
Of terms we often confound our own IDEAS
He understood the term law TO apply only to
such euactmeuts as accord with Divine will ;
that writers say no enactment invading the nat
ural law is of any moral validity whatever; that
any enactment which seeks to take from an in
Bocent human being life or liberty, imposes no
obligation on such a victim and coniers no
authority upon those who would deprive him of
either that it is not only the right of all men
to treat such enactment as void, but it is the
duty Of every man TO hold it up to detestation; (;
that our Constitution recognizes these doctrines,
declaring that no person shall be deprived of
life liberty or property, except by due process
Of law, that is, by indictment and conviction be-
fore Court of competent jurisdiction. and a
jury Of his peers. Snch enactments possess no
elements of law, but are gross usurpations-are
criminal 10 themselves aud render those who
enact, who sustain and who execute them, ac-
cessory to the crimes committed under them.
Mr.. Davis inquired if these doctrines applied
to lunatics aud insane persons.
Mr.. Giddings said, certainly they are, by
society, secured from committing wrongs upon
themselves secured in their lives, aud in all
liberty which they can enjoy in safety to them
selves and Others.
Mr.. Davis asked If minors have this right.
Mr.. Giddings answered-Certainly they are
under the protection of parental affection until
sufficiently developed TO judge for themselves.
DR.. Howe stated tha the knew nothing of John
Browns affair 10 Virginia DIR. Howe declined
TO take the oath TO testify unless he was per-
mitted to enter his protest against the whole
proceedings. The committee granted this con.
cession.
DIR. Howe then stated that be had known
John Brown during the Kansas troubles md
had sent him money aud arms; that Brown had
gained his entire confidence as a man Of tried
honesty and courage that after the troubles
had ceased in Kansas, when Forbes and Senator
Wilson wrote him that Brown intended to use
the Kansas arms for unlawful purposes orders
were sent to Brown TO take the arms and pro-
DeTty of the anoas A IA Nonnn,;ftoa fbon ato.