Wabash express. [volume] (Terre-Haute, Vigo Co[unty], Ind.) 1841-186?, 1860-03-28

A DOUGLAS DEMOCRAT EpIroR ANON
THE JOHN BRowNrrEs.-On the lot
inst, 1.-THE evening Of the day tina
Stephens an Hazlett were executed a
Harper's Ferry, a large number 0
their sympathizers met at the Cour
house, in Jefferson, Ashtabula county
Among those present were JohI
Brown, it,, Owen Brown, Barcla,
Coppoc and James Redpath, all o
whom addressed the meeting, expires
sing their deep sympathy with the en-
terprise in which their relatives anC
friends had persisted. In the long re,
port of the affair in the Ashtabuls
Sentinel, we find the following, which
was not put down in the bills, and
which relieved the otherwise somber
aspect Of the occasion. Deacon Gray,
of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, who
had come to report the meeting for his
paper, was loudly called for. He arose
and said:
He could not believe, after the
courtesy he had met in Jefferson, that
this audience called him out for the
purpose of Kissing him down. (Cries
ofno! no. go on, DC they could
see his heart they would know that he
was not SO far in feeling from any of
them, as they might think. He had
nothing TO object to in the remarks of
John Brown, or in the quaint, odd
speech Of Owen; and although he could
not indorse the position Of Mr.. Red
path, he had no quarrel with him.
He would not make speech, but ask
to be left off by telling story. They
might know that there were two Grays
j. w. Gray, of the Plaindealer, and
himself, or Deacon Gray, as people
called HIM. Laughter. He 1.-THE
speaker) was once Deacon of the
Presbyterian Church at Pittsburg-
One day he saw a negro limping along
and white man following with a
drawn revolver in his hand. Now,
said the speaker, mind you, I'm not
talking ofmy theories, but practice
Laughter. This negro was a fu-
gitive. who had once before escaped
into Pennsylvania, but had been fol-
lowed, shot down and taken back
This was the second time he had been
These two men-black and white
were crossing covered bridge, at one |
end of which was the Presbyterian |
Church. As the negro was some
ways ahead, he the speaker manage
ed to push him into the church door,
at which the sexton happened to be
standing. They then locked the door
and ran the negro up the steeple, and
there they looked down upon the slave
holder who was passing about in all
in trying TO find where the
negro had gone to.
Three cheers were given for Gray's
Democratic practice.
This speech was wonderfully we'll
received. The DeacOn's humorous
style of telling the story, and his con-
fession of practical hypocrisy, were
in their way.
John Brown, Jr. rose and asked Mr..
Gray if he would be willing to answer
/ question?
The whole audience became still,
md the Deacon rose with rather un-
,asy and decidedly serious face, and
aid: Certainly"
John Brown, Jr.-"Well, sir. let me
'sk you if you did not feel nearer
Heaven when you were up in that
'teeple with the negro, than while
standing on the Cincinnati platform?
The Deacon dropped as if he had
'een shot through the heart, and the
whole audience rose and cheered. The
lit was so unexpected and complete
hat it was long before quiet was re-
stored. We suspect it will be some
lime before the Deacon hears the last
Il that question. Gin. Gazette.