Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-02-07

Messrs Giddings, Plumb, and DR.. Howe, ap-
peared before the Hsrper's Ferry Investigating
Committee on the Sd inst Mr.. Giddngs stated
his wish to be examined without delay, and
the Committee consented. The Tribune well
says that Mr.. G. "made his mark then, as he
is apt to do in his public utterunces. He gave
to his questioners an indigestible dose Of solid
matter. They will be long in mastcating it,
and longer still in gettingit down MIR. Giddings
explained somo problems in regard to human
rights to which Mr.. Mason and his confederates
on the Committee have not paid that attention,
We fear, which their importance demands
They should be grateful for little practical in
struction from the old Free-Soil war-hOrse; but
whether they were or not we are unable to say.
The thing would have been complete if Mr.. Gid:
dings had taken with him before the Committee
copy of EIliotts Debates, and read from
George Mason's Abolition speeches therein, to
fOrtify his own positions, and to aid in the en-
lightenment of the mind of the Senatorial des-
cendant Of that distinguished patriot of the Rev
Olution. Not that Mr.. Gidding's compact state
ments needed either calculation or Endorsement
to sustain them; but possibly, the Senator might
have received instruction from ancestral sources
which he would repudate whom coming from
so very black a Republican as Mr.. Giddings"
The special despatch to the Tribune gives the
following report of the examination of Mr.. Gid
dings:
After answering interrogations as TO his resi-
dence, and the time he had served in Congress,
he stated his presumption that a note submitted
to him, was written at the time indicated by
the date. Its object was to answer a letter
from John Brown, intimating that he would be
Andover, and could lecture in Jefferson, where
Mir. Giddings lived. John Brown came there
accordingly on Saturday afternoon, while gem
tleman of the village were playing ball. He,
Mr. Giddings, was called aside from the play,
introduced to Brown, and consulted as to the
arrangements for lecture next day He was
not engaged more than three minutes on this
subject being indisposed to any conference con-
cerning the dollars and cents, but told Brown,
to come and lecture. Brown did so the follow
ing afternoon, ina church where Mr. Giddings
wOrships. After the lecture Mr.. Giddings ap
pealed to the audience, reeiting 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 sympathy, having no regular
business on which to rely for support A sat
isfactory sum was contributed. Brown accepted
an invitation to tea, and remained three-quar-
ters Of an hour afterward. 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 regaining the
natural rights which God gave him, and Of doing
unto the slave as we would have him do unto
fus From the fact that Brown had carried
slaves from Missouri into Canada, and his argu.
ments in favor Of aid to slaves to gain their lib
erty, and that he had no established residence
or business, Mr., Giddings concluded Brown
would aid slaves to escape, if opportunities Of
fered. He had no other authority for this ims
lpression than the reasons given, and that was
only generally entertained.
Mr.. Mason stated that John Brown had said
in letter that Mr.. Giddings would endeavor to
form societies to raise funds, and asked an ex-
PLANTATION!
MIR. Giddings answered that he was unable
to say what Brown thought That John Brown,
Ijr., called at Lis house one morning and said his
father was in want of money. He was just
starting to deliver lecture in Portage County,
and the following day had agreed to be in Ra-
VIENNA, where one o. P. Brown, who had been
Senator, and was man of influence, lived;
that he understood society existed there for
charitable purposes, such as assisting fugitive
slaves to escape; that in his hurry Mr.. Gid.
dings mentioned this fact to John Brown, jr.,
and said he would ask o. P Brown to assist
his father. That owing to indisposition, he
returned home, without going to RsVenna, and
was, therefore, unable to fulfill his promise.
Mr.. Mason desired to know if Mr.. Giddings
lectures had not direct refeZence to the insti>
tuition of Slavery,
Mr.. Giddings replied they all referred to the
fundamental principles of human governments,
to the imprescnptibIe right of man to the natural
law OF will of the Creator, as defined by pub~
lieists 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
Higher Law was regarded superior to human
laws and the Constitution!
Mr.. Gddings answered, by the improper use
of terms, we often confound our own ideas
He understood the term law to apply only to
such enactments as accord with Divine will; that
writers say no enactment invading the natural
law is of any moral validity whatever; that any
enactment which seeks to take from an innoS
CSnt uuLndu DtlAB llAb VI uoeItyB lulpVseo no
obligation on such victim and confers no
authority upon those who would deprive him
of either; that it is not only the right of all men
to treat sCch enactment as void, but it is the
duty Of every man to hold it up to detestation;
that the Constitution recognizes these doc
triues, declaring that no person shall be depriv-
ed of life, liberty or property, except by due
process oflaW, that is, by Indictment and con-
Viction before Court of competent jurisdic-
ton, and jury Ofhis peers. Such enaetments
possess no elements of law, but are gross usur-
pations of despotic powers, not delegated to
man-are criminal in themselves, and render
those who enact, who sustain, and who execute
them, accessory to the crimes committed under
them.
Mr.. Davis inquired if these doctrines applied
TO lunatics and insane persons.
Mr.. Giddings said, certainly; they are, by
society, secured from committing wrongs upon
themselves; secured IN their lives, and in all
Liberty which they can enjoy in safety to them
selves and others.
Mr.. Davis asked if minors have this right.
Mr.. GiddingS answersd--Certainly; they are
under the protection of parental affection until
sufficiently. developed to judge for themselves.
Mr.. Giddings expects to be discharged by the
Committee Tomorrow.