Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-02-04
JOHN BROWNS REPLY.
DORSET, Ashtabnla Co. o. }
January 25th, 1860.

January 25tb, 1860.
NJ. Johnson, ESQ, U. s. Marshal,
SIR Il have received your favor Of the oath
inst, informing me that you had left at my house
summons from the Select Committee of the
Q. S. Senate, commanding me to appear before
that committee on the 30th inst.
After full and careful consideration of the
reasons which you offer why should obey that
summons, have for two reasons resolved moi
to do so. The first is, that in going to, and re-
turning from, Washington, 1 must of necessity
pass within the jurisdition of either Maryland
or Virginia. The latter State has especially
exhibited of late such remarkable facility OF
perpetrating the grossest injustice under the
forms of law, that no sane man would, in the
circumstances iu which am placed, trust her
for a moment. Even if that State could not
crush me by judicial process, the widest en-
thusiast would not dream her power would be
thrown between me and the violence of her
mobs.
The protection under the law of Congress to
which Senator Mason refers, you will see if bis
language is correctly reported, applies only to
"a person who has been examined as a Witness
but supposing otherwise, what regard has the
NulIifying State Of Virginia for a law of Con-
gress which would interpose between a victim
and the malice of her shareholders 2 have
experienced too much of slaveholding perfdy
to rely on the faith of State whose honor and
magnnnimity are represented by the Author of
he Fugitire Slare Bill and whose chief reve-
nue. is derived from the sales Of her Oicn sons
and daughters
The second reason why refuse to appear
before 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 in
vestigation, l should obligate myself to make
known that which would impicate others, which
as the Lord AUeth, l triH not do You say that
by giving my testimony 1 can exempt myself
from further trouble. 10 answer, would say
that cannot purchase immunity from further
prosecution by an act of reGchury To that
system Of piracy which reduces TO chattels eve
ry sixth man, woman and child of our land,
owe no obligations. 1t "has 20 rights which
am bound to respect !" but to the noble men
aud women, who, in the same spirit which
prompted effort in behalf Of Greece, Italy and
Hungary, labored by word and deed to aid
"Native American" s"--desceadants of the first
families Of Virgini" TO throw off their yoke
to them owe unswerving fidelity Some Of
them reside in slave States and my testimony
would place their lives in jeopardy. On their
account, if for no other, refuse to appear ard
answer, and shall patiently wait for the nfliction
Of "tbe pains and penalties in such cases made
End provided"
And now to save unnecessary delay 10 pour
ing out upon me the "ViaIs" of pro-savery
wrath" 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 per.
Sonal safety. Possibly, at some time, may
"leaVe my country for my country's good" but
Hevsr for the good Of the slave power
With due respect JonS BRowN. Jr
D6r Several of the low theatros 4; a.