Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-08
RICHMOND WHIG.
THE HARPER's FERRY INVESTIGATION.


BEFORE HARPERs FERRY COMMITTEE.
DR.. Howe, of Boston, appeared before the Senate
Brown Raid Committee to-day. He declined taking the
oath testify unless he permitted to enter his pro-
against the whole proceedings. BY permission he
made the following protest
The undersigned, having been summoned to appear and
testify before YOUR comm tee and being unable to resist
the power of the Senate obeyE the summons but enters
his protest against the proceedings upon the following
grounds
Flrst-Because the tribunal created is secret aud in
qustorial
Second-Because created for purposes beyond the
legitimate scope of legislative inquiry.
Third-Because il usurps powers nowhere clearly dele
gated by the federal constitution to Congress either
branch thereof
Fourth-Because it is dangerous as precedent and
liable abuse in the opportunity it gives for perversion
of the great power Of the Union to the qualification Of
vndictye party passion in various ways the peril Of
private right aud personal liberty by dragging citizens
from their homes in part OF the country and render
ing man secure in his own house.
Ftth-Because waving all other objections it is
necessary inasmuch az for all the purposes of invesiga
ton testimony by deposition under the Jurisdiction and
within the limits OF the respective States is fully adequate
s G. HOWE
The witness stated that he had known John Brown
during the troubles in Kansas helped raise money and
arms they raised by contributions made from the
aid of inhabitants OF Kansas that he expected Brown
would rcpel armed invasion by armed reSisiance that
Brown had gained his entire confidence; that he a
the troubles had ceased in Kansas, Brown continued
10 devote himself to advance the of practical
anti-shycry that in SjS Forbes wrote TO witness,
claiming money for past services informing him that
Brown had arms &c., belonging to the committee and in
tended hostile demonstration m some slave State, and
that he was Incompetent it, unless the management
of affairs taken from Brown and given him Forbes)
he would expose il; witness had never known Forbes
that Senator Wilson about the time witness,
stating he had been told Brown intended using and
IN ba ntrr
warning witness against Brown and advising that the
be taken from him; that in consequence of such in
formation orders sent 10 Brown TO take the
and property of the committee then stored in Iowa, into
Kansas be used ouy in defence Of the freedom there
Of; witness had means OF knowing whether the arms
were the taken Harper's Ferry, but supposed
they were witness could procure copies Of the record
aud of orders Brown, and would do so; witness
knew nothing OF the convention in Canada was not
pryy the plan of attack on Harpcr's Ferry. There
much other evidence but not involving any leading
Republicans he recognized several papers found in the
carpet bag 20 be in his handwriting but did not know
of any organization or society in and of Browns plans
believed Brown be honest and highly conscientious
man. determined upon practical antisayery, but oppos
ed 10 exciting insrecOn or shedding OF blood, except
i'm seldcfence had given him aid and comfort SUCH
Witness being pressed TO know what he meant by spread
ing ant-savery doctrines for which purpose contrbu
tiOns made, illustrated by comparison with efforts
made spread the Gospel among the heather, &c, &c
JOSHUA r. GIDDINGS BEFORE THE INVESTIGATING COM
MTTEE
Mr. Gddjngs appeared before the Senate Brown Raid
Committee today He treated very politely by the
committee Senator Mason the Chairman, received him
with some coliuess of manner.
Mr.. Gidiiugs testified in substance follows John
Brown had become known to the people OF his town
Ashtabu Jefferson cOuuy-thrOugh the transactions in
kansas and had lectured in several villages in that part
Of the State The people Of Jefferson had become anxious
% aud hear him. aud a of his John Brown Jr.
Il Z. l. ~
fact letter TO him (Giddngs saying that Brown
would be at AndOver at given time, which in the
latter part Of Nav or June last. Mr.. Gddngs then ad
dressed note to him Brown at West Andover, re-
questug him TO call up and him, with the expectation
that he would give lecture Brown came one Saturday
afternoon while number of men of the village, ,Gidiings
amoUg them, engaged in game OF base ball, or
hat aud bali. GilGugs called aside and introduced
To Brown who stated that he came there to make ar
rangcmynts 10 lecture and appeared anxious TO have
.One arrangement as 10 the of cash he
receive. GdJiugs dlsked the idea OF chlferng about
the amount. and told Brown come and svo the lee
ture, and they would see him paid Brown accordingly
came, a Wednesday afternoon, and ecured in the
church in which be tGiddngSl accustomed 10
ship After the lecture Gddngs invited him with other
gentlemen tea and Brown accepted the invitation md
took With him aud remained half threequaT
of hour when his carriage conveyance drove
up TO the door and be LEFT! These we're the only occa-
SiOus which he John Brown. Leither in bis
manner any arrangement, combination preparation
to invade any State uce iusuuectiOn among slaves,
OF rebellion, anything Of the kind. Mr. G.. very
positive and emphatic on this point.
M Mason inquired about letter which John Brown
Jr was said to have written somebody in which he
stated that Gddngs had contributed three dollars and
had formed societies for the raising Of funds.
To this Mr. Gdlings replied that he cold not, Of
course undertake explain any letter that John Brown
1r had written. He could only say that Mr. Brown had
called on him as he (Gjddiugsj about leaving Por-
mge county, TO lecture at the Eclectic Institute in the
town OF Hiram and he told him that he adyerts
ed 70 lecture Rlyenua The following day, and law
yer lived there who had been a Senator in that State
lOho,) a OF reputc by the name OF o. T. Brown
no relation to John Brown-and who was said TO have
been at the head of association TO raise funds for
charitable purposes which he understood distinctly
the aiding OF escaped slaves. He GddRgs) would
call on said o. =. Brown and see il he would give
something from the funds OF that society or association
This Mr. Giddugs said have been the only remark
upon which Brown could have based the ssomen in Lis
letter about associations as connected with him
Mr. Mason inquired what was the subject OF his Gid
dings) lectures.
Mr. Gidtiugs-I lecture upon tie trial Of John Quincy
Adams upon the CHER Law, upon in Congress
siona life and upon the powers and duties Of human
governments.