Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-05-30
Fer the Gazette

NR. THoNsoN:-I perceive that Rev. W.
G. Brewnlow, of Tennessee, is being iUnized
to a considerable extent in the North. Does
his course deserve our unqualified appro baton?
present the closing portion of his letter of
May Sd, 1852:
Finally, said I, if had been authorized
some three or five years ago, by competent
authority, to arrest some two or three hundred
of your most wicked Northern Abolition agi-
tators, and an equal number of our God-forsa-
ken, and hell-deserving Southern Dsunionists.
and had hung them, upon a common gallows,
buried them in q common ditch, in the District
of Columbia, embaming their bodies with
Ginseng weeds aud dog -fennel, there would
have been hone of these troubles to-day upon
the couutryl
These, Mr.. Editor, were the sentiments
avowed, and this was my language, in the ut
terance of which l represented the Union SEN
timent of the South. Certainly represented
opinions long held by me, and which will go
with me to my grave, as well-digested article
Of political faith. Let those captious and fas-
tidious persons who strive to find fault with
me make the most of them, but save me FROM
such SANDER and Interpretations as this will
SuDJGSL LIZ TO- ali very lEuiHs &c.
W. G. BROWNLOW.
CRosswIcKs, n. J., May 3, '62."
Had this power of which he speeks been
conferred upon him the number of victims from
Ohio that would have fallen by his hand must
always remain a matter of conjecture: but that
Ohio's first victim would have been the Hon J.
R. Gddings, shall not entertain doubt. I
know of no other against whom the South
has exhibited such vindiclive and continued
hostility. know of none for whose head lar
ger rewards have been offered.
As Mr.. Brownlow tells us he represents the
Union sentiment of the South" it becomes
an interesting enquiry whether it is on account
Of Mr.. Gddings' sentiments, or his acts, that
he is regarded as worthy of death. Az regards
his sentiments he may speak for himself. In
his speech on the Presidents message. in the
House of Representatives, December 9Th, 1850
he says:
For the hundredth time repeat, that
! Congress. nor the Federal Government, have
any more power to interfere with the slavery
| of the Southern States than they have with
the serfdom Of Russia. The slave States hold
their peculiar institution" as independently
! of this government, as Russia holds her serls.
| Again, sir, this government possesses no more
right to involve the people of the North in the
support of southern slavery, than it has to in
volye US in the support Of Russian serldom."
As this doctrine of non-intervention has
been the lavorite theory of southern politicians
his offence can hardly have been the utterance
of such sentiments as these; and it would, per-
| haps, be difficult to find an instance where his
| acts have been at variance with these senti-
ments. When Virginia vented market tor
her slaves, aud her prominent citizens claimed
that with the acquisition of Texas their value
would be increased so per cent, it was easy to
foot up the amount (S6OO,00OO0O) that the
South would realize on 1900 millions of that
kind of property. As Mr.. Giddings considered
slavery q State institution, he decluimcd, both
in and out Of Congress, against the incousis-
| tency and injustice of subjecting the people Of
the free states TO the burdens and the disgrace
of opening up slave markets by bloody and
expensive wars.
When vessels, carrying black victims from
! Virginia 10 more Southern States, have been
driven by stress Of weather into British ports,
where the traders had no more right to control
the blacks than they to control the traders,
and the latter apply to Congress for compen
sation or redress. he tells them that the people
orthe Free States wish to be free from the sin
fsavery, and they must not come TO Congress
to ask money for its support. Thus firm as a
rock, and as consistent as truth, he fought,
inch by inch, this constantly recurring demand
on the treasury of the nation for the benefit Of
slavery. Notwithstanding his vigilance, the
national treasury has been depleted TO the
amount of tcns, yea hundreds Of millions The
extent OF his offending has been that he would
not stand by in silence and see it donc or, in
their phrascology, he would keep agitating rlc
slavery question. 2.