Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-04-19
Parson BrownrOw. speech at Cincinnati.

by COmmlttee OF tue OnamOef OF COm-
meree. We copy bis address from the
Gazette
/ am sorry, gentlemen, and Ceow-cti
zens, that / am not in condition to make
you even q short speech. have been &C.
customed for thirty-fve years to making
speeches, aud have only failed in the art
during the past three years, while suffering
from bronchial affection of the throat. /
am getting better, however, aud although
for two years past / could hardly speak
above q whisper, can now make myself
heard at the distance of few feet, partic-
ularly when talk about Disunion-tor |
never get on that subject that God, in bis
Providence, does not increase the volume
Of my voice.
In addition to my other suiferings, | have
been ncarcerated in damp, gloomy Jail,
shut out from the fresh air and free exercise
for three months This has been hard on
me, who was always accustomed TO jump
higher, fall aatter, aud squall louder han
any other man in Tennessee, cheers al
ways saying what pleased gong whore l
pleased and coming when l pleased For
three months l have been KEEP ia close con,
finement, and the only favor allowed me
was that my little son should bring me my
meals three times day. The food that
was given my fellow prisoners by the Off
GERS 10 charge of the jail, was the ioulest
offal from the hotel No true Nirgiuian
would give such food to his dog. My food
was prepared 10y my wife, aud was brought
tome by my little son in baEkct.
The officers in charge used to take tbs
basket, lift of the napkin, examine between
the plates and watch all my movements to
see that some little bit Of paper containing
information from my frieujS was not con
cealed in the basket, and when | had tniSh-
ed my meal the same examination was made
TO see that | did not communicate with
them. The only information ] obtained
was from my little son, who would whisper
10 me that q fight had occurred here, or an
engagement there, but no details were given
me. for they charged that in the absence Of
Governor johnson aud Horace Maynard,
that was at the bottom of The conspiracy
and the leading spirit in lhe opposition to
the Southern CVn'ederacy.
/, however, entered iuto a learned diplo.
matte correspondence with little ni, era
ble Jew, named Judah p Benz min, the so
called Secretary Of War Of the bogus Con
federacy. In that correspondence have
the vanity to believe that got the better
of him. This correspondence has never been
printed, although now that l am at the
North, shall take the opportunity 10 lay
it before the public.
In that correspondence he stipulated 10
let me out. lie said | was bad man,
and dangerous man TO the Southern Con
iederacy; and said be, Il have directed
Maior-General George b. Crittenden, to
send you through the lines to the people
You serve" Agreed" said "hg Out
your escort, and | will accompany it. |
propose 10 do for the Southern COntederacy
what the Devil never did-quit the count
ry." TCheers. About the time was
ready TO start, sn inferior-oflicer came with
a warrant for my arrest. HoldiCg in my
pocket the passport Of the Secretary Of War
OF the bogus Government OF the Southern
Confederacy aud the order for my removal
signed by Crittenden declined TO notice
the warrant. This officer, little upstarl
named james c. Ramsey, seized upou me,
aud swearing TO his own warran', the per
iured villain, that bad committed treason
against the State of Tennessee in writing {
certain editorial which was published ii
the Knoxville Wing, and which, mark you
was printed May, "a one month before lh,
ordinance of secession had passed, aud Telr
nessee had passed iuto the Southern Con
federaey, and yet this was treason to Tia
State. / was taken out of the hands c
the military authorities, dcuied II trial an
thrust into jail on the affi lavit of this mi
erable, debauched little puke.
Alter being in jail three weeks, ws
attacked with the typhoid fever, and f
twelve weeks was very low. | was remove
TO another room, and becoming worse lh
called in an additional physician. !
though | was so low that had 10 be turn
over in my bed, aud could not move of {
own viii, the guards were doubled a
extra precautions were taken TO preyC
my escape. The excuse they gave for
this was that l was Only pretending to
sick. 10 this they showed their guor
of the Union men OfTennessee. / inteuC
to see them out il all were trumps, {
never to run from them. Intended caI
Ing out the arrangements made With Bel
min.
The Bragadier General commanding
Knoxville came in to see me one day.
prisoners all rallied around to hear W
was said. He said "BroNnlow
,nght not 10 be here" II thihkso TOO, s
i. Now, says be, come along With me I
we will maAe it all right, We will go uE
Jedge Humphrey, at The Court House,
you can take the oath Of allegiance TO
Southern Coufederaey turned ronnd
him at this insulting proposition Sir, S
/, before will take the oath of allegia
10 the Southern COnfederacy 10 Obt
my feedom, L viii rot in Jail with disc
or die with old age Nay, more--I d.
that you have government deny Il
you are authorized TO administer the o,
Of allegiance 20 your roEtea mob Cove
ment, which no power on earth will e
recognize. Before will do SO, will
The entire Southern eonfederacyi in he'll
Yoa and on top ofit Greal cheerir
Sir said he, that is id plain talk.
stree, replied l. He tipped bis hat, mae
bow, which returned, and We parted
hone TO meet him again, and that viii