Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1863-03-04
The John Brown Raid "A Rich Dis
closure


Mr. Sumner was re,eected 20 the Uni,
tea States Senate the other day blythe Leg
is.ature Of Massachusetts, Mr., SWAN, a
member Of the Senate ofthat State, alr
though n Republican, would not, it seems,
vote for Mr., Sumner, and gave the follows
ing reasons for so refusing
81 come now, Mr.. President 10 what is
known in history MS the John Brown raid
This expedition was planned and fitted
out in Boston. and its expenses betrayed
4 by subscription. The day he started fNi
llarpers Ferry on his deed of murder he
dined in room No. 1, Parker House, in
company with some of the most ardent
and jealous supporters ofMr Sumner,a
for this reason allude to it, John Brown
was brave man he had the courage 10
attempt 10 execute what the cowardly &c.
cessories to the murder dared not to at
| tempt to do. He knew the peni lty if he
| failed in his enterprise. He carried his
! life in his hanu forfeited, and he paid the
penalty manfully. The Repu bIican party
now dlsown the act they call him a mo-
nomanlac, nm insane man . but when the
telecraphic wires, with lightning speed
! brought the news of his death TO New
| England, so depraved at that time was the
public sentiment here, that the village
church bells tolled out his funeral knelI
and the ministers of God, with a Few hon,
orable exceptions, prayed in their pulpits
that the departed spirit Of the patriot
SAINT might rest in peace. This act, Mr
| President was the death-blow TO the peace
Of the Union. Without it, Virgins
would not have seceded-and God grant
| that we may yet recover from il. know
the names OF the persons who were en-.
gagged in this transaction, and shall leave
record of them for history. perhaps il
may not be improper, however, for me to
state in this connection, that Mr.. Frank
W. Bird diG not write this portion of my
speech, but | confess that he furnished
ne with the facts.
Another deed OF murder Mr.. President
and will rot deta'n you longer. When
Anthory Burns, the fugitive slave. was
confined in the Court House in this CITY &
meeting was held at Fsneuil Hall to con.
slider the subject. Theodore Parker, tho
man who presented the gun, which was SC
| ltfectionately received by his excellency
and the Reverend Thomas W. Higgins u
we're there. Mr.. Parker. in concluding an
eloquent speech alluded to the fact thai
| 4 slave as confined iu-the Court Housc
| md exclaimed in substance, "Why stand
! we here idle? To the rescue :" A rush
was Immediately made for the Courthouse
and at the door stood poor laboring man
4 Mr.. Batchelder night watch. His
wife and two children were probably sleep,
ing at home, possibly dreaming OF him as
he was loiling for their daily bread. The
crowd demanded admittance, he refused,
md was Immediately assasSnated upon
he spot. Who killed him the world
never knew. These men, Ne. President,
were The confidential friends aud support
ers Of Mr.. Sumner, and for this reason |
have alluded to the subject"
The Reverend rhos W. Higgiusou"
re erred to above as the right hand sup
porter o: Theodore Parker in this act Of
treason and rebellion to the United States,
bears the same name, and We bel eve is
the same individual, who raised and now
commands the First Regiment of South
Carolina Black Volunteers" and the re
port of whose expedition up the St. Mary's
river into Georgia and Florida occupied
nearly two columns Of the daily papers,
recounting the successful capture Of "siyIt
sticks Of pine timber, " forty pieces of old
IRON" b" and several negroes. Is it strange
that such man should pronounce zone
regiment of black worth two regiments
ofwhite soldiers" And is 1t any wonder
that white soldiers refuse to serve with
such fanatics aad traitors to the Constitu>
ton and laws of their country