Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1898-03-21
Pres, HaW|ey Writes'
Explains His Point of View
of Old John Brown,
Controversy Somewhat Involved the Lee
turer-"Sense versus Sentiment"
SALEM. Or. March I6. 1898.

SALEM, Or, March I6, 1898.
EDITOR REGISTER. DEAR SIR-ln my
lecture in Eugene recently the plan
vas to outline and discuss the i'm.
| pOrtant movements by which the
slave power arose and grew into con
trolling party of our national AFFAIRS
TO point out its economic and social
evils aud its corrupting influences or
politicts; to indicate its method of
growth by acquisition of territory and
by legislation 10 its favor; and to ex.
plain the constitutional and lawful
means by which it could be restricted,
robbed of its vitality, and finally ex-
tirpated. The plan Included also
some extended inquiry into the Dred
Scott decision. For four years have
been systematically studying the rise
and fall of the slave power in Amer
lea as told by northern and anti. slav-
cry men, and in Salem and elsewhere
have delivered series of lectures from
a standpoint hostile to that institu-
tion. The Kansas-NebrasKa act re-
pealing the Missouri Compromise was
most momentous legislative act and
the Dred Scott dictim mot a decision
as lawyers say acting with it, made
slavery national and freedom sec
tional. The great problem was to de-
feat both of these in constitu-
tional and lawful way.
am ap Anglo-Savon and a lover of
constitutional liberty. In defense Of
it one lineal ancestor died with War
ren on Bunker Hill and 'another aided
in rescuing Warren's body from the
Rritish. 1 was reared in neighbor-
hood where Lincoln was revered and
his teachings of the constitutional
and the union implicitly believed.
This explanation (pardonable, L hope
will explain any envisagement OF the
situation in 1854-1S60, as resistance to
the extension and existence OF slavery
by all constitutional and lawful
means. The reference to John Brown
was incidental and arose in connec-
tion with the operation of the free
state party in Kansas who were try
ing to secure their success by not un
lawful methods and means, while
those of Brown according TO the his
tories (which l submit below were
different. 1t was without personal
feeling or malice for being born about
the close of the rebellion, haYe lived
in cooler times. 1t was without in
tent to injure the feelings of others
l.
feelings although having enjoyed the
friendship of many loyal men who
brayed the dangers of war in defense
of the constitution and the union. l
treated the question on the same
basis that l would discuss the private
life of Queen Elizabeth or the admin
istrations of Columbus In general
discussion, as some facts not gen.
orally known, but which ought to be
known, II history is not to be 'fable
agreed upon" Must it be regarded as
wrong if one speaks what is found in
history, following the great Lincoln.
John Browns career has three phases
- his quiet and commendable life
previous to the Kansas events; his
work in Kansas and at Harper's
Ferry; his trial during which his
puritanical spirit famed up in great
brightness. If laying aside any in
quiry into his methods and means
the question had risen on wnat he
hoped to accomplish the restriction
and extirpation of slavery, being the
same that aroused that greater,
mightier and nobler man Lincoln tC
accomplish in constitutional and
lawful way, an Grafton could be pro
nounced that would make the dead