Year: 1859

L


Such, too. has been the case in Ohio.
There, men charged with no offence
except love of liberty, have been shot
down in open daylight and in one in
stance, the murderer. an officer of She
Federal Government. Is vet unhanged
protected by the act Thus is the soil
of our State fattened with the blood of
innocence. The slave mother there
has been driven to such agony under
this enactment, as to murder her child
with her own hands, rather than see
it enslaved. Indeed, victims have
fallen in Indiana and Illinois by the
hands of murderers professedly under
the sanction of this act.


Our people in Northern Ohio, know
ing that no act by which men are thus
murdered or robbed of their liberty
can be constitutional or valid, have
been excited to higher degree of feel
ing On seeing a man captured and
manacled in their presence and in the
presence of their wives and children,
some noble spirits stood forth, releas-
ed the victim and badc him serve God
and his country. They paralyzed the
arm of despotism, and held the despot
in contempt.


Looking upon the Fugitive Act as
void, but the mandate of despots, the
authorities of the Counties in which
the capture was made, indicted and ar
rested the slave catchers, including the
Deputy Marshall, and would have sent
them to the penitentiary, had not the
officers of the Federal Government
discharged the rescuers who had been
indicted in the Federal Court. 1t is
wrong to say there is not high state
of feeling among the people of that re-
gion. | hesitate not to say that our
people regard it duty and virtue to
resist despotism at all times when it
can be safely done. They honor those
who stand in the front ranks of resist
ance to despotic power. They are
placed in the same roll of honor with
Sydney, Hampden and other patriots.
They execrate the coward who, know
ing his rights, dare not maintain them,
but submits to usurped power.


| now come to more painful part
of my subject. These outrages culmi
mated in the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise and efforts to establish
Slavery in Kansas There, armed
ruflians from Missouri, organized as
military band. invaded the Territory,
drove the electors from the polls, pre-
tended to elect officers of their own
character, usurped the government,
passed acts which they called lars, and
these acts of Missouri ruffians were
upheld and enforced by military pow
er of our nation. ordered there by the
President. There Brown and his aso-
ciates were trained to scenes of blood,
by the efforts of the Executive to sus-
tain Slavery. They taught them all
the strategy and military skill which
they ever obtained. There they sought
his life. engaged him in mortal combat,
slew his son in most barbarous man
ner, set price upon his head, rendered
him an outlaw.


The result will be read in the history
of this insurrection. Brown followed
the law of mind He participated in
the general feeling to which have al
luded, but his whole soul was set on
fire by the murders and despotism in
Kansas. He was driven to despera
ton, and in that desperation he struck
blow that has thrilled the nation
1t were impossible to separate the
murders in Kansas from the insurrec-
tfon at Harper's Ferry.


In Kansas more men from my own
State were murdered under Executive
sanction than fell in Virginia by the
hands of Brown and his associates,
but they formed but small portion of
the victims who fell in the civil war
waged by invaders from Missouri and
carried forward by the President.


These scenes have called up deep
feelings on the part of our people. 1t
were wrong to disguise these facts
Investigation has shown them that all
these outrages are perpetrated by an
unmitigated despotism which they alb
hor. Discussion has elected truth,
they have carefully examined the char
ter of their rights and are determined
to maintain them. An "irrepressible
conflict has arisen" it is upon us. and
he does injustice to himself and his
country that fears to look it in the face.
/ notice that some of our papers ap-
pear anxious to make political capital,
others appear timid and fearful. l
would say to such men, speak not at
all on this occasion. 1t is one that
rises above the thoughts of demagouges
or the comprehension of minds that
move in the circle of mere political
strategy.


Now as to Brown. entertain the
opinion that his own account of his
objects and designs are correct pre-
sunte he has told the truth, when say
ing that his sole object in going to
Virginia was to free tie slapes. On
that point, suppose. no one will
doubt. He declares he had no inten-
ton of shedding blood. lie only did
that when compelled to do it. | there
fore say. that in regard to his design
for freedom to the slave, he agrees per-
} fectly with nine-tenths of the people
Of our Free States, with nine-tenths OF
; our ministers, who every Sabbath put
up petitions to the Most High for the
relief of the oppressed. l don't think
he has at any time come up TO my own
: views. do not intend saying what
those views now are. | am told il
would not answer for me TO tell them