Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1860 — THE BROWN COMMITTEE. [ARTICLE]

THE BROWN COMMITTEE.

[From tiie Cincinnati Gazette.

Dr. Hove Before the Harpers Ferry Committee — His Protest Against that Tribunal — His Testimony—No one Implicated — llon. J. R. Giddings Called to the Stand — Air. Ala2 1 son Tries to put on Airs — Air. Giddings' Testimony—His Views of the Higher Low — He is Cross- Questioned by Senators Alason and Davis—Proposes to get his Lecture Printed and Send Davis a Copy—No Damaging Revelations Alade—Dubious Stale of European Affairs. Washington, Feb. 4. Dr. Howe has been before the Harper’s Ferry Committee. He declined taking an oath to testily, unless he was permitted to enter his protest against the whole proceedings. By permission, he made the following protest: The undersigned, having been summoned jto appear and give testimony before | your Committee, ansi being unable to resist ■ the power of the Senate, obeys the sum- ' mens, but enters his protest against the proceedings upon the following grounds: First, because the tribunal created is secret. and inquisitorial. Second, because it. is created for purposes beyond the legitimate scope of legislative inquiry. Third, because it usurps power nowhere | clearly delegated by the Federal Constitu- • tion to Congress, or ‘other branch thereof. Fourth,, because it is e . ogtyous a. u nrej cedent, and liable to.-ilm-e in the o-.v.-r'e. j nity it, gb.-us for the perversion of tiie great power of the Ui.un to the gratification of j vindictive -party passion, in veluis o- .ys, t j the peril of private togii: a; d person-. 1 : c rty, as by dragging ciliz ns. irom tm in no in any part c>: tint count-,, :«u<: rende; ;ug n titan secure in !ns own home.

Fifth, eecati-'. , >, avii-g all other r.hjet thus, it. is uuneeCi-snry, inasmuch ns tor ai; purposes f investigation, teu turn<.’•}’ by a deposition under the jurisdiction and' within the innits of tiie respective States is full} adequate. (Signed.) S. G. Howe. The witness stated that he had known John Brown during the troubles in Kansas, ttnd helped him to raise money anil arms. They were raised by contributions made for the aid o! the inhab tarns of Kansas He stated that he thought Brown would repel armed invasion' and armed resistance, and that Brown had gained his entire confidence; that he was a man of tried honesty as well as courage; that alter ihe troubles had ceased in Kansas, Brown continued to devote himthe advance of the cause of practical Anti-Slavery; that in 1838, Forbes wrote to witnesses, claiming money for past services, informing him that Brown had arms, etc., belonging to the committee, and intended a hosiie demonstration in some Slave State, and that he was iucoiiipetetnt to it; that unless the management of affairs was taken Irom Brown and given to him, (Forbes) lie would expose it. Witness had never known 1 orbes. Senator Wilson about tiie same time wrote to witnesses stating that he had been told, Brown intended using the arms and means belonging to the Committee for unlaw fu I purposes, and warn ing w it ness ng;t inst Brown, ami advising that tiie arms he taken from h’tn. Inconsequence of such information, orders were sent to Brown to take the arms and property of the Committee, then stored in lowa, into Kansas, to be used only in defense of the freedom thereof. W itriess had no means of knowing whether the arms were the slime as those taken at Harper's Ferry, but supposed they were. He could procure copies of the record nnd of the orders sent to Brown, and would do so. j j knew nothing of the Convention irt Canada, and was H”t privy to the plan of an attack on Harper’s Ifurry. There « as much other evidence, but none involving any leading Republicans. He recognized several papers found in Brown’s carpet bag to be in bis band writing am! stated that be did not know of any organization or society in aid in Brown’s plans. He had believed Brown to be an honest and highly conscientious man, determined upon practi cal anti-Slavery, but opposed to exciting insurrection or shedding blood except in seif defense. He hud given him aid and comfort as such. Being pressed to explain what he meant by spreading Anti Slavery doctrines for which purpose the contributions were made, Dr, Howe illustrated bis meaning by a comparison with the efforts made to spread the Gospel among the heathens, etc. , Mr. Giddings appeared before the Senate Brown Raid Committee. He was treated very politely by the Commit tee, though Senator Mason, the Chairmtui, received him with some coldness oi manner. Mr. Giddings testified in substance as '.'.allows: J“hn Brown had bee,.-in -.known to people of his town. Ashtabula, Jefferson County, 1 transactions in K ins,is, and had lectured in ! several villages.in that par’ of the State. | The people of J offer.-, oi, had be.-oru o xc- -s jto see and hear him, and a son ot his, J.-im j Brown, jr., being about Is'teen at s from 1 Jefferson, bearing of this fact, wrote a !,>:<• • j air. <J . say n'g that Brow n would bo at A.. j e.vvor at ag • n time, which was in the lui-

ter. p..rt o. May or June last. Mr. Ch: lings then addressed a note to firov’. r, at West Andover, requesting him to cad up and see him, with the e: pectation that he w uhl give a lecture. Brown came on Saturday afternoon, while a number of the tneu ot the village, Mr. Giddings among them, were engaged in a game of base bafl or but and ball. Mr. Giddings was called aside and introduced to Brown, who stated that he hud come there to make arrangements to lecture, and appeared anxious°to have some arrangement as to the amount of cash I e was to ri ceive. Mr. Giddings disliked the idea of chaffering about the amount, and told Brown to come and give the lecture, and they would see him paid. Brown accordingly came on a Wednesday afternoon, and lectured in the Church i i which Mr. Giddings was accustomed to worship. Alter the lecture, Mr. Giddings invited him, with other gentlemen to tea, and Brown accepted the invitation, and took tea with him, and remained in conversation some half or three-quart rsj>f an hour, when his carriage or conveyance drove up to tho door and he left. L hese were the only occasions on which he ever saw John Brown—neither in his lecture nor in his conversation did Brown allude in any manner to any arrangement.

combination or preparation to invade any State, to incite insurrection among slaves or rebellion, or anything ol the kind. Mr.G. was very poaiiive and emphatic on this point. Mr. Mason inquired about a letter which John Brown, jr., was said to have written to somebody, in which he stated that Mr. Giddings had contributed three dollars, and had formed societies for the raising of funds. To this Mr. Giddings replied, that he could not oi course undertake to explain any lett r that John Brown jr., had written. He could only say that Mr. Brown had called on him, as he (Giddings) wag about leaving Portage county to lecture at the Electric I n “ stit' te, in the town ot Hiram, and he toldj him that as he was advertised to lecture nt Ravenna the following day. and n lawyer lived there who had been a Senator in Ohio, a manof repute, by the name of O. P. Brown’ no relation to J. Brown, and who was said to have been at the head of an association for raising funds fm chatitabie purposes, which he understood distinctly to mean tlm aiding of escaped slaves, lie (Giddings) would cull on the said O. P. Brown, and see if he would not give something from the funds of [that society or.association, i Mr Giddings said, must have been die only remark upon which Brown could have bused the statement in his letter about association, as connected with him. Mr. Mason inquired what was the subject of his (Gidding’s) lectures. Mr. Giddings—“l lectured upon the trial 0,1 - ; Q.‘> icy A dams, upon the Higher J -" v ’ scenes in (' ■ongressh nal iii'e,*and up n the powers and dufies of unman o >\- erium-ni.” . - J' 1 —'‘'ln ('-’.Yard to your leisure li '' * ; ’ ud utrt.ies oi huifUii! guve;nL ' • not ha- -•:c; -1 r,:; f-rence to vs,) ‘ Gghts ui slavc-s. in Slave

; , - l • : ' a- i —“ft has direct, reference to :thc rights of human nature, the Divine wiii ;as manifested in the laws f nature, the le- | git - mate power of human governments—the ■ duties of human-governments; and the powi er-: possessed by governments.” Mi. Mason --Gilt has not that direct ref- ! rerence to slaves in the slave States!” j Mr. Giddings—“ Wherever a human soul’ j exists, there t.ie rights to which I have referred exists, including the whole human. I family.” ! Mr. Mason—“Do you consider that this | higher law is superior to human laws and j the Constitution of our countr - Mr. Gladings “No enactment or mandate lof a despot invading those human rights is j I|UV > nor has it ar.y.of the elements o°f law. I It confers no power upon the oppressor, imj poses no obligation upon the victim.” Upon these points Mr. Giddings said he | urged the doctrines of all the german writers j upon that subject, nnd of all the Christian world for the last two centuries. lie proceeded to say that this mandate of despots was entitled to no respect from any person, that opposition to such despotic enactments* was not only the right, but the duty of every good citizen; that those who pass j such enactments rentier themselves aceessoj r . v *■' she crime committed under them, an I | have for ages received tiie detestation of a d ‘ patriotic men. and that from the time of Nero to the present day despots have be. n I regarded with contempt by ali lovers of jusI tire. Senator Davis, of Mississippi—“Do these i principles which you have laid down, apply | to lunatic or insane persons!” Mr. Giddings—“ Certainly ; they are taken care of oy the hand obaffection, in a wav to -secure to them tho enjoyment of life, and all tiie liberty with which they ear. safely he entrusted, and rendered as happy as they can be under a state of derangement.” Mr., Davis —“Do these same principles apply to minors and apprentices!” Mr. Giddings—“ Yes, the minor is taken care of also by the hand of affection; protected in the enjoyment of all these right's, and taught the value of them until he arrives «t a sufficient development of manhood to be nbie to exercise them without further direction.” Mr. Giddings further said he proposed to - deliver his lecture in New York, v, ry shortly. and might soon publish it, and when he did so. he would send Mr. Davis a copy. Mr. Davis said he would be glad to receive one.