North Branch Democrat

The John Brown Raid--A Rich Disclosure.

Mr. Sumner was re-elected to the United States Senate the other day by the Legislature of Massachusetts. Mr. Swan, a member of the Senate of that State, although a Republican, would not, it seems, vote for Mr. Sumner, and gave the following reasons for so refusing :

"I come now, Mr. President, to what is known in history as the John Brown raid. This expedition was planned and fitted out in Boston, and its expenses defrayed by subscription. The day he started for Harper's Ferry on his deed of murder, he dined in room No. 4, Parker House, in company with some of the most ardent and zealous supporters of Mr. Sumner, and for this reason I allude to it. John Brown was a brave man; he had the courage to attempt to execute what the cowardly accessories to the murder dared not to attempt to do. He knew the penalty if he failed in his enterprise. He carried his life in his hand forfeited, and he paid the penalty manfully. The Republican party now disown the act: they call him a monomaniac, an insane man! but when the telegraphic 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 knell, and the ministers of God, with a few honorable 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, Virginia would not have seceded-and God grant that we may yet recover from it. I know the names of the persons who were engaged in this transaction, and shall leave a record of them for history.

"Another deed of murder Mr. President, and I will not detain you longer. When Anthony Burns, the fugitive slave, was confined in the Court House in this city, a meeting was held at Faneuil Hall to consider the subject. Theodore Parker, the man who presented the gun, which was so affectionately received by his excellency, and the Reverend Thomas W. Higginson were there. Mr. Parker, in concluding an eloquent speech, alluded to the fact that a slave was confined in the Court House, and exclaimed in substance, "Why stand we here idle? To the rescue!" A rush was immediately made for the Courthouse, and at the door stood a poor laboring man, a Mr. Batchelder, a night watch. His wife and two children were probably sleeping at home, possibly dreaming of him as he was toiling for their daily bread. The crowd demanded admittance, he refused, and was immediately assassinated upon the spot. Who killed him the world never knew. These men, Mr. President, were the confidential friends and supporters of Mr. Sumner, and for this reason I have alluded to the subject."