Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-09-10
The Recent Outrage at Harrisburg.


The Recent Outrage at Harrisburg.
Nothing was better calculated to IN
crease the excitement which has uniortu-
nately existed throughout the length and
breadth of our land, than the outrage re-
Gently practced upon several OF the cln-
zens of the neighboring county oil Clarke
in Harrisburg, the metropolis OF Pennsyi-
vania. Unfortunate at any time, and I'M
der any circumstances, it was peculiarly
so at the present crisis in our affairs. IN
stead of every thing possible being Gone
70 avert the threatening storm, to pour OIL
uDon the troubled waters almost gaping as
il were TO receive the wreck of the Union,
we find one high in authority, clothed IN
the ermine of justice, giving utterance TO
;odjciaI decisions, which would have been
better adapted to those merldIans where
might is recognised as the ler supren0,
than in this land where the proudest boast
of her citizens is the security guaranteed
by her laws to life and TO property. The
excuse almost invariably given for these
Ihigh-handed and lawless cutIagcs, has
been that they were confined to very
small band Of fanatics. We're this so, the
admission places the State of PennsyiVa-
MA in very unenviabe position, that of
inability, or indIsposition to arrest such
proceedings By interposing the strong arm
of the State. But it is not so. We be-
heye that the feeling which exhibited itself
at Harrisburg, pervades the masses of the
people, 10 some extent. If they do not
personally take part in the disgraceful
scenes, they give their countenance to
;hose who do. The feeling, we know,
has crossed the sacred portals Of the
church, and the blessings of a peace-loving
God aave been invoked upon the efforts Of
raying zeaIotS, who would deIuge the
country in blood, and bring before rs all
the horrors Of serviie Instruction.
The same feeling has invaded the Halls
Of Justice and the purity of the Judicial
ermne has been polluted, Juries ''of dis
Greet and intelligent men," have, under
the solemn responsibilities Of an oath, rem
dered vcrdicts in direct variance with law
and facts. Nor have the Halls of Legis-
larion been exempt from the communicating
Influence of this feeling. Legislators Of
sovereign States, sworn before taking their
seats to "s'ppOrt the Constitution Of
The United Stoie$," have scarcely allowed
that oath TO pass their lips, before they
have enacted laws rendering entirely nu
catory and imperative constitutional obi
cations imposed upon their State by the
very instrument they had just sworn, SOL
Icmnly sNorn, TO support. We are not
drawing upon our imagination, in giving
uiterance TO these things; we have stated
lacts-historIcal facts. Away then with
tic excuse which would make miserable
faction the scape-goat for the crimes Of
those who occupy high positions in the
church, the judiciary, and above all those
who IegGIi2e their proceedings by render
ing null and void provision Of the Con-
stiulion, Sc PLAIN that language cannot
make it more Palpable.
Under these aggvarating circumslanc
can it be expected that the South will
tamciy submit with folded arms Can
it be expected that they will calmly see
their properly thus stolen,-actually sto-
len,--from them, TO the amount Of millions
Of dollars, and not resort to some desperate
remedy? fer desperate diseases require
+ desperate remedies. As ardendy as we
are devoted to the Union Of the States, VIC
: DO not think that devotion 10 that Unior
requires a sacrifice Of honor. The love
, of a man for the Union or for any thing i.
: worth nothing, after his honor is gone.
: But is this the Union o. our forefathers
Is ii the Union, the offspring of the com
bined efforts Of Northern and Southerr
, men, who fought side by side, and shout,
der 10 shoulder through The dark days oI