The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-10-29
DEMOCRATIC FORMATIONS.
The Harper.s Ferry Affair.


,n,,cb embarrassment as the outbreak at
Harpers Ferry. They are apparently
quite conscious that the attempt at first
made by them to whistle 1t down the
wind, as nothing more than an insane
scheme Of revenge against the slave power
tv an old man goaded to ven geancc 10y the
wrongs inflicted on him b! the border rut-
fans of Kansas" VIII not pass current as
their acquttal from all completely or ra- .
socnsibilitv in the matter. The teachings +.
and practices Of prominent republican /
Journals and leaders for the last few years,
a. eIucidated by such commentary on /
,Aeir tendency. and the startling dlscIo- /
sures daily being made as the investigation |!
progresses in Virginia, are drawing closer
and closer the cords which will in the end
bind the responsibility OF this reasonable
outbreak en- the backs Of that party as
closely, and Is irnpossibly to be shaken oil,
As the fablel shirt on the back Of Nessus.
Tho teachings OF The leaders and apos-
ties Of the republican party are ell based
on the fundamental idea that slavery,
whatever may be its surroundings or accl-
dents, is crime against heaven, and that
therefore no human enactments by which
its existence is reco gnized or tolerated ought
60 be obeyed. They acknowledge that the
Constitution Of the I. 5. recognizes and
protects the institution III the slaveholding
states. but they say there's q higher law
than the constitution, which must be obey
ed in preference They also teach lin the
language OF Mr. Seward) that in this coun-
Try we have two radically different poht
zeal systems the one resting on the basis
OF iervile. and the other on the basis OF
free labor" that - the two systems are in
congruous. and more-they are lncomp2tl-
be" that between them there Is an ire
pressibie conflict Of opposing and enduring
forces that the end OF it Is, that the
l. s MUST and ,c.L sooner or later, become
entirely slayeholding or entirely a free
labor nation; and that, to further this
end-to break up the bond-thc constitu-
tion-by which this Union is made to con-
sst of both slave and free states, the first
,hing 10 be done IS " 10 atgi56Ja tie desao,T1'-
u party from he gorernmeai, and Of course
place it into the hands of that party which
will obey this 'hi4her law in preference
to the constitution and fugitive slave law,
and labor TO hasten the day when this Tn
ion shall become a free labor nation
1t will not do 10 say that this Is Only the
doctrine of VIM. H. Seward The same
doctrine was preached by M. Lincoln dU-
ring his contest with Judge Douglas in
this state year ago; and Is quoted, en-
dorsed and defended by every republican
paper and leader in the country. Wehave
not the space to give quotations in proof,
nor is it, necessary, for the fact is not de
MED
Ny Seward it VIII be seen, proposes TO
await the .dislodgcment OF the democrat
lie party from the government before he
enters into This war III earnest: but there
are others of his party-the mass We may
say-who can brook no such delay. \
convention of republican abolitiorists III
Chicago week ago teach in their resolu-
tons that the fugitive slave law is an act
contrary to the law OF God, and that ohe-
dience to it NOW, or 10 any civil enact
Inent mot excepting the constitution
which contradicts the law Of God (as they
.construe it) {" IS rank atheism and treason
10 God and man
Such, then, being the teachings of the
apostles of the republican party-such the
fundamental doctrines of that party-is it
strange that men, fully indoctrinated in
the belief that all constitutions and laws
that recognize the institution Of slavery
are not only of no binding force, but that
it is rank atheism and treason against
God to obey them should engage in a
foray like that at Harpers Ferry. to over
throw them? 1t is true, that the more
cautious republican leaders advise the
rabble 10 wait until they get possession OF
the government; but if, in that greatly to
be deprecated event they proceed to put
their teachings into practice, will it any
the less lead to violence and bloodshed ?
1t is true, Seward as President, with the
army and the national purse at his com
mand could undertake the Job with a more
assured prospect Of success; but would the
South any more submit without resistanc.
then than now?
Having shown that the doctrines of the
republican party sanction and NATURAL,
lead to such enterprises as this at Harp
ers Ferry, let US next enquire how far th'
members OF that party were overly anc
actually engaged in it. In the first place
this fact at least will be conceded tina
the men actually taken with old Brown
were all good republicans. In the secont
place, large sums Of money were contribu
ted TO Brown in aid of his entecprize. IL
had Sharps rifles and other arms an
These must have cost at least fifty to
hundred thousand dollars; besides he ha
5000 in gold in his pocket Who cor
tributed these sums? Democrats, rcput
licans, or Americans? There are but tn
three parties in the North, and old Brow
says himself he got the money at th
North Gerrit Smith gave 500; Joshu
f. Giddings gave his mite So 90. Tn
larger portion was raised in New ork an
the New England States, but some also i
the middle States and the North-wes
says Brown Who else but republican
would contribute 10 such an enterprise ?
And did they give their money without
knowing the object to which it was TO b
applied? Do men give large sums blind
" in that way? Then Brown had bushel
Of letters in his possession Whom wer
they from? In many parts of the countr