The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-01

Covcrnmcnt st Washingten.
The paramount crime OF "Old Brown" and
his associates In their revolutionary doings at
Harper's Ferry was the crime Of treason
against the United States. We have shown
that these misguided and reckless men we're
clearly guilty of this high crime, and that all
who gave them laid and comfort in the mat
ter Of this rebellion, and all who, knowing
their designs, kept the secrets of these trail
tors, may be and should be, ss far as possible,
arraigned and tried by Ne government of the
United States as accessories before the fact in
this crime Of treason.
In response to these views, what do we hear
from Washington. The Consultation newspaper
supposed to speak occasionally by autho-
rity," but which we have Aason to believe is
no higher authority than that Of General
George Washington Bowman) comes out in a
fierce and flaming editorial TO prove that
among these Harper's Ferry conspirators
Seward is clearly implicated We publish
the article in question In another column to
show the GOODNESS with which these Washing
ton organs can reproduce the ideas Of "the
New York press as their own, and the mean.
ness of this new lobby firm Of Bowman and
Brown, in crediting to athe New York press
that whichthey knew was published exclusively
In the New YORK HERALD. But In this terrible
onslaught upon Seward we find nothing but
the echo from Washington Of our own views Of
the crimiuality of Seward, when we want to
know whether the government at Washington
intends to do anything in the premises to
bring the conspirators to q proper trial for
treason, or whether the whole Of this busi-
ness Of justice has been surrendered into the
hands of Governor Wise.
We hold that even now it is the duty Of the
federal executive government to demand the
surrender of the prisoners now held by the
State of Virginia in the Chsrlestown jail, to the
federal authorities, in order that said prisoners
may be tried for their paramount crime of tres
son against the United States. Nor is this all.
We hold that it is the duty Of tho government
at Washington to hunt up and bring to trial all
the associate conspirators of 'sOld Brown still
at large, against whom there may DO any evil
dence deemed sufficient to justify an arrest.
Tho federal government could proceed without
delay in the matter Of these prosecutions, and,
in taking the Charlestown prisoners and their
confederates out of the hands of Governor Wise,
all the troubles of possible conflicting requisi-
tons and objections between the local authori-
ties Of different States would be avoided. We
urge, therefore, upon the administration, the
duty of demanding the surrender to the federal
authorities of "Old Brown" and his associate
prisoners, held by Virginia, that they may be
tried for treason against the United States and
we would also urge upon the government the
duty Of arresting and bringing to trial all the
accessories Of sold Brown" before the fact that
can be found, including by all means Seward,
''clearly implicated" in this treason, according
to Washington newspaper, supposed to speak
occasionally upon hint from some member Of
the Cabinet or his confidential clerk.
It will never do for the administra-
ton TO permit itself to be held responsible for
charging W. II. Seward with the high crime Of
treason, without proceeding against him as q
traitor. Mr.. JoucrsOu proceeded against Aaron
Burr with charge Of treason, upon the pre-
sumption that Burr was medtating q military
coup d'etot which would involve seizure of a
portion Of the United States territory. Burr
was acquitted but the administration Of Mr..
Jefferson lost nothing thereby; on the contrary,
it gained largely in the confidence and respect
of the country for the activity and zeal dis
played in the prosecution of a supposed traitor.
And who, conversant with our political his
tory for thirty years back, does not re-
member the popularity achieved by Old
Hickory in his firm and decisive course with
the South Carolina nulliHers in 1912 Gen.
Hamilton, sort of provisional dictator ofSouth
Carolina, In the heat Of the tariff quarrel had
authority to nullify the revenue laws of the
Union by some overt act Hearing Of this at
Washington, Gen. jackson, at Cabinet con-
sultation, declared by the Eternal, that upon
information Of the first overt act of treason, in
this form of notification, he would arrest John
G. Calhoun as the chief Of the conspirators
Mr.. Calhoun at that time was Vice President OF
the United States, and aspiring to the Presi
dency; but Gen. Jackson, who knew that when
Mr.. Calhoun took pinch OF snuff all South
Carolina sneezed, knew also where to strike
the nulli6ers most effectively. What were
the resultss Mr.. Calhoun did not push the null
liders to extremities; but, satisfied that Old
Hickory was not to be trifed with, the whole
Of the notification crew, in Congress and in
South Carolina, subsidized into Mr.. Clay's treaty
ofpeace-a moderate tariff bill with sliding
scalc of duties-which lasted till 1912.
We do hope that Mr.. Buchanan, in reference
to this Harpers Ferry conspiracy of treason
and revolution, will emulate the example OF
Mr. Jefferson in the case of Burr, and the more
striking example Of Old Hickory in the case OF
the South Carolina nulliHers. Let the gov
eminent act. Let not oil the merit of action
against these Harper's Ferry conspirators be
monopolized by Gov. Wise, when the para
mount duty Of action agains. them properly be-