Nebraska advertiser., 1859-11-10
The Harper's Ferry Tragedy.

No recent occurrence haS elected so
much comment from the American press
as The vutbreakat Harper's Ferry. Most
.dthe remarks made, however, are chiefly
designed to give it an important political
bearing. A.large number of the Demo
cratic papers evidently suppose that it is
well calculated to damage the future
prospects of the Republican party, and,
acting upon this impression, are deter
mined to make the most Of it. The Re-
publican journals are earnestly e~ndeavor-
ing to ward off these supposed injurious
influences, and 10 draw a broad line of
distinction between Brown, and those
who sympathize with him, and the Repu-
bican party of the country.
Leaving those whose chief aim is to
benefit one set of politicians and to injure
another to settle their controversy as best
they may, our present purpose is simply
10 consider the instruction in its probable
bearing upon the future Of the country,
without reference 10 mere partisan consi-
derations.
The Harper's Ferry. tragedy, notwilh-
standing the temporary alarm and great
excitement created among the people of
the surrounding region, is calculated TO
increase the security of the South from
any similar movement in future, for vari-
GUS reasons. The terrible fate of those
engaged in the late instruction will be-
fearful warning to all disposed to initiate
.hen. Nearly the whole party is now
dead, and those yet living must also anti,
ripate a speedy termination Of their ca
reer. They will die, too, with the know
ledge that their project is denounced by
all classes-lhat while a thrill Of horror
runs through Southern breasts at their
plot, il is no less execrated by the entire
Democracy of the North; thatthe Repu-
uican papers have disavowed in most en-
phatic terms all sympathy or association
with it; that even acknowledged Adolf
lion organs and leaders express their de-
cded disapprobation of Browns course
and that the negroes of Virginia and
Maryland, instead of eagerly hocking to
their standard, could not be forced to join
At, but chung as closely to their masters as
If they had been free white members of
their households.
The poor success of Brown in obtain
ing recruits IS another admonition to any
persons rho may in future be disposed TO
undertake a similar crusade. Notwlth-
Standing the excited condition Of public
sentiment on the slavery question during
the last two years, the immense number
of inaammatory speeches which have
been made in all sections of the country,
the high reputation which Brown had
gained for military sagacity among the
Republicans and Abolitionists by his ex-
gloits in Kansas, and the great pains
which, according TO the correspondence
published, he appears to have taken during
several years, through personal efforts
and the efforts of his agents, to organize
a formidable demonstration, his whole
force consisted of but twenty-five persons
and they were nearly all induced to JOIN
hun through the force of old associations
IN Kansas, rather than by any real re-
gard or active sympathy for his last and
fatal movement.
The total indifference of the negroes
70 the sacrifices which Brown and his con-
t~ederates were willing TO make for them,
should Of itself prove a sufficient checkto
prevent any future torcible demonstra-
lions for their freedom. The flibusters
who marched to the Liberation Of the Gu
bans, coldly as they were treated, yetmet
with a less u~ngracious fate than Brown
and his c~onfederates for though, like
am, they were totally unsuStalned by
nose whom they desired TO rescue, they
well knew that their cause was one with
which many of their countrymen could
ana dld Sympathize, Notwithstanding their
unfortunate fate.
The Harper's Ferry tragedy, whatever
eject II may have on the future politics of
me country, will, therefore, most unques-
uonably, we think, exercise a desirable
influence for the protection of the South.
wherever the delusion has been created
mat nothing but fear chains slaves TO
Nelr masters, and that they would gladly
Welcome any who came TO set them free,
tae experience of Brown will thoroughly
dispel il.
Besides these circumstances, the
P~romptness with which the troops of Vir-
Sinla aud Maryland, and the United
oates marines, arrived at Harper's Fer
~, and the outburst of public sentiment
IN every quarter Of the Union, indicating
OF the readiness of hundreds Of thousands
u men to have marched, if necessary, TO
Ne scene of difficulties, to suppress a
Sefvlle insurrection, must powerfully i'm
press the mind Of every fanatic who has
a glimpse of reason left, with the fact
Uatno conspiracy against the South, how
ever carefully ana skillfully organized
tnongh It had a hundred Browns at the
Ieaa OF It, and was composed Of five him.
I!ea such companies as he mustered into
AIS Serylce-could be successful
While these lessons cannot fail to pro-
suOe a wholesome impression upon the
tInG1s OF those who cherish a sympathy
-" Browns designs, other influences have