Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1859-12-03
THE FATE or JOHN BROWN.

Yesterday i, i. more than probable, that
this deluded man paid the extreme penal
" Of the law Cor the g.eates., yet hitherto
The rsrest o. crimes in this country. The
cad story which he has fashioned for our
history 10 excitisg, - we'll it may, univer.
col interest, aud calling forth various and
general comment from all the organs OF
Intelligence and thsaters Of discussion
the prsss-ths pulpit-and the rostrun.-
The facts that constitute the transaction
are plain and undisputed. The conse
qusaces that inevitably follow, if such q
purpose and scheme a. Brown entertained
ere winked at and unchecked-a eq ually
plain and indisputahle. Still, thousands
openly sJmpa.hize with Brown in the
pursuit Of bic folly and tho preparation
Of his crime. They seem to desire no,
% much that he should suffer less but
that be should have sinned more. They
utter no cry over the blood of innocence
which he shed-but rather over the blood
Of sxpiation which the law now demands
Of him. Had that blow be struck been
aiued agains. the sovereignty of Pennsyl-
vaLia or Ohio, John Brown would have
fallen
"Unwept, unhonsrtd, aud upsunx"
But that sovereignty being Virginia, these
fanatics aud ansrchists apyla aud or excuse
the desd and call Brown Martyr. All
this 10 por.entous Of evil and only evil. Ii
evinces the extent and violence of our sec
tional bate our jealousis and anmosi,es.
1t may we'll excite alarm and apprehension
Of imminent danger. Give TO these signs
the most liberal Interpretation, admit tina.
they result from homes, conviction and
sincerity, still the friends of order and good
government, Of prosperity and happiness,
and even Of morality itself canno. resist the
conclusion that the execution Of Brown is
just, and the paudits Of his sympathies are
oil wrong. Protection is necessary to life,
prosperity and happines. and Law is the only
means BY which that protection CAN be
secured. Laws TO be Ut any effect, to pos.
ssss any vitality, must be general and
adapted to the creates. good OF the MAORI.
y and to accomplish this il may be necss.
sary Tor one individual to curtai his priv
ilsges in one respect and smother in ano.h
er respect, 20 as to conform to the general
good and conduce to harmony AS much As
possible. Under . government ike our
own, the laws are practically I. reflex OF
the public sentiment, feeling and mornl;tr,
and these canno, be far, or {. great while
wrong in this day OF education and intelli.
gence. Here too the individual idea mus.
practically defer to the general idea-to
public sentiment as expressed in la ", other
wise law is violated, govern nent degraded
and reduced to failure. l. ia found how
ever, that sumo will wilfully disregard the
public sentiment and interest, transgress
the law and therefore penalty for such
transgression becomes necessary. How
can We judge of those who merit such pen
atty excep. BY their actions? Certainly
not BY their professions, for the man who
wisfully CON mits murder would rot hest
tate to declare TIA. the act was an accident,
or conscientious discharge OF duty if by
90 doing be could evade the penalty Of the
law. Reason and experience alike tench
this. There are no data from which to
judge Of . mans conscience except bis
overt acts and these rarely mislead. An.
srchy 10 the worst Of all political conditions,
the most implacabls tyranny. Invested of
oil fear, mercy or responsibility. When
ever We allow any plea Of conscience, duty
or the like which cannot be maintained by
The circumstances Of the crime, to come
in between the criminal and the law, tho
strong protecting arm Of government. be-
comes pslsied, disorder aud confusion gu.
sue John Brown forms no exception to the
rule. We may justly deplore the spirit
and purpose that overwhelmed him in
crime. but justice pinions the arm tina,
woold have stayed bis fall.