The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-19
Rirbnlunn gispatft.
"Wednesday MORNING. :. =. 'sss.


:. ~.,s-~sA
81. beings 1T lfarper's Ferry
80. ..nretnr give the particulars, rs far
-. =. 70 reached us, Of the events At Har-
E.rrr and refer the reader 10 our tele-
Ip~.,,n,c cofumn and the frat page Of the paper
49,. he will find them. The sudden appear
sace Of a body Of men In that town--their
fat,ne possession of the United States Armory,
ana their subsequent proceedings, are most
strange events. The first rumor that their Acts
fwcre in pursuance Of plan for freeing slayes,
was generally discredited. 1t was though.
With more apparent reason, 10 have been a
movement among discontented operatives
who wanted an increase Of wages, combined
with some workmen on the new dam in course
OF construction ACROSS the Potomac TO increase
the supply OF water for the Armory, who had
been left unpaid by an ascending contractor,
aud who hoped by seizing the public property
TO indemnity themselves. II was not until the
most conclusive information was received,
that the public generally gave into the idea
that the whole affair was the conception and
work of a party of Aboli.ionists from distant
States So mad and hopeless an enterprise
could hardly he credited. Butt Is true, and
. no less strange than true. They were GER
taiuly the most deluded of men to imagine the
possible success of such an adventure. They
must have been not only the widest and sill
Hest of fanatics, but wholly unacQuainted
with our State and our people. They may
have been stimulated by invitations and pro-
misses from some unknown persons about the
locality. But however instigated, madden
scheme was never coneocted. 1t has been
crushed with the utmost promptness, and 1t is
20 be hoped all concerned will meet the severe
punishment SO richly merited by their wicked
intentions.
Ii the scheme, Was not one of the maddest
ever conceived, then the miserable demonstra
tion at Harpers Ferry must have been usher
cd in prematurcly, or been deserted to its fate
by others who were to have aided in its exc
cution. 1t is TO be hoped that an investiga-
ton will be made into the affair that will, ae
far as possible solve the mystery which now
hangs over ii.
The accounts have varied widely as TO the
numbers of the incendiariss and slaves, and
they have been greatly exaggerated, especially
the number of slaves. According to Col LKB,
the incendiaries must have been only hand
ful OF men.
1t is to DO deeply regretted that several per-
sons other than these vile incendiaries have
been killed, among them MIR. GRo. TURNER, a
worthy citizen of Jefferson county, whQ was
murdered by them, while unaware OF dSAger'
riding into Harper's Ferry. There seemed te
be no system or order in their proceedings
The trains on the Balti more and Ohio Rail
road were assailed, and in their helter-skelter
mode of war they killed q very good servant
or two. The accounts yesterday evening rep.
resented that some OF the incendiaries, with &
few slaves, were in the mountain opposite
Harper's Ferry, and General STRUART, o.
Baltimore, had ordered a body of cavalry tc
go in pursuit of them
Governor WISE acted with his usual prompt
ness upon the receipt of the intelligence OF th'
troubles at Harrer's Ferry. He photographed
orders TO Col. GIBSON, OF Jefferson county, Il
act at, once, If necessary, under section lst
cha pter % of the Code, and the Regiment o
that county was promptly marched to In
Ferry and took part in the affair with the In
cendiaries. The Governor also ordered tn
Regiment and the Young Guard of this city
leaving among the first with company r. Capt
CARY as already announced. The remainde
of the Regiment left yesterday morning. w
are glad the Governor has gone to the scene o
action; for although the incendiaries wer
oyerpowered before he arrived, it is we'll tina
he is upon the ground to have word TO say IL
the matter of what steps are proper with re
gard TO the prisoners, and the invasion of oul
soil by such incendiaries.
Would it not be well for Virginia to ask o
the Federal Government the re-establishmen
of the military force at Harper's Ferry Tha
locality would suit as well as any other, as g
place for drilling and disciplining soldiers
while they could protect the Armory, and
make what is now source Of danger, means
of protection for our frontier.
1t will help, perhaps, some to elucidate this
strange affair, by stating, that owing to the
Strengthened condition OF the U. S. Treasury.
the larger part of the operatives at the Armory
had been discharged, and had they anticipated
an attack of this nature they were too few
and unprepared to resist it.