The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-12-05
From our own RepoTter.l
THE EXECUTION.

THE EXECUTION.
CHARLEsTowN, VA, Dec. ID, 1853.
One month and 4 half has gone since the To-
ray at Harper's Ferry. 1t took the State by
surprise and men, on recovering therefrom,
could scarce believe the most stubborn facts
Had ten thousand men been engaged in the at.
tempted insurrection, il would have caused as
tonishment of course; but that twenty two
men, more or less, should enter the heart Of
the country and attempt 10 seize, much less
hold. one of the largest United States Ar
seuals, and carry war in o one OF the most
popular parts of the original thirteen States /;
in short, that such q band should mediate and
commit the crime of treason against the Eede-
raj Government, and treason against the State
Government, together with insurreetion and
murder, could scarce be believed when proved.
Yet, we had to believe 1t, because IL was true.
The prompt &C ton of the oluateers and of our
energetic and sagacions Governor-of whom
we of the Valley are all proud-saved the
State from disgrace; for, when we consider
the state of things as they occurred at the
Ferry on the memorable 10th and l7th OF Octo-
ber, we think no blame can be cast on those
who reside az Harper's Ferry, or who went to
the assistance Of the citizens of said place
From the first fire upon the insurgents, they re-
treated. Not an advance NOV ement was made
from the time that opposition commenced.
That so small a band should take place like
Harper's Ferry, when everybody was wrap
ped in slumber, was by no means strange-
Five men, instead of twenty-five, would suf-
fee to take any place in the United States or
the world, where even night police was not
needed to protect the peaceful citizens, and
where, hence, no one was on guard. % soon
as ever those peaceful inhabitants We're arons-
ed, and seized their arms, so soon did the
bandit chief retire. And that the citizens and
volunteers should hesitate TO attack when
they supposed that the result would be death
to the respected, aye, tenderly loved, men held
as hostages. is not at all strange. Wecan COR
fidently assert, that had not Washington and
Alstadd, and the other prisoners, been in
durance, and in imminent danger in case OF
an attack on the engine-house, an hour would
not have elapsed after the retreat thereto
without its demolition ard the slaughter of
the desperadoes. When we, then, consider the
peculiar circumstances above limited at, to-
gether with the fact that the Ii fe Of such man
as Alstadd was worth more than regiment
Of men like Brown and his coadjutors, togeth-
er with the other fact that United States
property and United States authority were
invaded and set at nought, VirEinians may
feel glad that the disciplined troops of the
General Government arrived In time to storm
the retreat, and by their well regulated cour-
age. succeeded ia taxing il without sacrificing
any Of our own friends who were within as
prisoners,
just after the capture OF Brown and his COM
panions, men were eager for their speedy execu-
ton It was eeneraliy thought that 'drum-head
Justice y should have been administered then
and there; thereby the State would nave been
great excitement resulting from their trial and
execution, Had tbs ycice Of these par then
been uttered. It would have condemned tne
Governor for his mOdeFpfe course but soon
the sagacity, the far-sighfednees of Henry a:
Wise was apparent. And while We have found
that great and Annoying excitement has been
Kept up even TO the pfesent mpment, yet We teet
lnat III mas been for the best. The eyes of stne
Sfate, Of the Union, Of the world, were turned
upon us our every movement was 10 20 down
% poeterity who. free from passion. Wonla
judge fmparfinlly. but strictly, Concerning zach
step :aksl The great Stats of Virginia tbsps
could will aRofd 10 act with dixnily. She
may well " proud Of the scene nise hns pre-
senffd 70 nankfnA Her soii EilgAded.--heY
nf8ht-her x0ne Ipnrdsred- civil xya. wors4
than styfi, servfis war insissd, the erimih.is