The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-10-21

| in the mountains of Virginia, or in the swamps Of
South Carolina" At this interview the name o
| John Brown, of Ossawatamie, was mentioned a!
| the per on who wanted to organize a band to q
South and establish himself in the mountains
where he could successfully carry on his guerrilla
war. This "leading anti-slavery" witness further
says:
''Soon after this, heard, from another source
that John Brown was still meditating descent on
| the shareholders, and was only waiting to find CO
| adjutors. And about six weeks ago, highly res
| pectable gentleman, just returned from foreign
travel, stopped in this city, and in the course of
conversation had with him, dropped expressions
implying his knowledge of Browns intentions, and
what surprised me most, of his approval of them.
Ascertaining my sentiments on the subject, he did
not make me conhdant, and, not anticipating any
serious result, nor any immediate result of any
kind, l made no particular inquiries"
This witness certainly ought to be sought out bv
the Federal Government His voluntary testimony
affords evidence of his completely with these trea-
sonable designs sufficient to involve him as an ac-
cessory before the fact. The Government should
probe this matter to the bottom and let the people
see who are the parties engaged secretly in hatch
ing treason and providing for disunion and revolu-
ton.
From tie Ne'O York Times Republican, Of Oct 19A,J
There seems to be no reason for believing that
the plot had any extensive ramilcations or that
any further danger is to be apprehended Yet the
affair can scarcely fail to startle the public mind in
Virginia, and it may have the same effect as
increase,
largely and rapidly, the transfer of slaves from
Virginia to the more Southern States. Every such
outbreak, from whatever causes it may spring
quickens the public sense of the insecurity of slave
property on the borders of the saveholding States
and so tends to the removal southwark of that
frontier. I. ...
As matter of course, the violent partisan prints
VIII seek to make the most of the affair. But we
see no reason for supposing that it had any
ton whatever with any political movement, or that
any party with justice be held responsible for
it. 1t seems to have been the work of single
man-smarting under sense of personal wrong,
and iLsanely seeking to avenge them upon a whole
community. He will probably pay the penalty of
his rash insanity with his life, and leave we trust
no inhertors of his passion or his fate.
From The Neto York Herald Independently Of Oct. 2Ol
The affair at Harper's Ferry is one of the straws
that show which way the political wind blows It's
lesson should not be misunderstood. Let the
Southern opposition members Of Congress, when
they come to the organization Of the House, not
forget the Harper's Ferry outbreak and the lesson
1T teaches them. That Mr.. Seward is the arch
agtator who is responsible for this insurrection no
one who has read his Rochester manifesto can
deny, That his elevation to the Presidency
would stimulate servile instructions all over
the Southern country, is likewise beyond per-
adventure. Mr.. Seward once in the White
House, his doctrines, howsoever fanatical or
brutal, or bloody, or cruel they may be, have de-
gree of Importance and weight which they can OBJ
tam In no other way; and while we should be
among the last persons in the world to predict any,
thing like real danger to the Union of the States or
the security of all our people in the enjoyment of
their homes and the peaceful possession of their
properties, of whatever kind they may be- vet it
must be admitted that the election of Seward would
act as a powerful incentive to men of the Brown
stamp The leading Seward organ in this city is
quite lachrymose over Brown, and the abolitonists
all mourn for him as for chief in Israel fallen in
the front of the battle.
From the Ne'S York Tribune (RepuDlica" Of Oct. 49,
There will be enough to heap execration on the
memory of these mistaken men. We leave this
work to the fit hands and tongues of those who re-
gard the fundamental axioms of the Declaration OF
Independence as "gIittering generalites." Be
lieving that the way to Universal Emancipation
lies not through instructions, civil war and blood
shed, but through peace, discussion, and the quiet
diffusion of sentiments of humanity and Justice, we
deeply regret this outbreak; but, remembering
that, if their fault was grievous grievousy have
they answered it, we will not, BY one reproachful
word, disturb the bloody shrouds wherein John
Brown and his compatriots are sleeping. They
dared and died for what they felt to be the right
though in a manner which seems to us fatally
wrong. Let their epitaphs remain unwritten until
the not distant day when slave shall clank his
chains in the shades of Monticello or by the graves
of Mount Vernon.
From the Philadelphia North american Republican, of
October 2Cthl
The whole of this bloody drama is a sequel of the
border outrages of which we all read and all con-
demned, several years ago. From the far western
plains the scene has been shifted to the centre of
the older States. The actors are the very men who
figured in Kansas. There they learned the lesson
and lmbibed the spirit of which they now make
display. Long ago we pointed out what would be
the consequences of the eud that existed in the dis
puted territory. We saw from the first, as every
body else, not blinded by partizan ZEAL must have
seen that the difficulties i'll Kansas must issue in
deadly collision. The scenes therefore that took
OlaCe there before hn Of tho
territory was finally determined, were not unlocked
for. But we little imagined that the stage was to
be transferred to Virginia, and that a systematic
effort would be made there to carry off large masses
OF slaves by the very men trained to border war
fare by their experience in Kansas.
From The Ne0 York Post Republican, Of Oct. 1871
That Mr.. Buchanan will be prompt in the sun-
preston of the Virginia disturbance we have no
doubt; although he has dealt so laxly with the fill
busters and slave traders neither have we any doubt
that Mr.. Chase, or Mr.. Seward, if either of them
were President, would be equally efficient Moth
ing In the public life of those eminent has ever
given warrant for the suspicion that they would
sympathise with disorder and bloodshed. They are
opposed to the extension of slavery, but they have
always made that hostility known in a legitimate
way. The weapons of their warfare have been
truth and justice, and not the rife or the bowie
knife Their hopes of success in rescuing the ter
rltorles from the curse of bondage, and putting a
stop to the spread of pernicious social system re-
pose upon their confidence in the good sense and
nOber instincts of the American people. Revolts
instructions and civil wars, they are fully aware
as every sensible man must be, will not further
their objects, while they can only produce incalcu-
liable mischiefs.
The States, the Journal of Commerce, the Herald,
and other democratic newspapers, know this per-
fectly well; but they cannot resist the temptation
of trying to turn the odium which properly at
taches to tamperng with slaves to the disadvantage
of their political opponents. But the public is not
so arrant fool as these journalists imagine.
From He Washington States (DennOcratic) of Oct 19t
This is altogether the most alarming and daring
insurrectiOnary demonstration that ever has been
made in the United States. 1t is a natural coro-
larry to the 'firrepressible conflict doctrine an
emanavion and an essence of Black Republicanism
The plan seems to have been deliberately precon-
certed. To what extent the leading SewGrdites
complicated in it, by their aid and advice NAV
never be ascertained. 1t cannot be reasonably
doubted that it formally Inspired By them; and
we hope means will be found to bring every guilty
wretch connected with it to condign punishment
The slaveholding States are now more distinctly
fOrewarned than ever to that which Black Re-
publicanism is prepared to consummate when it
gets possession of the rens of the national govern
ment. 1t is the part of wisdom for them to fore
arm.
We esuspect that the bloody scheme of Harper's
Ferry had its aiders and abettors in Washington.
We shall not be surprised if it is a concentrating
point iOr the cOncocting of desperate Black Repub
lican schemes. The time for striking was in all
likelihood arranged here. No moment IA
vorable as that which brought the intelligence of
triumphant Sewardism in Pennsylvania, Ohio &c.
There must be no temporizing policy pursued to-
wards the insurgents. Their enOrmties have been
such as to turn mercy itself into an executoner.
Fran the Boston Courier (Old Line Whig) Of Oct 18Th
The ''irrepressible conflict" seems to have begun
and been as quickly repressed. The spirit and
energy of the officers and troops at Harper's Ferry
cannot be too much commended. As for the lead
ing spirits in this absurd vet traitorous inSurrec-
ton, the general execration of the people will pur
sue them to deserved doom. The nearest tree
would be their fitting mode of exit from their
of mischief; but we presume the forms of law will
be gone through with against these rufiians shoot
ing down peaceful citizens and in open revolt
against the laws.
The revolt at Harpers Ferry brings the question
directly home to every conSiderate mind viii
you sacrifice the inestmable blessings of this Union
for party ends? Will you listen to the counses of
Greeley and Giddings, and of Banks, who is will
ling, under certain crcumstances-that is, when he
thinks he can administer a Northern confederacy-
to let this great sovereign Union of popular nation
ality "sde''? Or, will you recur to the advice of
the noble fathers Of the Republic and of their truly
patriotic sons? We trust that every city and town
in the nation will seize upon the OCCASION and speak
out upon this deplorable theme Let the people,
who are the source and strength of the govern
ment give utterance to a common expression of
true national sentiment.
From the Washington Constitution administration Or
gam Of Oct. 90
When Mr. Seward first announced to his follow
ers the dogma of Gan irrepressible conflict" be-
tween the slaveholding and non-slaveholding
States, no one anticipated that we should be called
upon to record its first fruits. 1t was evil
dent however, that it simply question of
time when the conflict should begin and how it