Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-19

The Hnrper's Ferry Riot.
We direct the attention of readers to our elegra-
phc column for all the information that reached mp to
late hour last night concerning the sudden and mys,e
roas outbreak at Harper's Ferry. We are still without
sufficient particulars in regard the origin and object
OF the affair, to enable upon Il dspasson
siely and fairly. Enough is known how ever TO make il
appear much more grave and important matter than
We were disposed to regard il in brief article of
terday morning IL seems that the sole object the in
surgents was not We had at first supposed get pos
session Of the public deposit at that place IL
seems, also, that the orgnaors and ngeadcrs of the
affair not operatives in the Armory at Harpers
Ferry but band OF Abolition fanatics and incendar,s
from the Northern States whose object to Put arms
III the hands OF the slaves, TO excite general Serve
inSnrrecton and conduct the slaves the South TO what
these Abolition wretches call freedom The plot fthe
Northern nterlopers insurrectionist mrcrer was
certainly OF the bodest and most andaeios which it
Is possible to conceive OF What they proposed to them
seSesor To the slaves in ang such oohardy and pc
Ions enterprise, il is difficult imagine That any sane
man, matter how violent his detesaiion of negro a,
r, or how ardent his sympathy in behalf the slaves
c'nu nave expected even momentary in such Az
eiori, appears incredible. And yet actually see small
band of desperate fanatics and Adventures undertaking
In seize public armory of the United States and hoping
by means of the weapons and ammunition thereby CON-
ing into their hands accomplish the freedom of three
four millions of slaves who actually frcer than
themselves and whose condition ia all respects i int.
ntcly better than their All this only shows that
Wild, mad anti-Slavery fanaticism has seized upon
portion of the citizens Of the North which nothing but
the mournfu practical realities of civil war and general
bloodshed can appease. Ii shows, too that these
Abolition invaders Of our domestic peace safety know
nothing in the world Of the condition. disposition and
loyal habits of Southern slaves These Uarpers Ferry
insurgents evidently laboring under the gross deli
sion that all the negroes desired or needed was to he put
In possession OF arms, and then placed under leaders like
themselves, TO produce general uprising among them
and general war for their freedom But what sad
mistake for crazy TO commit All the Aboli.
toniss in all the States would be able to bring to
head general instruction among the slaves That a
partial one might be momenarily successful i, true
enough But either the the other would he obliged
result in the discontinue of its instgators ader and
abettors and in their punishment in the most summary
manner.
The strange't feature of the Harpcrs Ferry proceed.
me consists in the fact that the persons engaged in hail
-n"t from one State neghborhood of q particri.
lar State merey-bn from half q dozen or more Jh;,r
ent Northern States Whether this indicates that this
conspiracy was founded on a general understandnr
and plan among the Northern Abolonsts, we cannot
undertake TO determine. At all events the circumstance
itself IS suspicious and mysterious one and We mus
vail for further light before forming positive concu
Son in regard toit
ON many accounts We deeply and puneently regret hs
Harpers Ferry Ii is calculated to add fore
aud iervor to the general uneasiuess and alarm which
pervade the Southern mind in reference to the utmat
aims and designs Of the Northern Aboltonists 1t is
Calculated TO add fuel the flames of sectional excite
ment, and awaken feeling OF insecurity and vindictyr
ness all through the Southern States fatal TO the peacc
and preservation OF the Union. We cannot conceive
mat any considerable number Of Northern men of any
creed or party are ready go the lengths which the III
sieeuonary movement at Harpers Ferry to iudi-
cate. But We know the difficulty Of any people in
state of excitement produced by so bold and audaciou
an invasion, discriminating between the great body Of
conservatives at the North and the mschievous ncend
CRY Aooonsts And hence the effect of this iii Judged
anu wicked attempt at Harpers Ferry is well calcu.
'a'eu 10 excite the Southern people to the highest
pitch Many already consider it as only the BEGINNING
OF the ehdthe bloody beginning of that irrepressb
conflict which is destined involve this glorious Union
IN long and bitter years of civil war and boodsbed R
we nope for the best We still believe there Is enouph
OF moderation patriotism, Und justice at the North IN
er the blessing OF Providence, to preserve the govern
ment and put down Abolition fanatcsm and incendia
believe the entire Northern people the exception Of
the GinnNGs and GARRisoS school of ultra Abolit;o,
iahatcs will condemn with one voice such an invasion r
cur domestic peace and safety that which has iusf
trAnsPired at HarPerS Ferry. But this bold and villain
Gus movement should prompt them at once to consider
the inevitable and caamou- tendency Of the Abolition
and "irrePressbIe conflict" doctrines of their political
leaders IL should lead them once to repudae these
dangerous men and their dangerous counsels and to sci
Their faces against antSavery sgaton in all it, forms
La conclusion, We express the hope and desire Of tho
whole people OF Virginia and the South when We saw that
Ve'e Harper Ferry insurrectouistspvery one Of them
should he hung or shetland that without moments de-
lay lher offence calls for the seyerest and summary
pnn'shmcn-ior these Abolition inccndiarcs have sbed
virginia blood on Virginia soil aud revenge quick and
sure should overtake them If any Of them b,v. .....
ped. let them he hunted down ami brought to Justice
even though they should have be pnr-ucd througl,
every nook and corner Of the Northern States