Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-11-09
The Execution of Brown.

In our Judgment, the penalty of the law ought to
be inflicted on BROwN A more desperate case OF
treason MURDER and attempted revolt, has never
been witnessed. We are rejoiced that fair trial
was awarded to the consprators, yet we think it
high exhibition of a regard for 'law ard order on
the part of Yrginians that these conspiratore were
not summarily dealt with the spot of the attempt
ed Instruction The action of Virginia should show
thaor such acts as old BRowN and his fellow nisere
ants guilty Of there is no hope Of escape. The
lesson is not half complete, if, through hope of
conciiatng fanaticism the death penalty is waived
in this case If any others in the nOn-slaveholding
States are ambitious of emulating the example Of
old BRowN, they should be made distinctly to under
stand that clemency for such offences is unknown
by any Southern people.
The New York JolEnalof Commerce, which warm
" espouses the cause of the South and has ably ex
posed the plot of the aboItionsts, seems to think
that the execution of Brown is desired by the Abo-
itionists. In anticipation of such an event, says
that paper, the Abolitonists are in paroxysm of de-
light, which they can not well conceal They ex-
pect that ''the blood of the martys will prove the
seed Of the Church" They in fact defy the Execu-
tive of Virginia to hang Old BRowN. WENDALL
PHILLIPS, for example, in late address, in Brooklyn
by which Church was desecrated, said :-'If Vir-
ginia tyrants dare hang him. after this mockery of
a trial. it viii take two WAsEHNGTONs at least, to
make the name of the river anything but abominable
in the ages that come after it."
This language says tie Journal Of Commerce. lis
evidently intended TO intimdate but to exasper
ate; for the Aboltionists must well know that Gov
WISE by the exercise of clemency in this outrageous
of treason might be made to feel the pressure
Of Southern opinion, as no influence of the North
could be brought to bear on him. As a politician.
the policy of the Governor would probably be to
administer the law in full rgor; but as patriot he
might think proper to modify his action somewhat,
in Difference to the peculiar relations of the country
especially if thereby he might draw the fang of
the viper that is preparing to strike"
We think it very likely, indeed, we can see from
the tone of their papers, that tie Abolitonists de-
sire the execution of BRowN in the expectation that
his death the gallows will keep up the excite
ment on which that faction lives. However this may
be, and even if such should lie the result Brown
must hang. We entirely agree with the Augusta
CoaStihdionalist which says:
Tue FATE OF BROWNIE have been surprised to
find this appeal for mercy to the Harper's Ferry
cOnsprators in the Journal Of Commerce. of the 25th
ult.-a paper which has expressed as strong indig-
nation against the miscreants as any southern man
can feel; and still more surprised to find that it is
encouraged to make this appeal, by anything which
was said by Gov. Wise in the speech delivered by
him from the steps of the Government House at
Richmond, Immediately after his return from Har-
per's Ferry