New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-29
lnCITIxG TO INsUaeECTION.

The Virginiau Chiyalry seem to DO bent on prov
ing that their Ancient Dominion Was, and is, in
danger of being taken away from them b. foreign
invasion and domestic ipsurrectlon. We do not
share in their approximations, though We 500 very
clearly the necessity of their Masking out case OF
umioent danger in order to save their own credit
For all that appears of the capacity OF Virginia 10
defend herself from tie invasion of John Brown and
bis score of men, be might have been in possession
of the country to this day. had it not been for the
dozen OF two Of marines who came to the rescue OF
the Mother of Presidents in her extremity. Gov
Wise expressed to the peaceable inhabitants OF
Harptr's Ferry in what may be called trepchAnt
terms bis seDse Of their shortcomings, when he said
thai be had rather his arms were cut OF at tho
shoulders and bis legs at the hips than that such a
disgrace should have befallen his Commonwealth
We should think that if his Excelency could save
the credit of bis militismen by thus reducing himself
to torso he bad better submit himself to the knife
of the amputator at once as they seem 10 have
done more discredit to the State in whose service
they were enrolled, than the simple burghers OF
Hsrper's Ferry in refusing to risk their lives to
rescue the property of the Gensral Government
from danger against which it was eminently its
duty to guard.
All The fighting that was bad at Harper's Ferry
against the insurgents was done BY the men 10 the
service of tie Railway Company and by the hand
full Of marines in the service Of the nation. The
cit zen soldiery of the Old Dominion limited their
strategy to the shooting Of man bearing a flag of
truce, Of another and the only one that asked
for qusrter and of three or four struggling for life
in tie river. They did show degree Of energy in
attempting to jyIch the prisoners after they were
dssrmed. and probably would have done so, had
not Msj)r Russell, who seems to have acted
throughout with distinguished coolness, bravery,
and humanity, prevented them with bis handful OF
msIines They were permitted, however, to ex-
pend portion of their ebuient zeal in mutilsting
and in,ut Dg the dead bodies of their enemies-of
which, to do them justice the do not seem to have
been afraid Ard company OF ffy men did per-
form zee Of actual service after the marines
had stoymtd the engine house and made prisoners
Of ire i,rrson. They we're detailed in pursuit of
Cook aud bis two companions, and did actually
reach the houte Capt. Brown had hired, where
there was no particular reuor for expecting to find
them at that time. They came pretty near it,
however, for the FIRE still burning in the stove
and the water in the kettle yet hot The enemy
could not be more than mile of. But no pursuit.
~as attempted. They were permitted to "show
Z. themselves what they were and steal themselves
"awsy," according to Capt. Dosberrys direc-
tions in such csse But the expedition WAS not
fruitless Our prudent heroes found q quantity of
Lew and valuable rifles and pistols, Of which they
possessed themselves BY right Of conquest, and so
ended, what ore of the Virginia papers called
"tbis clever exploit"
We believe it is this same gallant band of Charles
townians which is now intrusted with the duty of
saving the State harmless from the violence OF
Messrs. Brown and Stephens Of whom she seems to
be in mortal fear, notwithstanding their semi-sni-
mate condition from their wounds. Eighty men
ieep watch and ward, By day and night, and escort
the prisoners between the prison and the Court
House. And thus far, they have saved the State
from beirg q secord time conquered and occupied.
And doubtless, when the prisoners have been pushed
through the forms of trial with the indecent haste
synDelDg from underlined spprshsnsons, the
Cbsrlestown ctizen+oldisr Will be fouAd fully
equal to keeping guard at the galOwe to which
they viii be hurried with the least possible delay.
John Brown and his party have evidently enlarged
the ideas Of tie shareholders in Virginia and else
where They had never conceived Of f.naticism
which itouid lead men into such desperate and