The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-08
NOW AND THEN.

NOW AMI LIEN.
When the Missouri ruffians invaded Kansas,
and drove out the Free-State men, or imposed
laws and Constitutions upon them at the point
of the dagger and the revolver, the champions
of Slavery shouted for Joy, and sant all their
spare change-though they were never good at
raising money-to aid the rufians in their law
less aggressions upon Northern men.
When Southern Representative in Congress
assailed Senator from Massachusetts, while
sitting in his seat, with cane, the Southern
people of all parties shouted for Joy, and over
whelmed the cowardly assailant with presents
of splendid gold headed canes. They laughed
to scorn all who would have raised their voice
against the outrage. We doubt if twenty news.
papers south of Washington uttered word of
censure of the foul deed.
But now that Northern men have made an
aggression upon the South, now that the South
ern OK has been gored, their tune is WONDERFUL
ly changed. A more innocent, law-abiding
people were never heard of. The whole press
of the South joins the chorus of condemnation,
and threaten to dissolve the Union-which by
the way, they have no intention of doing-be-
cause very few men at the North have ex-
pressed some degree of sympathy with John
Brown. Not one man in a hundred has justi-
fed the invasion but the defenders of Border
Ruffianism and of Brooks are horrorstrieken
at the audacity of those who have dared to pity
him in his misfortune, or to respect his motives,
while condemning his conduct as unjust and
unwise.
Those who cannot wipe out the shame and
disgrace which attaches to the ruffian brutality
of the Kansas invasions, and the cowardly as
sault upon the Massachusetts Senator, have no
right to complain of the more insignificant out
rage at Harper's Ferry. Let those who are
without sin cast stone at John Brown and his
accomplices.
We intend to Gull from our files of 1856 and
1856 some choice excerpts from Southern jour
nails in regard to the events above adverted to.
The whole Democratic press of the South,
without exception, justified those outrages
while the Opposition press in that quarter were
either silent or joined in the chorus of ridicule
of the Kansas and Sumner shriekers.' Even
the Democratic presses of the North, from sheer
political prostitution, joined in sneering at the
misfortunes of their fellow citizens in Kansas.
Like some miserable slaves in the South they
professed to glory in their chains, and vili6ed
those whom their masters had injured.
The Virginia papers were not behind those
of South Carolina in their appreciation of the
gallantry of Brooks. The Richmond papers of
all parties We'd with each other in wit and mer-
riment. The hero of the bloody assault was so
pulled up with pride, by the honors that were
showered upon him, that in speech which he
made to his constituents, after his return home
in 1856, he threatened to raise an army, in the
event of Fremonts election, march to the cap
ital. overturn the Government, and take posses
sion. Many Southern people at that time be-
lieved in the gasconade of Brooks, and felt no
doubt but that the North could be overrun with
as much ease as the American army under
General Scott marched from Vera Cruz to
Mexico. They have doubtless changed their
minds on this point
Let the sensible men of the South, of all par
ties, reflect upon these recent events in our his
tory, and they will not be surprised at the de-
gree of sympathy which has been manifested
in behalf of John Brown. The North submitted
for long years to insult and outrage, at the
hands of Southern men, when the South was
almost unanimous in applanding the wrong
in kind; and their consciousness of being the
aggressors should teach them some patience
Co.. oil
scared than hurt; and when they learn to re-
spect the rights of Northern men, they will find
more respect paid to their own.