The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-11-02
From the Detroit Free Press.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FIXED.

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The evidence cumulates of the compile
ity Of abolitionists all over the country
with the attempt of old John Brown at
Harper's Ferry. Indeed, Brown himself
admits such completely, as will be seen by
his answers to interrogatories which we
elsewhere print, though he is careful to
avoid the elimination Of persons. The
letter from Gerrit Smith to him, which
has been published, was manifestly writ
ten with reference 10 this insurectionary
movement, "Kansas work" being under
stood terms between them. By his own
confession Brown had an interview with
Joshua K. Giddings in Ohio last summer,
and he would not say that this movement
was not the chief. subject of their CONVEX
sation. Here, then, are two Of the par
ties to the instruction. Smith contribu
ted, as his letter shows; Giddiugs I'M
doubleday contributed, for he said long
ago that he would hail servile insurrec-
ton Of the southern slaves Gas the dawn
of a political millennium" The contribu-
tons from all quarters were large, for the
arms and ammunition which Brown had
accumulated near Harper's Ferry must
have been of the value of some 100000.
Among the arms were 200 revolvers, 200
Sharp's rifles, and 1000 spears, and am
munition TO match. The spears are rep
resented to be an ugly weapon. Had
Brown not made a .taur pas at the out
set--had he gathered around him a
thousand or two of negroes and entrench-
ed himself in position where he could
, have maintained himself for a while-we
can imagine that aid and comfort would
have flowed in upon him from the north
ern abolitionists, and then the "irrepress-
ible conflict would have begun in earn
est. 1t is to be hoped that the letters
and papers found in the possession of
Brown will reveal all the conspirators in
, this audacious attempt If they shall,
we believe the country will be amazed at
the number of them = though really
/ there need be no amazement, for has not
! Giddings thousands of disciples? Did
not the North Church at New Haven and
Plymouth Church at Brooklyn give
Sharp's rifles for the use of old Brown in
S Kansas, and why should not they give
them to him for use in Virginia. There
need not be amazement at any act which
2 abolitionism may do, for it is capable Of
E anything.
Brown has been sane enough in the os-
timation of black republican newspapers
!. until now. He was sane in Kansas
{ he was sane when he stole dozen or two
: negroes from Missouri and conducted them
to Canada. He was sane when, only
!. three or four months ago, he made q
e speech at the great republican meeting in
n Cleveland, from the same stand with Gov
J, Chase, on the occasion of the Oberlir
rescue trials. His sanity had been the
h theme of black republican praise for -four
d years past. 1t is only now that he is
= insane since his attempt at Harper's Fer.
ny was premature and failure. 1t is on.
70 ly now that he is mad since his proceed
l. ings are likely 10 open the eyes of the
} people of the country to the consequences
:, that must inevitably flow from the teach.
l. ings of abohtionism. He was as sane or
IS the day on which he made the attempt
) at Harper's Ferry as he ever has beer
:, since he was an abolitionist. If he was
!, afflicted with any malady, it is that with
is which all abolitionists are afflicted-the
} insanity Of fanaticism.
= We do not set down Seward rs an alb
q olitionist in the sense in which we have
n just spoken, nor the thousands of blacl
republican leaders with whom slavery ag
: : itation is simply the means 10 an end
These men are the cowardly instigators o.
+ just such fanatics rs this man Brown
}, They have employed him as an instru
: ment ever since the Kansas troubles be.
gun. They sent him out TO Kansas, with
Sharp's rifles in his hands, charged to
Q play the part which he did play, and il
: was by the use Of him and others like
him in Kansas that they undertook to
Q elect Fremont. Upon their heads the re-
sponsibility Of all his acts rest. Upon
, their heads rests the responsibility of the
, Harpers Ferry instruction. Il is i'm