Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-12-03
PANIC AMONG THE CMTILRY

PANIC AMONG THE CHirALRK
The humating spectacle presented by the
boosted and boastful chivary of the great Com
monwcalth of Virginia during the present week,
may well excite, as evidently it does, the dciis-
iol of all sensible sobcr.mindcd people. The
United States troops are posted at several points
along the borders of the State; more than two
thousand of the militia armed with cannon and
musketry with ball cartridges are concentrated
in and around the little town of Charlestown;
possession is taken of the railroad running
through that town; martial law is proclaimed I;
no one not personally known to the military can
travel without passport; sentincls are posted
day and night and their fears OF an ambuscadc
are so great that innocent COWS are shot in their
alright; the Govcrnor--the great and immor-
tai HENRY A. VISITS constantly on hand
making oracular speeches all about what he
will do and what he will not do; and even the
schools and printing offices are deserted to fill
up the ranks of the military who are awaiting
orders.
Seeing that all these things arc so, n stranger
would naturally inquire for the cause of so much
alarm, fear, hostile preparation, and hostile de-
monstration Is the Union dissolved? No.
Has any foreign power declared war against
Virginia? No. Is there an instruction in the
Old Dominion? No Has there been an in
vasion? All Yes; Old John Brown and eigh-
teen other mad-caps did invade the great State
of Virginia about month since. They captur-
ed Harper's Ferry, took the Armory and held
town of two or more thousand inhabitants
prisoners of war. With the aid of United
States troops Virginia repealed the invasion and
captured half-a-dozen OF the invaders These
six captives, trophies Of her valor, were. all
weak from their wounds, confined in irons, ana
thus manacled summarily tried, convicted and
sentenced to be hung. And all this parapher-
MALTA Of actual war is gotten up to keep these
six half-cra2ed men in security for the hanging
festival with which the Nirginians are to be re-
salel on Friday. Two thousand troops in ac-
ual service, martial law, passports, the total
exclusion of strangers, all to enable the terrified
Nirginians to hang three white men and as many
negroes in security and at t cir leisure.
Even this is not ALL a compact line of troops
is to be placed in a square around the galows
at such distance that they cannot hear any
speech the doomed man may be disposed to de-
liver; and outside of this and some distance
removed is to be another square of troops all
with blyonets glistcnirg and muskets loaded.
while artillery guns charged to the muzzle are
to be pointed in all directions to keep back all
intruders. To carry out to its fullest effect the
tremendously grim joke the Governor is busy
ing himself in exhibiting the rope and its fatal
moose with which john Brown is to be hung
This rope, we are assured, is made Of South
Carolina cotton; ia due regard for proprietv
wonld seem to indicate its identity with the one
with which Gen. Jackson ono proposed to hang
the South Carolina nullifers)
No plea but that Of insanity could or should
be successful in avcrting from John Brown and
his dcluded followers the punishment Of death.
They violated the laws not only of Virginia, but
OF the civilized world. But the manner of their
trial and execution will raise them from the low
l1vel of ielons to the dignity of MARTYRS The
ridiculous appearance presented by the author
tiles Of Virginia in thus ionizing the death of
these misguided men, will lend halo of glory
to their expeditions and the fear of the terrif-
ed Nirginians WILL by its contrast with the cool
ness and courage of Old John Brown render
his name a synonym for true hcroism
There are men in every Northern State who
do and will sympathize in the object on which
John Brown staked his life. These men will
very naturally think if nineteen men are capa-
BILE OF stirring up such ferment in the oldest.
greatest, and most boastful of all the border
slave states, what cannot moderately sized
army bent upon the same object and fully pre-
pared for invasion accomplish. Thinking begets
action. If Virginia is not soon heartily ashamed
of her present weeks history, she will sooner
or later find that she has made very foolish
demonstration Of her weakness.