The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-12-15
Republication and narper's Ferry


Republication and Harper,s Ferry.
G Two weeks ago we noticed the at
tempt of our neighbor of the Ciiylian,
in common with the Democratic press o!
The country, to throw the onus Of the
Harper's Ferry raid upon the Republi-
can party, and we asked him to give us
the evidence upon which he relied 10
sustain such a charge-to inform us in
what platform, through what organ, when
or where the Republican party advised
or foreshadowed a resort to other
than constitutional, o legitimate means,
in order to forward their principles-to
show us wherein their doctrines and pol
Icy differed from those Of JEFFERSON
and to inform US why it is that the JET
~FERsoSIAN plan of governing The terri
tories, and the language of JEFFERSON,
WASHINGTON and MADISON, in denuncia-
ton OF slavery, have come to be so excess
sivcly impoli.ic, unjust and reasonable.
This he signally fails to DO in his last
weeks rejoinder, but says. in the begin
ming of his article
1--WE are not going to charge intended treason.
insurreetlon and murder upon the Republican
party. Weare going, only, to show, how, in our
opinion, persons might, if not very careful in
craving conclusions, be led to apply the doc.
trileS of that mart q : did 1nhp Rp,,r, -
Here he very plainly grants that
1t was the misapplication of the doc
trines of the party, not the doctrines
themselves, that was responsible for
BROWNS attempt. Let US admit this.
What then? Must we cease ~denouncing
wrong and extolling right and justice,
because some fanatic or enthusiast will
perhaps make war on the legal rights OF
others. Should we, for instance, cease
to deprecate or d~enounce intemperance,
because. forsooth, some hearty haters Of
the abominable traffic in ardent spirits
some one or more who have suffered in
jury therefrom-may by violence invade
The rumseller's premises and destroy
what the law acknowledges to be his le-
gal property. AS has repeatedly been
done? Would Mr.. HEDGES consider
this sufficient cause for stopping the
mouths and bridling the tongues of all
the anti-liquor men in the country f? We
think not. And yet the cases are pre-
cisely parallel. Because denunciation OF
slavery by the Republican party has, as
he assumes, led JonN BRowN TO make a
farcibIe and illegal attack upon those who
uphold the system, lie would have the
whole agitation OF the subject prohibited,
and deems those who propose constilu
Iioially. peaceably, and legally to erect
a barrier to the progress OF the evil, wor-
Thy Of hearty denuncialion.
But We deny That the doctrines Of the
Republican party, through either y pro-
per Or an improper application. were the
prompting motive of BRowS. 1t is fully
IN evidence. asserted and re-asserted by
BRoyS and BHows's family. that this has
been the.o one idea Of his life, cherished.
rs the heroic wife of the brave old man
says. mo for Two years but for twenty
years He imbibed the spirit which ac.
inated him, not from the Republican
creed. but from his bible-notlrom WIN
II. SEwAsD and the Republican leaders.
but from JESUS CHRIST and the apostles
and prophets of the New and the Old
Testamen's. 1t was not the {" irrepres.
sible conflict between Freedom and Slay-
cry" butlhe " Remember those in bonds
IS bound with them" that Influenced
him to action, and if Nr. HEDGES and
tiS fellow democrats are SO much more |