Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-25
Return of Hr. v1fhees Conservative

- 1ent1ment9.
The Indianapolis .Snfiyel makes the following
ts "a. ..S n ssssss"g tie .s rs, turn. ., :. cS.s,.:,ov voD =.
counsel for UDoE, "a shar!rsnsrt on.h&k NEAT
ioent ct Charlestown and the proceedings Of the
Court there. The Sentfsei takes occAsion % OK
pres Itself sptns very sound opinions (Which we
invite attention, the more particularly ~ the Ap-
r~carano. Of anything Ike justice or fAirness to
Hon. .. N. Mcdonald and Hon. b. W.s.'yoor-
hes- returned homo from Charlestown on. Friday
night last. Tho 'puhlic arc already advised Of thu
conviction Of yomac Cook upon the i~ndictments
FIR murder and insn ~frcctfon, and the sentence OF
The court that no should be hung On the 10th Of
December. Msssrs. Mcdonald and Voorhees, de-
sire US TO state TINT from the time Of their arrival
10 their departure, they had every attention and
kindnes shown them by the citizens Of Charles
town md Vicinity. md the old Fashioned Nirsinia
hospitality. for which tbs people Of that, portion
d the State are distinguished, was everywhere ex.
tended 10 them. They speak Of Judge Parker as
that he administers his conrt with great dignity
and strict importantly. The trial Of the, Priso-
ners WINS fair, fs tpnch latitude was al W in the
defense rs could be, and the Virginia awyers al
iotted t, tho prisoners made oil tho defense that
the cnses wore capable acknowledging IN their
conduct Of thnm both ability and earnestncss.-
The p~risone.s themselves admit the fairness Of
their trials. ind the humanity and Kindness with
which they irc treated. The promptncss Of tho
trials was nc %,i7ental, tho court being in session ut
the timo of the outbreak, This fuct. however,
'loes . t militfAo against the fairness of the trials.
nor il it pre- siImGbie that any different result
would have bee reached, if they had longer been
delayed. -
The eyido nco against the prisoners was most d.
rect and cnr,c l usive, and, with tho exception Of
Ut Cook, they wero arrested while violating the
laws md committing the offences for which they
were conv'c ct ed, and are to BIO punished. Ths
prisoners an offer no Justification Tor this wicked
attempt to ncie a scrviie instruction. They
hnd no pe,s ,nal wrongs to nycn.e. Tho net ON
their part " an voluntarily assumed all the conso-
quences of . failure. They can make ma, appeal
for symp at ny which should find a resphnse.-
Whatewt mny DO the moral responsibility OF those
who hpl 1 and teach the "irrepressible conflict"
doctrine Tor tho acts Of these misguided men, that
is no nj . ogy which tho prisoners can offer for
their CT ne. There is too much morbid sonsibili-
~ in tte public mind for criminals, and too much
willing q css to relax that maintenance Of law and
Justice upon which rests public peace, security
md g . 4 order. Our pity for those who volunta-
rily d. s.egard law. should not lead any so far rs
to BIO willing TINT criminals should 60 unpunisl,-
ed for heir crimes. Veal owe n different duty
to soc ie ty. We have not a doubt but that the So
Ter vcr' iict of the people of the country will JUS
tify the punishment dccreod to tho Harper's Fer
ny ir,su gents by the courts of Virginia.