Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1859-10-24

the Hon. JoHS Y. MASON, United
States minister to the court Of France,
died of apople1y at Paris on the Sd
instant.
This mournful news will be read
with deep regret throughout the en-
tire country. There are few public
men who were better known or more
generally popular than Mr.. Mason
There are few Who possessed more
numerous or warmer friends; and
there arc few Who were entitled by
their talents. public service, and social
qualities to higher need Of popular
favor and esteem.
Mr.. Ma on was born in Sussex
county, Virginia, but became . resi-
dent Of Southampton in early life. He
graduated at the University of North
Carolina in 1916, was educated for
the bar, practised Law for many years,
and was federal judge for the eastern
district of bis State. He represented
the Southampton district in Congress
from 1881 to 1887; was delegate to
the conventions of ls2s-'29 and
ls49-'5O which revised the State
constitution of Virginia, and was long
one Of the leading politicians Of the
Old Dominion.
When Mr.. Tyler succeeded to the
presidency of the United States, on
the death of Gen Harrison, MIR. Ma
son was called from the bench to fill
the office Of Secretary OF the Navy.
Ia Mr.. Folks cabinet he discharged
for a short time the duties of Attor.
ney General, but was subsequently
transferred t, the Navy Department,
over which he presided with ability
and distinction until the close of Mr..
Folks Administration.
Released from the cares of Office
he moved to Richmond, and was soon
appointed president Of the James
River and Kanawha Company. He
was selected to fill the high and i'm
portant office of minister TO France by
President Pierce, and continued to
hold that position up to the hour OF
his death.
Judge Mason was highly esteemed
by the French Emperor aud his gov
eminent, and his death will be al
most as deeply lamcnted by his hosts
of friends in Paris as in this country.
Personal enemies he had none, and
his bittcrest political opponents ad-
mired aid esteemed h,m for his frank,
manly, generous character, his fidell-
ty to principle, and his steadfast de-
voticn to his friends.
Mr.. Mason was advanced in life,
and has been for some years in bad
health. The particulars OF his death
have not reached us, but will doubt
less be contained in the mails by the
North Britain Washington Union.
The sslrrep essibl 10 Connics'' as Hsspsr's
Ferry.
The recent extraordinary insurrec-
ton at Harper's Ferry, made, as it
appears undoubtedly to have been
wi h view Of exciting 4 servile in
surrectlou among the slave popula-
ton Of Maryland and Virginia, is a
direct consequence Of the " irrepres-
siblc conflict doctrines Of the Repub-
ticae party. Snch scenes as have
occurred within the past few days at
Ha,per's Ferry, are but faint fore
taste of what may be expected if the
isnatical Abolition doctrines of Sew
a,d'sm are PERMITTED to control the
government Of this country. Al
though we admit the plan to have
been foolish one, and impossible of
consu nmation, still the country and
the world can regard it in no other
fight than an Abolition movement
Ii is the first open attempt since the
foundation of our government which
the fanatics of politics have dared to
make to fee the slaves CT the South
by force and bloodshcd. The com.
bination, fortunately for the peace of
the community, was not extensive
enough to be successful to any great
extent. Indeed, it could not be sue
cessful, for the welfare of the whole
white race depends upon the imme--
diatc crushing out Of all such at
temps. A scrvilc war at the South,
aided by Abolit oni.m at the North,
would be most bloody and terrible
affair. Such war was the undoubt-
ed intent Of those who maturcd the
plan for this sudden and almost in
comprehensive outbreak.
In speaking of this exciting occur
cnce, appropriate scferencc may be
made to very significant passage in
one Of Gerrit Smiths letters, publish
ed month or two ago, in which he
speaks Of the folly Of attempting to
strike the shacklcs off the slaves by
the force Of moral suasion or legal
agitation, and predicts that the next
movement made in the direction oil
negro emancipation would be an in
surrection in the South Is this Har-
pers Ferry affair the consequence ofthc
prediction of the peaceful Gerrit, or
is it the " first gum in the Seward
Campaign-thc commencement OF
the irreprcssiblc conflict! The future
will show whether or not this is the
first act of terrible drama, at the
finale of which the curtain may drop
upon the American Union, if the de-
sigs of the conspirators are not thwart-
ed in time .-Pittsbury Post.
We give to-day full particulars OF
the insurrectionary movement which
commenced at Harper's Ferry on
Tuesday night, and was brought to a
bloody close yesterday, by the United