Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-10-27
JOHN BROWNS WAR.
A century hence. .xIsr ,rr.,.s.s. 8.

slavery .lnp. botiv,r tGiSen the institution of
- mas disappeared from the United
States, those who write historical reminiscent
ces will have many things to record and dis
cuss relative to its wickedness and its ruinous
influence. They will tell how it weakened
and endangered society in the states where it
was cherished and then will be mentioned
John Browns exploit at Harper's Ferry as one
of the memorable illustrations of that sense of
insecurity and danger with which it filled eve
ry slaveholding community. The case is very
notable and significant. Gov. Wise says q
was ready to weep when l heard that their
force consisted of only fourteen men and that
they took the town in ten minutes" and he
doubtless added in very low tones, 'when l
saw two great states shake with horror,
SO that for days afterwards the people
thought of nothing but spies, specters,
and all sorts of horrid enemies" The
Governor would do well to weep over that
dangerous Sociology" of Virginia and the
other slave States which makes the dream of
John Browns SO terrible. The people round
about Harper's Ferry, it is said, still tremble
dHu tutH lldie Ut tle SndhllIS Vi II lcS VII tiie
mountain opposite"
1t certainly is not reason, nor patriotism,
nor any noble sentiment, nor even a pursuit of
seifiRterest rightly understood, that impels
southern men to uphold an institution so in
consistent with an honest devotion to freedom,
and so dangerous to society. Gov. Wise as
serts that "abolitionsts cannot comprehend
that slaves are held among us by patriarchal
tenure" Patriarchal tenure, indeed II he had
said that slaves generally are more servile and
degraded and much less heroic in spirit than
accords precisely with an abolitionist's idea of
that resolute and defiant manhood, which goes
without blenching to the bloodiest battle field
of liberty. we could understand him. There
would be truth in such statement-truth
which the John Browns and some others do
not always appreciate as they should. If Capt.
John Brown had supposed that the slaves
around Harpers Ferry, or anywhere else, were
daring heroes in obscurity who needed only
arms and summons to battle to transform
them into an invincible CELEBRATING army he
was mistaken. Perhaps he has already felt
considerable wonder that those for whose lib
Grafton he defied the laws and risked his life
could be so stupid and craven,-that they could
be so little inclined to form battalions with
eager haste, and march in his train with all
the lofty resolution and dauntess courage of
Cronwell's Ironsides. He has, it may be,
more acquaintance with those fugtives who
had the spirit and forttude to make desperate
efforts for freedom, than with others of the
class and being himself one of the most res.
olute and fearless of men, it was not unnatural
if he endowed most of the class with a spirit
and faculty for heroic endeavor which they
have only in the ideal dreams of enthusiasm.
Hasz4hd yet there is among the slave population
quite enough brain and spirit to make the first
whisper of "insurrection" more appalling than
words can describe. tits astonishing that sane
men can cherish such an institution and talk of
making it perpetual but this unreason can
not last The shudder which Brown sent
through two great states, and which has not
yet passed away, will not contribute anything
to make slavery eternal The Nat Turner in
surrection led Virginia to discuss the expedi-
ency of abolishing slavery and every such
stir and shock deals the institution dam
aging blow.
1t is, however, useless for anybody to deny
that John Browns capture of Harper's Ferry
was one of the rashest and maddest enterprises
ever heard OF and more especially when look
ed at in connection with his draft of new
constitution and provisional government"
In all this nothing is so visible to us as the
monomania which had unsettled reason on one
subject and made unsound and treacherous
the judgment of man, who in doing his
'Kansas work" had never lacked prudence or
shrewdness. Certainly, it was not perfect san
ity of the wits which led him to undertake
that crusade; nor was it perfect sanity which
led him to count SO confidently on general
heroic rising of the slaves. But, this plea of
disordered wits is nowise likely to be accepted
in the court where he is now on trial nor is it
likely to be made there, although it is the
most truthful plea the old mans counsel can
offer.