The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-10-24

local and general government
The aarpcr's Ferry Insurrection--yvM
Governor Morgan Surrender tho Acccs-
series before the Facts
Before the lapse Of many weeks, and, perhaps,
of many days. new and grave political compll
cations and issues must grow out of the recent
rebellion at Harper's Ferry, for which tho pub
| lie mind cannot be too seriously prepared.
| The shockingly fippant tone of a portion OF
the press, in relation to the murders that have
been committed, and the conspiracy to create
a serviie war throughout the South, which has
been discovered is greatly to be censured. It
proves that, where black republican sentiment
is not wholly depraved, it Is deaf and blind to
the dangers which menace the peace Of the
| country. The confessions Of Brown and his
accomplices, and the documents that have been
seized, make it apparent that the instruction
was deliberately planned with the cognizance
and cOnnivance Of prominent abolitionists and
| black republicans in several Of tho Northern
States, and especially in the State of New
| York. The letter Of Gerrit Smith affords
strong presumption Of his completely in the
matter, and there is little room to doubt the
guilty participation Of Fred. Douglass with the
originators Of the rebellion. The former
Kansas correspondent Of the Tribune, who pro-
badly influenced, in a measure, the disposal of
| the free State fund, about which there has been
so much mystery, is said to have been one of
| Browns rank and file who were killed.
When the circumstances which led to and
\ c,.lt he 81 ,;ovn . 4
meas, of which Harper's Ferry has been the
scene, have been sufficiently investigated by
the Virginia authorities, 1t win be the duty of
Governor Wise to demand from Governor
Morgan the extradition Of all, in this State who
have been accessories before the fact, of the
Smith and Fred. Douglass are two Of those
whose delivery, in accordance with the laws
which bind the States together, will almost
beyond a question be insisted on that they
may be tried in Virginia as aiders and abettors
| of murder and insurrection, offences punisha-
bic by death. The responsibility will then de-
volve upon Governor Morgan of one of the
most important decisions which any State exc
cutive ever had to make. He will be compelled
to choose between obeying the statutes reqnir-
ing him to surrender Smith and Douglass to
the outraged laws of Virginia, or assuming the
| position of supporter of 'irrepressible con-
fict" politics, in their first actively aggressive
| stage.
| Firm and wise craftsmanship will be needed
to meet the dilemma in which Governor Nor
gan will soon find himself. Whatever his &C
ton may be, a CONFUSION Of public feeling will
be the necessary consequence-in the one case
salutary, in the other fatal Should he deter
mine to be guided In his conduct by the laws
he has sworn to uphold the republican party
will be instantly rent in twain. The more coa-
servative of the party who sustain him, will vir-
tually tear themselves away from past aboli
ZIONIST associations while Sewardism will stand
bare and naked before the people, in all its
hideous proportions. In this case, it will be
well for Messrs. Smith and Douglass to betake
themselves speedily to "parts unknown" for if
they are taken down to Virginia they will in
dubitably be hung. We should be sorry to see
Gerrit Smith, who is, personally, an amiable,
charitable estimable parsonage overtaken by
such destiny; though for Douglass, who is a
rascally black demagogue, few would have the
smallest sympathy. It Is to be feared, however,
| that the black republican harness may keep
Governor Morgan so closely in the 'sirrepressi-
BILE conflict traces THAI he will not dare to act
upon question of murder, committed in behalf
of niggers, az he would do IL white men only
were concerned. 1t ia to be feared that, i'll ad-
vised he may protect the criminals instead of
surrendering them, and thus commit an error,
which, if endorsed by the people, would be
equivalent to the secession Of the State Of New
York from the federal Union.
Should Governor Morgan decline to give up
to the authorities of Virginia the persons of
Gerrit Smith and Fred. Douglass, il demanded
by Governor Wise, such q refusal would be tan
tamount to formal disavowal Of the funda-
mental laws which unite the States. It would
be solemn declaration that New York is not
bound by them, and will not obey them. 1t
| would be the commencement of the gravest
political crisis that the country has ever been
called on to encounter, and one whose deve-
| lopement would be equally rapid and inevita-
ble It would cause change in the relations
of North and South, and of parties with each
other, and would affect materially the next
election for President of the United States
1t is to be hoped that Governor Morgan will
do his duty, at whatever sacrifice of feeling. It
behoves every citizen to consider, however,
what he will do if the Chief Magistrate of the
State acts, in the coming emergency, as parti-
san, and not as patriot and statesman. If, after
the usual course of legitimate action on the part
of the courts in Virginia, the extradition of Mr..
Gerrit Smith, Fred. Douglass and others should
be demanded by Governor Wise, there is no
doubt whatever that the same line of conduct
should be adopted in this as in every other
criminal case. But, if an exception is made by