The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-12-01
Put them On the Stand!

uG tHclu Uu CuC Stduu'
"Indepeudent, the Intelligent and gen.
orally well Informed Washington CORES.
respondent of the Philadelphia North A.
merican, writes
Gov. Wise has done no act which ex
torts such general approval from the OP
position as in turning over Stephens, one
of Browns copiederates, for trial 10 the
u. S. Court. 1t would have been more
satisfactory still if he had selected Cook,
or any OF the prisoners who is not serl-
ously wounded. and thus given reasona-
bic assurance that the trial would come
off. which is by no means certain from the
reported state of Stephens wounds. The
men who have been calumniuted, and the
Opposition, which has been grossly asssil
ed, as responsible for Brosns outrage'
are most concerned to have these charges
proEed and exploded.
They want TO see Forbes, the Britt, b
aboitlouist and nercennsry, and Cope
land, the wretcbed negro coDspirator.
who are the chosen witnesses Of the Dem
ocracy, on the stand, and subjected to a
proper cross examination. We not obly
desire no couoealment, but claim that es-
cry particle of proof and every reasonable
suspicion shall go to the country, SO that
the whole responsibility and criminal
guilt may be made clear aud positive
There have been enough OF base and cru
Fl rumors afoat, and it is time that the
whole truth was forced out By judicial
Inquiry. Ii any public man has been
weak or wicked enough to be betrayed
into remote completely with, or kno"ledgc
of such a design without exposing it to
the proper authorities, bis name ought to
be held up to odium, and branded with
deserving iufamy. Ii, on the other hand
these accusations have been Teckle-sly
illuminated for political effect, their su
thors and abettors should be as uDspar
iDgly denounced and consigned to equal
disgrace, for the act of imputing such
crimiuality is hardly less than the crime
itself. When Forbes published his pre-
tended revelations" confes-ing bis con
nection with Brown, the government
should at once have put bim in safe Gus
custody. as 21arttcepS crine1ltls by his own
ad mission. The oiDission was suspicious
o, purpose to use him as witness, and
yet to confront him, 80 as to involve the
probability Of impcahcuent How an Ad
mini,tration which processes to be so sem
-itive on The subject, and which hsrran
CUES the multitude 70 vchcmcntly, coulc
have let SO important coD>pirator es
cape, is yet to be czplored. This inqui-
ry will be put in more offeial torn al
ter the meeting of Congress. with another
or two which they may find troublesome
to answer.
The leading men Of the Republican
party have been charged b interruptions
politicians as well as by an uuscrupulou,
press, with gailty knowledge of OF cou-
picity with "Old Brown in his HarFer's
Ferry expedition. and Horace Greely ed
itor of the New York Tribune in reply
ins to the Constitution, Mr. Buchanau's
organ, and oiher kindred prints, uses the
following language:
ave know that they have meant moth
ing by their charges and insinuatons but
to make party capital; but they cannot
carry the joke as far as they think will
sOb<erve their purpose, and then drop 1T
You have clearly charged Senator Sew
ard, and others, With completely in, or
guilty knowledge of Ola Browns plot
to incite -lave insurrectioD, and that in
wolves trca-on against the Uoited State,
How, then, will you Dodge the response
bil!ty of iudictins. arrestipg. and trying
them! Don't dodge behind Gov Wise
and try 10 get up question of juri-dic-
ton and the duty OF surrendering them
for, though the act you charge on the res
idcnts Of New York and Ohio may not be
treason against the United States, you
can iD,!ict them in Washington City, or
wherever you see fit, and your marshal.
can arrest and hold them anywhere With
in our national limits. We dare you Uen,
10 indlct them, or same of ttem and let as
haze yOur charges sifted tothe Gottone How
will you dodge this demand The eyes
OF the country are upon you!"
That's the right course to be adopted |
and the result will show, that the more
the Republican party is rubbed in this
n after the brighter it will shine.