The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
INTERESTING DEBATE IN THE
SENATE.

bate occurred upon the subject of Mr.. Mason's
resolution of inquiry into the Harpers Ferry
invasion. We make the following extracts:
Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President the resolution
which offered yesterday will come up, pre-
sumo, as matter of course; if not, move that
it now be taken up for consideration.
The VICE PRESIDENT. The resolution
comes up, as q matter of course.
The Secretary read the resolution, as follows
Res0lced, That committee be appointed
to inquire into the facts attending the late in
vasion and seizure of the armory and arsenal
of the United States at Harpers Ferry, in Vir-
ginia, by band of armed men, and report
whether the same was attended by armed re-
sistance to the authorities and public force of
the United States, and by the murder of any of
the citizens of Virginia, or of any troops sent
there to protect the public property; whether
such invasion and seizure was made under
color of any organization intended to subvert
the Government of any of the States of the
Union what was the character and extent of
such organization, and whether any citizens of
the United States, not present, were implicated
therein or accessory thereto, by Contributions
of money, arms, munitions, or otherwise; what
was the character and extent of the military
equipment in the hands or under the control of
said armed band, and where and how and when
the same was obtained and transported to the
place so invaded. And that said committee
report whether any and what legislation may,
in their opinion, be necessary on the part of the
United States for the future preservation of the
peace of the country, or for the safety of the
public property and that said committee have
power to send for persons and papers"
Mr.. MASON. Mr.. President, on the passage
Of that raSOlutiop / ocly for tho md
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Mr.. TRUMBULL. Mr.. President, when
that resolution was offered yesterday, stated
that | would move an amendment to it when it
should come up for consideration but, before
proceeding to offer the amendment, will state
that the resolution, as offered by the Senator
from Virginia, will receive my support. If any
other persons than the twenty-five whose names
are known to the country are implicated in, or
in any way accessory to, the seizure of Harper's
Ferry, and the murder of the citizens of Vir-
ginia, let US ascertain who they are, and let
them be held responsible for their acts
l hope this investigation will be thorough
and complete. / believe it will do good, by
disabusing the public mind, in that portion of
the Union which feels most sensitive upon this
subject, Of the idea that the outbreak at Har-
perS Ferry received any countenance or sup
port from any considerable number of persons
in any portion of this Union. No man who is
not prepared to subvert the Constitution, de-
stroy the Government, and resolve society into
its original elaments, can justify such an act.
No matter what evils, either real or imaginary,
may exist in the body polite, if each individual
or every set of twenty individuals, out of more
than twenty millions of people, is to be per-
mitted in his own way, and in defiance of the
laws of the land, to undertake to correct those
evils, there is not Government upon the face
of the earth that could last day. And it
seems to me, sir, that those persons who reason
only from abstract principles, and believe
themselves Justhable on all occasions, and in
every form, in combating evil wherever it ex-
lists, forget that the right which they claim for
themselves exists equally in every other person.
All Governments, the best which have been
devised, encroach necessarily more or less on
the individual rights of man, and to that extent
may be regarded as evils. Shall we, therefore,
destroy Government, dissolve society, destroy
regulated and constitutional liberty, and inau-
gurate in its stead anarchy condition of
things in which every man shall be permitted
to follow the instincts of his own passions or
prejudices or feelings, and where there will be
no protection to the physically weak against
the encroachmen's of the strong? Till we are
prepared to inaugurate such state as this, no
man can justify the deeds done at Harper's
Ferry.
In regard to the misguided man who led the
insurgents on that occasion, / have no remarks
to make. He has already expiated upon the
gallows the crime which he committed against
the laws of his country; and to answer for his
errors or his virtues, whatever they may have
been, he has gone fearessy and willingly be-
fore that Judge who cannot err there let him
rest.
Therefore, sir, am for this investigation.
hope it may be thorough and impartial, and |
believe the effect upon the country will be most
salutary. Had similar investigation been in
stituted when similar transaction took place
some years ago, this probably would never have
occurred. The amendment which propose to
offer to the resolution which is pending, and in
which, l trust, may have the support of every
Senator, provides for the investigation of a like
transaction which occurred in the State of Mis-
souri, l will briefly state what that transaction
was, as it may not be fresh in the recollection
of Senators.
The Government of the United States had an
arsenal at the town of Liberty, in the State of
Missouri, of which Captain Leonard had charge.
In December, l855-and the facts which state
appear upon the official records of the country-
Captain Leonard testifies that a Judge Thomp-
son, In company with large number of others.
appeared at the arsenal, overpowered him. con.
fined him, broke down the magazines, supplied
themselves wi h cannon, rifles, swords, and pis
tolls, with powder and ball. and took them away
from the arsenal. This was followed by the in.
vasion of a peaceful Territory by these persons !:
not twenty, but more than thousand men.
marched into the adjoining Territory, armed
with weapons taken by violence from an arse
mol Of he TTp,taI l.. Al q
an officer of the United States, with the avowed
object, as also appears, of makiog that Terri
tory slaveholdiug State. 1t appears that so
cieties were formed-secret organizations
reaching from Missouri into various States, and.
among others, the State of Virginia, whose OBJ
ject and design were by force to introduce Sla-
very into Kansas; and to carry out,this object.
these men seized upon these arms and mum.
tons belonging to the Government of the Uni.
ted States Captain Leonard, in his statement
under oath, says:
"The Judge and others told me there were
troubles in Kansas, and they wanted arms, but
would do nothing wrong with them. / told the
Judge this was aggressive on the part of Mis-
souri, and every community was competent to
take care of its own affairs, and that the Mis-.
sourians ought not to interfere. A good deal
more was said on both sides, and felt indig
nahs az uhe aggression. Inc Juuge hmSelf DID
not say an uncivil word to me. had not ex
pected any such thing as this when first saw
the Judge, or could have had the gates locked
The mob proceeded to take arms, forcing
the doors, and took three six1pounders, some
swords, pistols, rifles, and ammunition, powder
balls, DC, as much as they wanted. They broke
| some doors open. / do not know how they got
the keys to get into the powder magazine, which
Is composed of brick, and had double doors
! Captain Price was the leading man in the
crowd, as understood. Mrs Rout was there