Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-11-03
Who's to Blame.

double-handful of slaves whose igno-
rance is equallel only by their desire for
the freedom of whichthey have been rob-
bel-all commanded by a man who has
for years been as mad as March hare,
mite IN making an instruction at Har-
per's Ferry. They break into and take
possession of sR United States Armory, |
stopa railway train, kill a few citizens, as
sumo commanding positions about the
town, and for few hours met with none I
to dispute their right. They are guilty of I
the most incomprehensible stupidity and
foil as well as objectionable crimnality in |
all these acts; and when their career is ar
rested, their leader shot down and his fol-
lowers are dispersed, there is not a public \
journal of any party, public man of any
shade of opinion found to approve their
means or Justify their ends But what
matters it that the stark mad enterprise
was the product OF aillel brains; that in
Itself it is inconiestible evidence Of the
insanity of its originator; that its chief in
his'confession claims all the credit and all
the criminality for himself; that the pur-
poses of the emeute are foreign to Repub-
lican policy; that the means chosen for It's
publican sense of right and wrong,-in
spite of these. the journals of the bogus
Democracy have already begun their lying
assertions that for the instruction and its
consequences the Republican party are to
be held accountable! Human menlacity
could go no further.
Who supposes that such an outbreak
would have been possible in 1858? Who
supp,ses that in the whole country during
that year before the introduction of the.
Kansas Nebraska bill. the repeal OF the
Missouri Compromise and the renewal OF
fierce and bitter sectional warfare, men
could have been found TO put themselves
at the heal of such a movement? The
country was at peace then. The old pol
Icy of the Fathers of the Republic had not
been openly attacked except by the faction
ofwhich Mr.. Calhoun had been the leader.
The platform of the two political parties
were alike in their pledges to the country
to suppress slavery agitation. The public
mind reposed in the belief that moral
causes were sufficient for dealing with the
institution in the States where 1t existed.
AMI that the good sense and patriotism of
Congress woul exclude it from the Terri
tories in which it would seek Judgement.
What disturbed that era Of good feelinge
What stirred mp the bitter waters anew?-
What produced that aggression in the
South that gives fanaticism like that
Brown a pretext for such dee Is as have
Just been done in Virginia? Are the Re-
publicans Responsible? Dill they break up
the old compact between the North and the
South? Dill they disregard the policy
and forget the tradition of their Fathers?
Did they seek ont new and strange excus-
es why the action Of the Government
should be reversed, and Slavery made par
amount to Freedom? Did they contrive
that bred Scott decision by which the civ
ilized world was shocked and four mill
ions of men were cast ont 0fthe pale OF hu-
mainly. Did they renew the war. the ag-
itation, the strife? Did they carry blood
shed to Kansas i'm the attempt to plant
Slavery there b fire and sword? DID
they awaken the passions of hate and re-
venge by which the country has been torn.
and by which slave Instructions with the
aid of white men are male possible? Let
the Democrats reply? Ii the Republicans
did none Of these things. they have none OF
blood that has been spilled, let the fear
and trembling that have run through the
Old Dominion and which will hereafter
haunt the pillow of every Shareholder in
the land, be charged to the account Of those
who have set the cause in motion. Lei
the Democracy Of the. North-particularly
OF the Northwest-who under the lead O.
Douglas, have stopped at nothing to de
grade Freedom anil elevate Slavery, bea,
the burdens which their causeless criminal
ity has imposed upon them. Republican
skirts are clear
1t has been the steady endeavor of tn
Republicans to restore peace, by returnin,
to the necessary and conservative polio,
from which the Democracy departed
When they have demanded this, they hav
been met by Kansas outrages, by the Dire,
Scott decision or by a propro.a al to reviv
the Slave Trade. Their overtures hav
been treated with ignominity and con
tempt; and the determination has at las
become apparent that in this country ono
consectrated to Freedom, the last yestig
of Freedom was TO be tTamped out 1t
no wonder from the Abolitionists resis
lance has been provoked 1t is onl
strange that it has no, come before. Tn
North has Its traitors in the Abolitio
camp as well as the South in all its town
ships. But Brown Is no worse, with a
his crimes on his head. than jeff Davis
He Is less a traitor to-day. His confede
ates have not half the criminality Of man
men who occupy seats in Congress or 81,
- advice in the councils Of the Democrat
party. But we excuse or justify neithe
We class them all together-Black Don:
lases and white. old Brown and Senate
Brown. the insurrectionists at Harper
Ferry and the secessionists of Mississp
all disturbers of the public peace-a
howlers who rare nothing for country
conseauences-all traitors DYED in Il
wool. Brown Drawer than the others. b
attempted what his eonquerers in the Son
only threaten. Dissolution of the Uni
is the object Of all. 1t will be glorio
day when the Republicans coming in
power, put the government back into t