The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-12-16
THE JEFFERSONIAN DEMOCRAT
A Virginia Paper Pleads for Mercy,

The Clark IVA journal iu appealing for
mercy toward Brown, SAYS:
We have had blood for blood our law
has pronounced upon tho character (Ihrce-
fold) of tho oltcnsc-trCasOn, murder, and
! insurrCction. We have shown Indignation
and taken vengeance. Is there no stopping
pidce : Ilavo we not power lldvo We
not that gtcat advantage Of power that can
afford to DO mngnanimous Must wo 90
on shedding blood for blood to the last mo
ment, and tho last drop of It's existence
1t will make us look implacah'c aud in-
satiabc for blood. Tnen they (tho North)
will have the argument Of mar.rydom. We
may smile at the idea, but thoy believe IT,
that john Brown WAS IN the conscientious
discharge of religious duty III trying TO
break tho chains of slavery. They believe
| it he makes thOm to believe it more aud
moro every day. by his lotters and speeches,
and his general bearing. and ho will conilrm
and establish thoir belief in his death. 1hIs
established bcllot will make il to them u
case of deliberate martyrdom for sincere re-
/ ligious boliet and conduct.
| Gov. Wise has given thum thom tho argn-
/ mrur. IIa has pronounced him "truth!ul,
honest aud sincere" Wien did tho world
/ (of Christondum and cyliz,,ion) ever tako
.
/ and sincorn Slavery is mt n thing that
I requires to be upholdcn by what seems i'm
placabuily and forncitv. IL is kind, hn-
name institution in all its workings aud
| right 1t is upholdcn hy its merits. its in
! horont worth. and not by outward torco,
/ or severity. When the time comes that 1t
} must rest up0n tuvOncts then the time VIII
have como whom it has ceased to bo desirable
/ or tonablc. IEH hns not inherent merit dHd
! crcsieace enough 10 Keep il together, zee must
, let il 20
! As christian people wo are bound to re-
spec; the motives Of tho sincere and conscI-
, ontiuus however mistaken. We do not care
to wcnk9n our position by shedding the
| blood ot such aud giving them no time for
! rppuntancn, if VIC can free ourselves from
/ their annoyance by confinement, as VIC
would conlinc mad dog.
! Bot blnod for blood has been shCd-mOre
blood on their side than on ours. 1t is no"
only II question of policy as to the furthor
proceeding viii it do more good to go on
Shedding blood, whru we eau find any To
shod or to stop now and coniino tho rest
| for Iifo Oar Judgment is, and we arc
! bound TO give it III every subscriber stops
! his papor, as wo havo b, on threatened to
some cxtenD in favor Of tho latter. More
good can be .d0no. rs pure question OF
policy, by staying the ctfusOn of blood -
Now if this bo treason, make tho most of it
We will bo as ready to die for u conviction
as John Brown.
As pure question of policy, VIC have
most to gain by moderate. piacablc, con
servNrve course. Wo regret rs deeply as
any mau can tho dcath aud injury of oul
highly esteemed citizens We appreciate
their worth as highly as any one. Bcckham
and Turner loft no supnriors rs valuable
citizens behind thom. But now tho decd ii
done, and blood has been shod in return
and a few are fugitisGs and outcasts upor
the earth, and the rrst arc in chains an'
dungeons. How much more can a generous
and magnanimous people ask :-HO,c 'rh
il appear in he eyes IF The rorid The "nj"por
ing trorid 10 Sidrery 10 ask mOre-eOen 4
the inst drop fhrir btood?
We must remember that but small par
of the christian and civilized world are o
our sido with regard to slavory.