Smyrna times., 1859-12-08
A Fate--What it Teaches.

On Friday last, as will be seen elsewher
the notoriors John Brown suffered the pene
ties of the law, by death upon the scafold,
Charleston, Virginia, for certain high Grim
against the dignity of the State and peace
society, of which he was convicted in due cour
oflaw, by jury of the vicinage.
1t is severe penalty, but justly merited-
the perpetrator knowing, at the time he Wa
plotting against the Federal Government an
the peace and security of the citizens of Virgi
ia, that the penalty of his doings, if unsuccess
ful. would be lust what it has been. 1t is a.
unfortunate matter-unfortunate in its dlrec
result, and still more unfortunate in the inf1u
ence it will have upon the Hotspurs" Of tht
country, thousands of them, both North anC
South, need only all occasion TO advocate trea
son " on the one hand, and disunion on the
other. For this cause, that attempt at survile
insurrection is more to be dreaded than any
other If the death of Brown and his confed-
crates were the death, also, of all such schemes
aud schemers, then, indeed, the matter would
be comparatively trAing, and local in the ex-
ctement ii produced. 1t is a conflict between
an institution on the one hand, and principal
on the other, between which there can never
be harmony. For the peace of the nation oil
should be poured on the waters Of strife pot
heated and bitter words, that only excite the
tumut.
We have studlously avoided any general dis.
cussion of this madman's inroad into Virginia,
because we did not deem it prudent to add to
the excitement already famed by the sensa-
ton press into a magnitude entirely incom-
mensurate with the real state of facts. We
have been content with giving a brief outline
the event and its incidents, taking care to
strip the accounts, as far possible, of the ex-
citing verbiage in which they were clothed.
We are sure that if the home and distant
press had not selzed upon this subject for the
selfish purpose of increasing their sales, by STIR
ring up the public mind to a morbid appetite,
the whole affair would have been quietly dis
posed of by the Virginia authorities, without
the beat of drum or the blast of a trumpet
1t is very certain, the outpourings of mutual
recrimination, North and South, would have
been spared.
We are sorry to see SO many of the party
press of the South dealing in wholesale abuse !
Of the notwithstanding hot balls, chain-shot
and bomb-shells of wrath at them as if they |
were untedy conspiriug against their institu-
tiOns. There are thousands Of noble hearts
and true, in every section of the free States, |
that are ready, however much they may con-
demn the "peculiar institution" TO sacrifice
everything for defence of the South, because
it is part of the d" heritage" bought with their
hther's blood.
In our own little State, we are pleased to be-
lieYe that conservatism abounds, and that
the people are willing to lend helping hand
to either section, as a common brother. With
them it is a question of citizenship, and local
and individual rights. States, like families,
may have peculiarities that are of no concern
to their neighbors, and should not be interfered
With so long as they are confined to the family.
kthe one has customs and indulgences that
the other thinks should be abated, he has no
right whatever, under our form of government,
10 resort to violence to correct the imagined
evil. The government has provided the best
means of fremedy-the ballot-box. The age of
bullets has passed this is the age of ballots
II is not by pixies and rifles that our Constitu-
lion and laws are to be altered. To punch
hOles in mems heads to demonstrate that he
was right, was John Browns logic; but it was
wicked and rabid kind of logic. Christianity,
both in its history and precept, teaches that all
reforms must be worked by peaceful means
change of the head and the heart. The will
Of the majority leads to peace, progress, pros
Perity and happiness, but that of the minority
10 anarchy and bloodshed. Would that the
fre-eaters of the South, and the fanatics "
Of the North would take warning from the les
son which has been so summarily taught in the
fate of Brown and his confederates, in their in
sane efforts to convert a sovereign State to
their opinions of what was right.