The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-11-09

lature. We have reason to think this matter is in
good hands; still our own sense of duty cannot be
fully satisfied without thus publicly and earnestly
urging forward so suspicious and so necessary an
undertaking.
1t is hard TO reconcile the unmistakeable indica-
tons of deep-seated and widespread sympathy
on the part of the people of the North with Old
BRowN and his mad attempt to incite the Virginia
slaves to instruction and MURDER with the earn
est protostatons of the Republican press and lead
ers that they not responsible for his crime, and
utterly abhor and repudate it. Previous knowI-
edge on the part of any considerable portion of
the Northern people, Of what was in contempa-
ton by Brown and his associates, of course there
could not have been. A few obscure politicians
and aot-headed fanatics may have been in the Sc
cret but of the existence Of any extensive conspi-
racy do not perceive the smallest evidence, nor
do we believe that such could have existed in
fact But the completely of the Republican party
with Old Browns treason is not the less manifest
that account. Apart from the fact that his
crime was the direct and logical consequence of
the ideas on the subject of Southern slavery and
the duty Of Northern men with reference thereto,
which the Republican press and orators have
most sedulously labored to incucate, and which
the Republican masses generally entertain-we
have every day, in the Northern papers, fresh
proofs of their sympathy with the criminal. We
have reports Of sermons in churches and speeches
at public meetings. in which Old BROWN is held up
before admiring audiences in the light of hero
and a martyr His personal character is made
the subject of eXtravagant eulogy. He is compar-
ed to WAsHYGToN-to MosEs-to CHRIST The
history of his bad and disreputabe life is rehearsed
and invested with halo of glory and romance
which is obviously intended to allure others to a
similar career Every circumstance of his
capture and trial is seized upon and pervert-
cd so as to serve the purpose of magnifying his
sufferings, and yilifying his captors and judg-
es. The wounds on his body are counted
and the idea studiously put forward that, like
savages, the Virginians amused themselves
with torturing their prisoner when he was power
less in their hands. The proceedings of the Court
which tried him are charged to have been charac-
terized by unusual and indecent haste, and the
learned and humane Judge, who presided on the
occasion, is declared to be worse than second
JEFFRIFs, who-we are assured-would never
have passed sentence on a man who could not sit
up in his bed. One orator (WENDELL PHILLIps)
has not scrupled to tell us, that when the news
of Browns capture reached Boston, there was but
one sentiment in the community-that of universal
regret-that men walked the streets sadly, as
though they had lost a friend, and that the OK
camation was on the lips of every second person
you met-"What pity he did not succeed p' A
correspondent of the New York Tribune declares,
that if the people of the UNITED STATES permit Old
BRowN TO be hung on the I'd of December next
they need no longer deude themselves with the
idea that they would not have suffered their SA-
yIoUR to be crucifed 1900 years ago. All this
is very horrible and very blasphemous. We do not
alude to it for the sake of widening the breach
which already exists between the North and the
South or for the purpose of adding fuel to the
flame which already burns all too fiercely for the
peace and security of the UNION It is necessary
for us, however, to know our friends from our
foes; and as we have been invited and urged-by
papers published in this city, and by men who claim
to represent our interests in Congress-to cast our
sufrages with the Republicans, it is important to
understand the sentiments of that party. We
quote, therefore, the language of these Northern
orators, presses and preachers, as demonstrating
concusiyely, that, in spite of their dsayowal
of any participation or completely in Old
BRowN's treason, it was his failure and not
the attempt which met with the regret of
the Republicans. How, indeed, could it be
otherwise? Does not the whole Republican party,
as one man. believe that the relation of master and
slave is sinful, and contrary to natural justice and
divine right? Do not the members of that party
bn1iava hot Is to
that he may lawfully run away from his master,
and that he may rightully resist, even unto DEATH
any attempt to restrain re-capture him? Have
they not solemnly protested against the Fugitive
Slave Law as being equally opposed to the Con-
stitution and the conscience of Christian man,
and have they not in every State, where they
have had thepower, interposed legislative obstacles
in the way Of the execution Of that law and Of the
reclamation and rendition of slaves? Do they not
approve and justify the harboring and sheterng of
fugitive slaves, and the furnishing them with money
and arms to enable them to effect their escape and
have they not, in many places, forcibly rescued
them from the hands of their masters, and the Gus
tody of the law-invading for the purpose, even
the precincts Of the Courthouse and the presence
of judges? How then, can any Republican pre-
tend TO say that he does not approve in principle,
at least, the plan of Old Brown and his con-
federates? If it be lawful to help one slave to his
libcrty-why not thousand? If it be right to
place weapon in the hand Of one negro, to enable
him TO resist and STAY the slave-catcher not
arm the slave population of a county or a State?
Foolish, mad, Quixotic if they please, the Repub-
licans may call the wild attempt of Old BROWN
but they can not, with sincerity, say that
they do not think it just and righteous,
and that if successful, they would not have iusti-
fed and applauded it. 1t will be said, perhaps,
in their own defence, by those among us who
advocate coalition with the Republicans, that
we do injustice to that party, in ascrbng to it
views which are only entertained by few Abo-
litonists of the Garrisonian school. We are
not mistaken. The sentiments to which we refer
those of the least violent and most moderate of
the Free-Soil party. The Aboltionists go much
further They advocate the immediate abolition
of slavery by the Federal Government or, failing
that, dissolution of the UNION. The Republic
cans dsclaim any intention of interfering by legs-
latiye enactments, at all events, with slavery in
the States, where it at present exists. This
disclaimer of all power of legislative interference
WIN INC Slltulloilj lsI Ill tCtj tne very grOunu
upon which Mr.. DAVIS and others advocate union
of the 0pposition-a fusion of the Americans with
the Republicans. OF the private efforts of indivi-
dual men, TO help slaves out of bondage, the Re
publicans no more disapprove, than they do of
the efforts of the slaves themselves to effect their
own escape. We do therefore the Republicans no
injustice, when hold them as party respon-
sible for the treason of Old Brown. His design
was in perfect keeping with all their ideas upon
the subject of slavery, although we do not believe
that many Of them could have been found like
him foolish enough or bold enough to attempt its
execution.
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SHAKEPERIAN MATINEE.
Manager Ford of Holiday Street Theatre has
prepared for US a novelty for Saturday morning
next, in the shape of 'Shakesperian Matinee"
when Mr.. Burton, the inimitable comedian will
appear in three characters, to wit:
L n T. NJ .-a1,