, 1859-12-02
39rcss Trihutte.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER .. 1859.


THE FATAL FRIDAY.
John Brown dies ,o-days As Republicans
rs We do, that neither individuals
nor parties it the North hare right to inter-
teee with slavery where 1t exists under the
sanction Of positive law in the States, NO can-
aot say thai lie cutters unlawinlly. The mans
heroism which is us sublime as that Of mar
tyr lis constancy to his convictions, his
suffering, tic dsgracelul incidents Of lis trial,
xl,c poltrooury Of those who will lend him
forth to death, hare excited throughout all tho
North strong feeling Of sympathy in his be-
half; hut no where, within our knowledge, Is
the opinion entertained that he should not 10
held aaswerable for the legal consequence Of
l,is act As long as We are part Of tho
Union, oonsent:ng to tho bond by which tho
States are hound together, supporting the con-
s.itution and tho laws, aud using the language
and entertaining tho sentiments Of loyalty, We
cannot join in the exccration Of the extreme
penalty whicl. the unfortunate aud infatuated
old man will suffer. Te may question
tue wisdom Of the method by Which he is pun
ished- may believe that Virginia would have
added to her Aonor and confouuled her enc
mics, ky an act Of clemency toward him and
his associates-snay condemn in unmeasu1cd
terms tho cowardiee and blooa-thirstiness
which her people have dispIayci- wh.n VIC
question the right Of Sovereign State to in
tict penalty for so giaring and fatal an inlrac-
ton Of her laws, VIC are advocating disunior
in its most Objectionable form. For that we
arc not prepared. Nc would be glad to avert
tho axe which hangs over tile old mans head,
il persuasion and cntreaty would do it; but
we sec no way under Heaven BY which, doing
our duty as law.ahiding citizens, we could
counsel the use Of force for his rescue, or by
which VIC could join in crusade against those
By whom he has lcen legally though hastily,
and because hastily, shamcfully, condemned:
We arc not dcbarrel however, tho right Of
pEaising tho inherent though mistaken noble.
ness Of the man, Of plying the fanaticisnl
which led him into his present strait Of re-
GREETING TINT character which might have
bcon so illustrious in the history Of his coun-
tsy, must be loaded with the consequences Of
his orrors.
To our moro radical readers these views
will he unpalatablc; but there arc such that
Republicans must entertain. When tic fl
natic,l action Of tle South and the accumula-
ted ugzessions with which she has affected the
North, dissolve the ties that hold the North
and South together, and when we no longer
owe allegiance to the constitution and laxs
which t''o propagandists Of Slavery have loug
trodden under their feet, then VIC may have
reason, upon the broadost principles Of human
right, to not only bless but MD any work thai
will assist in tue emancipation, by arms if nee
essary, Of every human being on American
soil. Until that time comes there is but ont
course left That VT Lare pointed out.
We have firm belief that this execution o
Brown will hasten The downfall Of that &c
cursed syste" against which he winged WIT
Throughout all this land, men wilt not fail Il
see that there is a conflict between tie princi
plcs Of humanity that have obtained a lodc
ment in every human heart, aud obedience II
lawB which all have tacitly agreed to support
The shock caused tr his death will be NOR,
than ninc days wonder. The emotions cx
cited and tic reflections provoked by the trag
~ r.