The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1859-12-07
SAINT BROWN.

i II
sas, and if the history shall ever be writ
ten in full, it will be unsurpassed as
record of blood and infamy. The Kan
sas Herald Of Freedom has told us the
facts of his having dragged four defence
less men from their beds at midnight and
murdered them and mutlated their re-
mains, and of his having done this before
hair of his head or any Of his sons, had
been injured. "The murdered men were
found" says the Herald, ''the next morn
ing by the roadside, or in the highway,
some with a cash in their hoads and sides
and their threats cut; others with their
skulls split open in two places, with holes
in their breasts, and hands cut off; and
others had holes through their breasts,
with their fingers cut off," Where shall
we turn for more diabolcal revelation
than his? But Brown was a robber as
well as a murderer in Kansas. At Black
Jack he took as prisoner the United States
Survey Examiner named Pennybacker,
who has just told the public what he saw
and heard while in Browns hands. He
heard one of Browns sons boast of the
horses he and his father had stolen in
Missouri and elsewhere. He saw par
ty start for the avowed purpose of rob-
bling an Indian trading post (Joseph Ber-
nards), and saw them return laden with
the goods, some eight thousand dollars
worth. Old Brown exclaimed when they
came in, "Well done, my boysp Brown
told Mr. Pennybacker that his hand was
against every man, free State or pro slave
nv, who was not willing to join his band,
and that he would kill one rs soon as the
other. His son Frederick was killed at
Ossawatome by Martin White, free
State man, who had refused to join
Browns company, aud was thereupon
robbed and ordered to leave the Terrific
nv. Mr.. Penny hacker is confident that
his own life, and the lives of the other
prisoners, were only saved because two of
Browns sons wereprisoners at Lecompton.
Mr.. Penny hacker adds:
"John Brown was afterwards whipped
at Ossawatomie, and | believe he then
left the Territory. Of his subsequent
operations there | know nothing. That
he, without provocatlon, inhumanly muir
dered men in their beds, ! know That
he committed robbery and thefts of goods
and horses, heard from his son aud his
own men, and saw with my own eyes;
but that he ever gave rs an excuse that
he was attempting to run of slaves while
doing this Kansas work. never heard
from him or any one else. There was not
slave within forty miles of Pottawato
mic Creek, where he committed the muir
ders, and not one Of the murdered men
had ever raised an arm against him."
We have not the slightest objection that
the abolitionists should canonize Brown.
Indeed, it seems TO us entirely fit that
they should canonize him, for no other man
has been so faithful to the teachings of abb
olitionism. But we are determined that,
so far as in us lies, the public shall not
remain ignorant Of his history. If he
be made a saint, the world shall know
that it is not for good works, but for hid ..
eous crimes, that his memory is embalm-
ed.
Had the invasion of Harper's Ferry
been his first crime, he would deserve uni
versal execraton. What more detest-
able crime than treason2 That he COM
United at Harpers Ferry. He committed
murder there. He went there TO incite
slave instruction, and slave insurrec-
ton involves murder, the desolation OF
homes, the violation of women and gene
raj confagration. II involves the most
awful conseq ueuces that can befal COM
munity. Who, in the whole history of
crime, has been greater criminal, accord
ing TO his power and opportunities, than
John Brown?
What fanaticism is it that canonizes
this criminal To what pass have we
arrived when such criminal commands,
now that he is about to rece We the just
penalty of the law, widespread sympathy
and commiseration! This sympathy and
commiseration are not confined TO the
Garrison aboitionists--those who hold
that the constitution is compact with
hell and covenant with death; Il IS
shared By nearly The Whoie black repu6-
Hcaa press Of tie country. Why, it was
only the other day that Mr.. r. w. En-
erson, in public lecture, called upon his
hearers to look nearer, at the new saint,
now in prison awaiting martyrdom, who if
he shall suffer- wW make the gdlloaOS
glorious, like tie cross" and any num-
Der of the black republican papers have
applauded the horrible blasphemy. The
Garrison abolitionists will not be the only
worshppers at the shrine of SAINT
BRowN. bet. Free Press.
WAsHINeroN lRvINos DEATH.--It is
with regret we announce that WASHING
TON Irvine retired TO his sleeping room
at 1890 o'clock, on tho evening of the
2sth ut., and after undressing fell and
expired in about five minutes. He was