Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-11-02
The Harper's Ferry Affair.

2dI1tIl0 Tile T0Cc1lt AOOllttOA 0te\AAI n
an instruction among the slaves at Harper's i
Ferry, in Virginia. 1t is a classification OF
truth to call it an instruction. 1t was no {
such thing, for the negroes refused to take {
part or lot in it-though they were forcibly t
carried off from some adjoining plantatons.-
This is a memorable and encouraging fact, and
ought to convince the deluded victims OF a
crazy fantiicism, how hopeless it is for them
to persevere in their diabolical plans. 1t is
one ofthe strangest events of the period. That
% men should undertake such an enterprise,
argues a fanaticism amounting to insanity.
That they should have succeeded for a single
night. in the midst of a population of 1000
white people, is amazing. That they shed
so little blood, and robbed nobody, are not
the least remarkable features of the affair
The only thing about it all which happened
as might have been expected, was the com
plete and speedy extinction of the guilty
band of cut-throats.
If it be true-as hinted-that Gov. Wise
of Virginia, is to make a requisition upon
Gov. Morgan, of New York for the surrender
Of Hon. Gerrit Smith, (the Republican ex-
Member of Congress) as an accessory of
Brown's-verily 1.-The end is not yet"
Nearly all the Northern papers denounce
Brown and his expedition in the strongest
terms, but some of them would doubtless have
exulted judging from the tone of their edito-
rails, had he been successful. Some of the
New York sensation preachers, on Sunday,
instead of preaching Christ, spoke of "0ld
Brown as crucified. At the Hope Chapel,
Rev. Geo. f. Noyes held forth on 'The IRE
pressible Conflict between Freedom and Slave
ry," and allusion was made to the sam thing
lin.the sermons of Rev. DIR. Chesver, Rev. Mr..
rockingham, and CAST, but not least,) Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher, at the Plymouth
Church, Brooklyn.
We give below a number of items relating
to the affair:
GIDDINGs observation-disclosures docu-
ments have been discovered, clearly showing
the completely of Joshua r. Giddings, and of
other Republican leaders, with the attempted
servile instruction at Harper's Ferry.
How THE SLAVES RECEIVED BRowN's Prop
osTTIoN.-A negro boy, belonging to Mr..
Washington, who was taken by the insnr-
gents at the time his master was, when he
reached the Ferry was offered a pike, viii Oh
he refused, when one of the insurgents told
him that he was free and should fight the
whites. The boy replied, Il don't know any
3 thing about being free | was free enough be
fore you took me, and Tn not going to fight
until l see Massa Lewis fighting, and then
Gcbk Gov hin - Thsc how ueC arponr tho pric
oners in the engine-house.
WHAT IS KANSAS WORK ?-One of the let
:. tiers from Gerrit Smith to Brown, found
among the papers of the latter at Harper'
Ferry, speaks of having given him considera
BILE sums of money to aid in the prosecution
: of his kansas work" This phrase, a littl,
, peculiar and enigmatical in itself, occurs N
!, less than four times in a letter of about TWEEN
ty-fve lines. AS the letter is dated June 4
1869, and addressed to a man xho had no
+ been in Kansas for a year, and so far as ap
!. pears never intended to go there again, tn
4 suspicion naturally arises that the word
mean something more than meets the ear
VIII not Mr.. Smith explain them? Wha
= did he mean by Browns Kansas work ?-l
!; 7. Times.
r. TRIAL OF THE INsURRECTIoNIsTs TIL
l. Magistrates Court assembled at Charlie
, j W w Il 49, VII I'm -Obht W 06AAAAl ShO pm
a. oners captured in the recent Instruction
e, The following magistrates were on the bench
Col. Davenport, Presiding Justice; DIR. a
exander, John J. Lock, John F. Smith, Tho
lie H. Willie, Geo. w. Eichelberger, Charles !
Lewis, and Moses w. Burr.
At half past 10 o'clock the Sheriff was {
y rected to bring in the prisoners, who we
conducted from the jail under a guard of
u armed men.
u Sheriff Campbell read the commitment
the prisoners on the charge of treason al
= murder, when Mr.. Harding, the States A
10 torney, asked that the Court might ASST
- counsel for the prisoners, if they had none.
y The Court inquired if the prisoners b
u counsel, when Brown addressed the court
follows:
"~ViYginians-I did not ask for any au,
81 ter at the time was taken. | did not a
We to have myself spared. The Governor of
State Of Virginia rendered me his assurar
v that | should have a fair trial, and under
circumstances whatever will l be able to
on tend to a trial. If you seek my blood you {
we have it at any moment without the mocke
~ of a trial.
Il have had no counsel. have not b.
a able to advise with one. l know nothi
err about the feelings of my fellow prisoners, a
er am utterly unable to attend in any way
zen my own defence. My memory don't SCI
he me. My health IS insufficient, although
sas proving. There are mitigating circumst
ar. ces, if a fair trial is to be allowed us, tia
Jed would urge in our favor. But if We are to
yn- forced with a mere form of a trial to exc
nd ton, you might spare yourselves that trout
the l am ready for my fate. | do not ask a
ous al. | plead for no mockery of q trial
20. insult-nothing but that which console
gives or cowardice would drive you to d
ion tice.
Il ask to be excused from the mocker
a trial. / do not know what the desig
The this examination is. | do not know wha
one TO be the benefit of it to the Commonwea
ris- | have now little to ask other than that
fine net publicly insulted as cowardly barbari
insult those who fall into their hands"
out The court assigned Charles j. FaulL
cot and Lawson Bolts as counsel for the pri
nng ers.
After some consultation With the pri
ers, Mr.. Faulkner, addressing the Co
lrai said:
ice, was about to remark To the Court
IN although feel at any time willing to
oh- charge any duty which the Court can lie
the ly and by authority of law devolve upon
for am not, in the first place, aware of any
rent thority which this Court has, sitting as