The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1859-11-10
Iamas Rnohanan ard Old John Brown.

neUts Of the world, and set Oh loot an
expedition to subvert them, his title to
the character of wild fanatic and re-
former would not have been clearer than
that which his escapsde at Harper's Fer
ry has Won for himself and his immediate
aud mediate associates. Old Brown is al
brave, cbivalrous, ,seif-sacrifcing, deladed
nan. With jutt capacity enough to CO d
prehend the value of freedom to the race,
and none to understand the relative in
terests of human society, he entered up
on hi. work at Harpers Ferry, never
Doubling his success, and never drea ing
for momeut that more would be rcquir-
cd than the simple promul cation Of his
well arranged Provisional Government
The Old N 40 bas com united q capital of
fence against the ancient Commonwealth
of Virginia He has raised the standard
OF rebellion; be has organized and put IN
force a scryile iusurrection. The proof
i, conc'u1ive that this wild scheme bas
been long the cherished purpose Of his
life. He had disclosed it in many places
and to many persons, and sought the
counsel and aid Of his former associates
in the interest of anti-slasery. He had
been eu ployed in the work of the latter
10 Kansas and elsewhere. They were en-
aged in politics, making aSe OF the sla-
very agitation; poor old Brown, more hon
est. 6eliered in the justice and humanity
of the cause, and went straight forward
to put in force its principles. They had
coueocted a theory of freedom, With high
sounding issues, the advocacy of which
was to win them the naue and character
Of phi,authropistS, without taking upon
themselves either the burdens Of their
enforcement or the lsboTs and risk OF
their practical application. John Brown
" as the victim of their false and hollow
professions. If the North had been as
honest as be, there would have been no
agitation about slavery; if the South had
teen equally honest, there would have
been no controversy. in Kansas or else.
where, on that or any other subject. Both
parties knew they were playing game
for votes, not for freedom or slavery.
Mr.. Buchanau himself is more guilty il
moral seuse. for the work at Harper S
Ferry, than poor old John Brown. he
was elected to the Presidency on the ba
,is of isuorino tue whole slavery question
in the States aud in Congress. lie quick
4 ly abandoned bis position, aud went over
not to the people of the South, but to
few Southern extremists, who SUDDEN.
conceived the brilliant idea that the,
could so consirne the Federel Con-titu
ton as to make that eompsct prQprl0 rlg
ore establish and maintain slavery in al
tie public Territories This scheme ex
cited deep aud universal disgust in th
uiuds of the whole country. 1t gaze rIs
to au q preston that the Executive Gov
ernment had undertaken to prop agat
slavery. The decision of the Suprem
Court in the Dred Scott case was so per
yerted by Mr.. Buchanan, in bis first mes
sage. as TO cover this project. 1t wa
boldly avoWed that slavery existed in a
the new States, "by virtue Of the Consti
tItioD." This enormous and abominabl
heresy was followed By an Executive POI
D icy so weak, shiitless, aud tire-serving
= as to impair the confidence of the cour
try in the integrity and capscity of th
President, and coDEict him of deliber
ate sttempt to use bis constitutional pow
ers to propagate the institution of slave
o ~, not only in opposition to, but in col
. tempt Of, the people, whose right it is I
determine that and every other questiO
OF dOmestic polity. Upon minds ik
John Browns this scheme of the Pres
dent was destined to exert powerful il
huence. In proof of this We need on
refer to the Pervading exeitemeu whic
followed the public announcemen ut of NJ
Buehanan's policy; to the condition of ii
y Democratic party, distracted and broke
or at every point; to the triumph of the r.
le pubicans in the free State; to the III a.
Il d,ucd zeal Of the Abolitionists; an
= dually, to the Harpers Ferry enee~te, wi
/ ITS fatal aDI disgraceful incidents, resul
TO ing in the conviction and sentence Of O
at Brown, about the only honest and bra
di,ciple cf the entire Abolition family.
A nd Mr.. Buchanan pursued the cour
marked out in bis election, and indicat,
be by every sense of patriotism and fair de
ce aling, there woulG have been no Ii arpe
ng Ferry escapade; DO capture, BY ban
Is, ful of uep, of town of three thousa
be inhabitants; 10 arrest of guilty parti,
H. and the Government of Virginia mig
ee have been spared the intense mortifc
to ton ef viudieating her honor, under c
% eupstances 80 equivocal and uaseemIy
ao those attending the whole affair. Up
W Mr. Buchanan rests the chief responsit
IL ity q this unfortunate state of things.
nd His is the moral guilt; while the legal
- possibility falls upon man honest a
be brave, but too weak to appreciate eitl
me the true nature OF bis offence or tue SOU
N Of his guilt.
m There are thousands and tens of tht
re- sands of Ohm Browns in this country
he tens Of tbousaods who entertained his
ras piuions, sywpatised with biz projects, a
iu- only wanted the courage aud integrity
&C. unite themselves with bis cri ninal exl
od dition. There are thousands in the n O
he and thousands in the South men v
4 Al Il ~ Il