The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-11-02
The Abolition Demonstration.

We continue the publication this week
OF further details and developments Of the
late atrocious outbreak at Harper's Ferry.
Although the early reports of the numbers
engaged were greatly exaggerated, yet the
object and cold blooded designs of Brown
and his party are confirmed, and appear
more heinous as the work of disclosure and
investigation progresses. 1t is ascertained
that Browns project has been known and
encouraged for more than year by large
numbers of leading nbolitionists at the
North. Among the rest, it was known to
and aided by the distinguished Gerrt
Smith, n man whom many persons both
at the North and at the South supposed
above and incapable of aiding and abctting
in stealthy and murdcrous attack upon
the liv es and institutions of Southern citi-
zcns, rs the affair at Iarper's Ferry has
proved TO be. But this only shows us that
their is no fcngth---no sink Of perdition to
which these fanatics upon the subject Of
slavery will not descend, to accomplish
their nefarious purposes and we trust
that the Governor and the people of Virgin
in will do their whole duty and that enough
evidence Of Smiths completely with Bsown
and his colleagues may be discovered, to
warrant the Grand Jury in finding true
bill against him rs accessory before the
fact, and thus lead to requsition from the
Governor of Virginia upon the Governor of
New York for the delivery OF Smith for
trial in Virginia.
The number of white persons actually
engaged in the revolt was not more than
about twenty. Their plan and obvious de-
signs were simple enough They had ar
ranged for the formation of provisional
Government. new constitution, and had
everything in readiness, as they imagined,
for general revolution. They anticipated
that the slaves of the surrounding sections
would rise en- maSSe and that revolt and
bloodshed would spread with lightning
speed over the entire South. This was
the programme concocted by onr North ern
brethren, by which the sunny South was TO
have been, through the incendiary's torch
and the murderer's knife, reduced 10 utter
desolaton and ruin.
Upon one material point these fanatics
were mis- tak en-, and that was in reference
to the cagcrness of the ne groes for revolt
| The latter were not ripe for the movement.
| Had it been otherwise their hclIish purpo.
ses might have been in n great measure nc.
compIished for discoveries have been
made, suggesting the belief that frapments
of the incendiary band are scattered over
the whole South, who at the first intima.
ton of the success of the demonstration
in Virginia, would have been ready TO ex.
tend the torch of rebellion, and the citi-
zens from Maryland to Texas simultane-
Ousy made TO feel the existence of aLoli.
tionism in lis most fiendish shape in their
very midst.
Tow OF our most Jealous statesmen n
have warned US time and again Of the pro-
liability OF such condition Of affairs being
experienced in the South at some time in
the future, il the tide Of abolition fury ii
the North was not checked. Macy of us
hooted ut the idea and thought thai the
dangef existed but in the imaginations OF
some of our 6re-eating politicians but
the proPhesy does not now seein so absurd
the design oi committing the slave own
ess ofthe South 20 the torch and the knife
has "sen meditated, encouraged by lead.
ing men at the North and the design actual
~ attempted to be put IN execution. IL is
time that the South should look seriously
into this thing. A palpable warning is
gwen us OF the fate that is designed for us
and we will be recrcant to ourselves. re-.
:, '''''
" w f''"'' u VIC ''"e