Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-09
The Harper's Ferry Affair.

II is not arkabe that the Harpers Ferry affair
should continue to be topic of interest Old
Brown has been tried and convicted, the jury find
in him guilty of murder in the first degree, and of
uclson One good hanging will answer for both
crimes, but he will no doubt appeal, and delay his
execution as long possible. We trust the gallows
will not be cheated of It's dues at last. During his
trial he exercised his wits to delay, and finally
dismissed the counsel appointed for HIM By the
Court procuring other counsel, one from Boston
and one or two others from Ohio In the language
o the Petersburg Press 1.-THE tedious process Of
law kept back the swift hand of Justice" and We
mach fear that same process will yet keep back that
hand for many months longer
The trial of Coppee, one of Browns confedcratcs,
was commenced on Tuesday last of course he
viii he found guilty. will be the entire company
but we fear the tedious process of the law" will
preserve their recks for long time. We almost
regret that the whole crew was not s,lmmary dealt
WITH according to jnstice if not exactly according
to lt~. Such fate would have stricken terror to
the hearts of their adorS and abettors, and
M re surely prevented repetition of their tendish
attempts
Cook recently captured in Pennsylvania and
sent back TO Virginia. is the brotin-law of ExGov.
W. W.lald, of Indiana. 4 correspondent of the Balt
more Sun gives the following account of an inter-
view between them Senator Mason being present:
Governor Willard, of Indiana, visited his broth
er-in-law, Cook, yesterday IN jail, in company with
Senator Mason. MIR. Mason proposed TO the Cover
# to retire. when the latter entered suggesting that
h. would probably prefer that his interview should
b. private. and also for the reason that anything
Cook might say he should feel bound to testify to if
clcd upon Il witness. Governor Willard very
promptly replied that he himself would be a witness
in court to any facts Cook might communicate and
insisted that Mr. Mason should be present Cover
nor Willard urged Cook to make full confession of
all he knew connected with the affair at Harpers
Ferry in order to exonerate those who were innO-
cent and to punish those who were implicated, as
the only atonement he could now make. Cook Sig-
uicd his willingness to do So, and he will probably
make written confession. He told Cook he had
n,thing to hope for but death Gov. Willard states
that his family had lost sight of Cook for several
years. and supposed he was dead, until upon read
Ing his name in the papers. he determined to visit
laricstown to ascertain if he was his relative Mrs.
Willard, he states is In sssit distress at the conduct
of her brother" III
= One fact will strike the public mind with peculiar
any quarter, has yet been implicated, in the slight
est manner, in this diabolical attempt; while there
is scarcely prominent Abotionist or leading
Black Republican who is not involved. Gerret
Smith, Gddings, Greey, Seward, Chase Hale and
many others have aided or countenanced the move
ment. We trust the strong arm of the federal gov
ernment will be able to reach them all. If inno
cent let them rejoice in opportunity to relieve
themselves from the dark suspicion surrounding
them; and if guilty, that guilt is treason, and LEI
them receive the traitors doom! -
| Suppose Cook had been arrested in State with
! Black Republican Governor, think you he woult
have been so readily delivered up to the Virgn
authorities? Or with Black Republican in th
presidential chair, would the Southern people fec
secure? Would not the power of the governmen
be welded to protect rather than to punish the gull
ty? We now feel no apprehenSions; for we hav
confidence in James Buchanan, and doubt not hi
fidelity to the Constitution and to his official oath
What will be the effect of this outrage on tn
future politics of the country, time must decide
That it will increase the vigilance of the South, W
cannot doubt; and we can only hope that it vii
engender a healthier and juster feeling at tn
North. The South will be calm, but determined
and will look to the North to correct its errors
Should it repudiate the traitors and their sympa
thlzers, the South will be glad; but should it sus
tain them, the South must rely on itself, protec
itself, and vindicate its honor, in the Union if
can-out of it If it must