, 1859-11-07

We have already said and repeated that ,:obu
Erown's affair 1T llarners Ferry was mad aud
f,natical; aud we hare not written, neither do
ne intend 10 writc..a line or word defending
him Or his insane a.temp; to raise an insurrcc-
tiun. because while We canuot Withhold re-
Spect for lis sincerity, his bravery Ills hui
nianisr when he might hare shed blood. and
the purposes, ns defined by himself, which aui-
mated lin. We repudiase completely nny aud all
revolutionary in!ractions Of the Law, Lclieeing
ll:at whatever evils atl1ict the country can be
removed without the dangers and exaspera-
tions and blood Of d revolution. But hold
in:,, rs we do, these opinions, VIC cannot re-
press The comparison between the conduct
Of brown and his party and that Of the ter
riiied md infuriated Virginians. That Brown
was dc>rous Of avoiding bloodshed, that he was
humane to the prisoners, ,tlIat,lse acted under the
l..ghes, sense Of honor. is without exception the
testimony Of everybody. lie struck not one
single blow for vengeance. His sons fell b.
side him. and even while his fingers were upon
their warering pulse, he did not permit a retail
ating SHOT.
The conduct Of Brown in this respect, is tue
better appreciated when put in contrast with
the barbaritics committed by the Eirrin,ans.
In the course Of the trial a young man twenty
two years Of nGe. named 1Iunter, was called
upon the stand. lie was the son ot Mr. Hunter,
the prosecuting officer. lie was TO testify CON
cerniug the shooting Of Thompson. who It was
sHuuEuk A4A EoAG ES4AccllOt Will AHlI0k
peckman on the bridge. "sllali l mention
names." nskcd the son: Every bit Of ii,
Henry; state all you saw," replied tile fa,bcr.
Then followed the testimony nf The Young
1nan. Beckman, who was shot on the bridge.
was his grand-unclc; he lotei him above III
"thets; :" he went with others tn the room where
Thompson was guarded woman sa. in Ills
lap, aud when they tried to shoot hin,, n otect-
cd bis head with her body, much in the kpirit
Of heroism as when Pocahoptas defended Capt.
smith; the young man wnx "cool about it and
deliberate :" they pushed Miss Fouke aside. and
''slung him out nf loots:' tley showed
him nlong the platform aud down the t1essle
work Of The bridge, he begging for his life nil
the time, very p1teaaefy At first; bve-the- bye,
before nc took him out Of tie roeu,, asked The
question wh4t he came here for? be said their
unir purpose WAS to free the sarcs-that be
canle here TO free the slayes or die; then he
begged, Don't take my l,fe-a prisoner = bit
phi the gun 10 him, aad he said, You may kill
me, but it will be rcveuged there arc eighty
thousand persons sworn to carry out this work :
that was lis last expression; We bore him out
on the bridge with The purpose then Of banging
hin, we had no rope, aud none could be found
it WAS moment OF wild cxcitement--two Of rs
raised our guns.-wh!ch one was first do not
knoe-and pulled the trigger; before he had
reached the ground suppose some i've or sir
the railroad track. bis back down to the earth.
nnd his face up SIS that all, gentlemen =
asked tue Iuther. 1t was ALL ISLAND a.,.le."
said the father 10 the heroic son. We suppose
The son did !" stand asde," having in 4 court Of
justice eiven this testimony in response to the
paternat direction, and with the patcrual eve
beanaiug directly upon him.-Eosf0n ftL1k