The Van Buren press., 1859-10-28
The Harpers Ferry Insurrectsen

The Harperls Ferry Insunecsen
By St. Louis papers Of late date we are
in possession Of news Of an important and
daring character. relative to the late iusur-
rcctionary movement. At Harper's Ferry, a
synopsis of which will be found in to-days
paper. 1t is very evident from the facts
adduced on determination of Brorn and
others Of the party. and from the papers
found in their possession, that it was deep,
well concocted scheme advised. aided and
Allotted BY prominent northern abolition "a
natics, for the efectual rising and emanci.
patton Of the slaves in Maryland and North
ern Virginia and had the rising among
the slaves been as extended and general as
they supposed and wished. the imagination
Is left to depict the horror and bloodshed
that would have followed tbs conflict they
seem determined to obtain by mob violence.
what the law and the Constitution, cannot
and will not grant, and place themselves
and the South. in such an antagonistical al
titude as will force a speedy dissolution of
the Union, and if such be their aim, it
would appear they were in fair way to At
tain their object. This hostile demonstra-
ton. against the peace and tranquility of
the South, this disruption, if endorsed by
the masses at the North, and sactioned and
approved by the conservative portion of its
citizens. win engender spirit Of retalia-
ton, that will soon array in armed hostili-
ty. one portion of this country against the
other, and civil war, with all of its evils,
be almost forced upon us. If we tamely
submit to these assaults by lawless mobs,
and unprincipled fanatics, when and where
will they cease? when will we be safe from
these outrages? :? Must we idly stand and
allow these demons, to send their cohorts
into the heart of our country. insiduousIy
tamper with our negrOes-instigate them to
revolt and rouse their worst passions
place weapons in their hands and encourage
them to become assas>ins, robbers and MUIR
derers. No. rises spontaneously from every
Southern heart, we must not and will not
and the South calls upon the government
to investigate this matter, and upon the
head of every Derson engaged in this villa
ny. let the sword Of justice fall and if it be
treason to commit the act, those who gave
them the substantial laid and comfort Z"
are equally guilty and should be alike con-
demncd. Our rights must not be invaded,
but our security and domestic safety is in
our own vigilance and watchfulness, for.
from the Vaccinations of these unscrupu
lous freebooters, we can have no security or
indemnity, either for the present or the fu-.
ture. Truly have the people of the South
cause for alarm at these recent manifesto
tions of bold rebellion and from the iana:i-
cal and false philanthrophic spirit, that
call these men to sacrifice their lives as mar
tyrs to this cause of negro freedom. Wha;
will not such psrtizans as Gerritt Smith
and his like resort to, in the accomplish
ment Of their ends.
This is one Of the offsprings Of sectional
agitation. and if the people of the north,
thro' their blind zeal or devotion 10 faction
are SO lost to moral and constitutional oo-
legations as to uphold such iniquit"us acts.
then has the time arrived, when dire neccs
sity compels. us to "shout the defiant
whoop and grapple in the tiger strife. /"
Whilst we are law abil;. ;.np. we should also
be sell PROTECTING, and adopt such measures
Tor our safe:.y as will rid us of these emf
saries: II We have them among us and pre-
Gent their future ingress. 1t is no great
distance from us to Bleeding Kansas"
out of which has grown NEST of these vio-
lent dissensions. and to this quarter i; be-
hoOves US to be On our guard.