The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-10-26
War at Harper's Ferry

3 War at Harper's Ferry
The newspapers for some days past, have
been filed with, accounts of an insurrectiona
at Harpers Ferry. Virginia, aud John Brown.
late of Summit County, and more recently Of
Kansas potoriety. seems to have been at the
head of the ffacas whatever it was.
For along time John Brown has not been be-
lieVed by many Immediately acquainted with
him, to be thoroughly sane on matters pertain
| ing toSlavery; bis troubles in Kansas.the murd-
| er of his son by the Border Rufians the de-
struction of bis property. and his own person
a, hardships and exposures. it is believed have
unse tiled his mind at least, have served to
render him monomonical inasmuch that he
has considered himself the Heaven-designated
agent for the liberation of the Southern slaves,
and the overthrow of American Slavery
Possessed of this idea, and burning and thirst
ing for revenge on slave holders generally, he
set himself apart TO this single purpose. and
by night and by day pursued it with unswerv-
ing energy. 1t must be confessed there was
method in his Madness but how any sane
man could conceive such plan, and how any
sane men could connect themselves with it, is
past our comprehension.
The reports of the fracas are doubtless
greatly exaggerated. Browns force, it seems,
consisted of seventeen white men and FIVE
negroes, and with this formabfe army, a Pro
visional Government for the United State
was to be established, the slaves liberated, and
cur present Government revolutionized.-
What short of insanity could have conceived
srch an idea? .a1 tad
But the anic struck into all siavedom, b
this Insignificant handful of Insurgents, is
noticeable feature. A requisition was mad
upon the Governor Of Virginia, and the Pres
ident Of the United States, for troops, an
those officials bestirred themselves with alac
rity, and thousand well equipped, we'll arme !
troops we're thrown in hot haste into the vii
lage of Harper's Ferry to put down Osss
wotamie Brown, sixteen white men. and fv i
negroes e a as @
In the city Of Washington, the communit
was in panic of ecstatic terror the Mayo
called out the City Invincibles. and with the,
remained on duty all night, and patroles an
seniinels traversed every part of the city
the fear being that the terrible John Brow !.
and his "army" would burst into Washington
and like the British in the war of 1872, driv !
the "Government" into the Potomac, or some
where else. There is but step from tb
sublime TO the ridiculous" and if the Mayo
of Washington had taken his stand by th
side of the President, in the Portico of tn
White house, and sung the famous nurser,
cold John Brown had q little Indian"
the farce would have been complete.
The whole panic shows the conscious gull
of shareholders and slaveholding communities.
They know they are criminals before God
they know the vengeance of the oppressed
would be but just retributiop, and they live
by day and by night in feverish fear-and
there is not a slaveholding plantation in all the
South that has not felt thrill of horror at +
this Harperis Ferry affair, and painful feel.
ing of insecurity, at this moment peryades the
entire South
How unnatural is all this slaveholding busi-
antagonisms between the oppres-
sor and the oppressed it begets-how insecure
is domestic life. for the fury of insurrection
may at any moment produce scenes too horri |
BILE to contemplate. And yet as men SOW. they
shall reap, and the ripe fruit of this slavehold.
ing system Of denominations, will yet be pluck.
I'd, in murders, in ravishment, in burnings and
n devastations. This Harper's Ferry affair
g but the pecursor of things to come. The
7engeance of the Almighty will not sleep for
ever-and woe, woe, bitter woe is recorded
against the crime of human OPPRESSION
Would that men might be wise in time, and
BY doing right, and showing mercy, escape the
wrath to come.
Out of all the exaggerations of the affair
We compile as Ineligible an account of the
Eoray as we can -
On Sunday night, the 16;h inst, Capt.
Brown and his men took possession of the
United States Army, at Harperis Ferry.
BALrMoRE, Oct. ls-3 o'clock A. M.-The
town of Harpers Ferry, has been taken DOS
session of by companies from CharlestownI
and Shepartstown Va, and Frederick, Md
The rioters are entrenched in the armory and
hold Mr.. Washington and Mr. LanenfieId as
prisoners The insnrrectionists are command
I'D by Capt. Brown, of Kansas notoriety; they
originally IL white men and ne.
groes. several Of whom were shot. Two men
OF the Mattinsburg company were shot dead
whilst charging on the armory. 7 f
A portion of the Insurgents have left here
under the command of leader named Cook.
who, with large party of slaves, is surpassed
TO be moving toward Pennsylvania.
Allen Evans, one of the insurgents, is living
IN dying condition here, having been shot
through the breast. He is from CONNECTICUT,
but has been in Kansas. He says the whole
scheme was got up by Brown, who represent.
I'd that the negroes would rise by thousands
and Maryland and Virginia would be madel
free Staies.
Col Shriver Of Frederick, has lust had api
Interview with Brown in the armory. III,
asked to be allowed to march ont with bi l
men, and averred his intention of defending 1
,imself to the last His men are very strong
y posted in the engine house and cannon can l
not be used against them, for fear of iniuriDe
loe prisoners they still hold. Same sixteenh
persons are known to have been killed.
Fountain Beckman. Raili Dad agent was sbotE
nead from the armory. Three rioters are lv.
ing dead under the bridge, having been shotf
oy the iShepardstown troops in their cbaree
On the bridge. Capt. Cook is second in com.
nand of the insurgents. He is said to he
posted in a school house, four miles distant
with large body of runaway slaves.
The armory was taken possession of about
y o'clock on Sunday night. So quietly was it
&c aone that the citizens knew nothing Of it IN
I'll .he train was stopped Col Lee, who has