Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-11-25
The Ground OF Apprehension.

The Ground Of Apprehension.
Many PERSONS, when the news first came
that all was quiet at and about Charlestown,
and that no attempt at rescue was to be i'm
mediately expected, concluded at once that
tho embarkation Of troops from Richmond
and elsewhere to the scene Of danger was
premature and hasty and some blamed Col.
Davis and Gov Wise as too impulsive and
prompt in their action in the premises.
For ourselves, although from what we could
hear of the cause for this sudden movement,
we saw nothing to justify so hasty con-
centration Of slch large force at Charles
town, yet we felt sure, from our knowledge
Of Gov. Wise. and his admirable conduct
throughout this whole affair, that he must
have some more reliable information than
had yet been youchsafed to the public; and
that we were cot mistaken the letters from
reliable sources, which we publish below,
ccnclusivsly show.
Gov. Wise's enemies throughout this
State and the Union are but too ready to
snatch at anything which looks like indis-
erection, in his conduct, and as his prompt
ness and energy in the discharge Of his
official duties cannot be quest toned, they
thus seek to prejudice him in the eyes of
his fellow citizens but we defy any one to
read the letters which we publish, and con-
slider them in connection with the many tel
egraphic dispatches received, and the mum
Der Of incendiary fires that have occurred
about Charlestown, and the many other
indications of an intended rescue, and say
that Gov. Wise had not ample reason to
suppose that an attempt at rescue was i'm
minent.
In our opinion, his action has not been q
bit too prompt; on the other hand, if it had
been less prompt and effective, and serious
bad results had followed, we should have
considered him derelict in his duty, and
would have so held him before the bar of
public opinion. What if no rescue has been
attempted, how do we know that the ener-
gy Of our Executive has not nipped such a
movement in the bud and how do we
know what design is still secretly enter
tanned by the friends of Brown The eff
fective action Of the Governor may, and we
think will. put a stop to all the attempts Of
the abolitionists, and they, finding rescu e
impossible, may take another tack and rep
resent Virginia and her Gov. as frightened
to death at nothing; but as Wise himself
strikingly said, 1T is better to be the
object Of general riiicule than general dis
grace
The following are few Of the many let
tiers from reliable men which were received
by Gov. Wise. The names are retained by
the Governor out Of respect to their au-
thors, but We are assured that the gentle
men writing them are perfectly reliable:
"Ertract from a Letter from Lemisbury,
Union County, Pa, Nou. Is, 1859
"As friend to the Constitution and the
Union, I feel it my duty to apprise you Of
sworn, secret and lawless band of fanati-
cal abolitionists and Black Republicans now
forming in this as well as several other coun-
ties in this State. The principal organiza-
ton is in this village, and auxiliary socie-
ties exist in the neighboring towns. They
call themselves "TnE NOBLE Sons OF LIE
ERrY," and as far as can learn number
about 500 in all, and are led by Capt Jas.
Smelly, alias Timber JIM" an ultra abo-
litionist Of this village. They are armed
with pair Of CoLr's REvoLvERs each, and
design dropping into Char1cstown and the
adjacent places by ones and twos, so as to
avoid suspicion, and when all are collected
at Charlestown, at a certain signal, pounce
upon the Jail and demand the release of that
old william, John Brown, now prisoner in
the hands Of the judiciary Of your State
s'The reason for using revolvcrs is, that
they can be carried about the person with
out attracting attention or suspicion.
''The exact time for collecting the forces
of the brlgands above mentioned, | could
not ascertain, but they will go to Charles
town in disguise and mostly by night, which
I believe is the plan adopte q BY their ring
leader.
"Thus far they have observed the utmost
secrecy as to the existence and object Of
their association, and to avoid suspicion on
the part of all outsiders here, they will leave
gradually, 50 that their motives will not be
suspected until day or two previous to the
execution of Brown X X
Il was ushercd into large room, where
to my establishment, found about seventy
FIVE persons congregated-all seemingly
conversing upon some topic which they
wished kept secret.
while I was in the room several per-
sons were initiated and TOOK the oath Of
membership"
Extract from a Letter from Enon, Cla:k
County, Ohio.
Although we are personally entirely
strangers to each other, take the liberty
Of addressing a few lines to you; whether
they will be of any benefit to you or not, l
know not Since the break out Of trouble
at Harper's Ferry, there has been, and still