Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-19
Gbe ytrm!ont pbeniit:


SPRINGFIEGD, LII, Oct. 31st, 1859.
Mr. Edior: The people Of the Northwest
observe, so far as can perceive, dogged 81
lence on the Harper's Ferry affair. While they
cannot approve of the rash extravaganza of
Brown, they are not the less fixed in their con-
,ictions and opinions upon the course in which
he acted. His extravaganza is regarded not so
much as the growth of the political opinions of
the Northwest, as it is Of the extraordinary
measures of our modern statesmen. 1t docs
not arise much from resentment against slav-
cry, bad as it is as it does from Indignation
against the outrageous, despotic measures that
are resorted to for its support ;-mcasurcs which
would excite opposition il any quarter of chris
tendon wherever practiced--even in Italy her
self The assault on lIarper's Ferry is but the
echo-thc after clap--the return stroke of fill
busterism, ruifansm, and Mormonism, which
have all been made use of to the disparagement
and desecration of our national laws and GUS
toms for the purpose Of forwarding political
schemes the sole object of which was the ag-
grandizement of broken down political hacks
on the basis of support and extension to slave
ry. CAN'T be possible that our leading men
are so ignorant as not to sec that Browns course
is the legitimate fruit of their example? Do
they not know that the example set by power
and authority is followed with readiness and
facility in proportion to the freedom of the sub
jcct, and that in consequence example is of
greater importance for good or evil under our
form of government than under that of despot-
ism? And how can they affect surprise at the
f1ag..a
guse more than under another-undcr the
guse of abolitionism more than und-r that of
fibuSterism?
The unpropitious seasons of late years in this
region Of country, by which the wheat crop has
been so injuriousy affected, has been produc-
tive Of one remarkable political consequence.
1t has driven large numbers of farmers into
Kansas, who have given that territory deter
mined political aspect of republicani>m which
it will probably retain as long as the Union
shall stand. But it is nothing new in the world
that such extraordinary operations Of Nature as
those which affect the crops. should act in for.
cible manner upon the institutions of man. 1t
was such operations of Nature that told against
the political power of Egypt when it sought to
continue the slavery OF the Jews; and it is rea-
sonablc that Nature herself in all her works
should resent and plead against such an outrage
upon her as the enslavement of man. 1t is as
natural that the rickety institution of slavery
should feel every extraordinary or miraculous
dem lnstration of Nature, as that the sovereign
ty OF Egypt should feel the miracles adduced
by Moses, or as that a broken down constitu-
ton should feel eastern wind. Governor
Wise talk of arming the northern counties of
Virginia He might as well draw Gordon of
bayonets against the approach Of winter.
have described to you the appearance of
., H.,
the west-from brutiied Utah. have given it
ilattering colors which would have to be attemp-
cred somewhat to one coming from the eastward
from the law and order influences. from the
humanity and refinement of New England and
New York. The faults of the northwest are
that the people are foo free, too exuberant, too
much like a thoughtless Young Sampson, glory
ing in their strength and fearless in their cour-
age, but blindly ut work pulling down the pill
lars of the state in ruins upon themselves
They don't think enough for a sovereign, self
governing people, but too blindly follow the
lead of democratic prestige and democratic
measures. They have voted ever since their
corporate existence for the highly ariStocratic
institution of slavery under the prestige of DEM
ocratic names and pretenceS. They have al
lowed too, their political cducation-false and
pernicious as it is, to have the pre- eminence and
ascendancy over all other kinds of education, so
that the public mind, true to its training, has
become very false. Our American character
used formerly TO value itself and its manhood
for being true to ones word; but now so false
and deprayed has the mind become, that if one
wishes to assure you that he is telling the truth,
he says-"rhat is ~ Or ii you wish to know
whether one is speaking the truth or politics,
you ask hm-"ls that so ~ Precisely the same
effect is exhibited by political RIGHTEOUSNESS as
developed by the republican institutions of Mex
leo. So depraved did the Mexican mind be-
come that in order to assure one of sincerity,
the affirm alton that That is the truth ~ had al
ways to be repeated. But Mexico lies in state
of acephalousness and anarchy; and if our peo-
pie do not correct some of their errors-their
political cunning, falseness and insincerity,
speaking the truth in politics as well as in all
things else, they will soon drift into the same
lamel,table condition. Nothing could be more
abhorrent to truth than the casting of demo-
cratic vote in favor of Slareyy. The northwest
however, is beginning to discover this fact and
the close, murky atmosphere of our political
world will experience clearing up roarer of a
breeze from here before another two years are
over. The Greeks never worshipped Eolus
himself as the northwest will be worshipped bye
and bye. So thinks-Yours truly
J. W. p.