Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-03
HARPER's FERRY CONSPIRACY
SIGNS OF TIE TINES.

the late outrage at HarPers Ferry, motion of Dr. Jno
: Mayo Laurence Washington, ESQ, was chosen Chair
man, and j. b. Jet, Secretary.
Preliminary to the action Of the meeting George w
Lewis ESQ., In few eloquent aud appropriate remarks
stated its object and submitted address prepared b
himself in which the sentiments of the people
tempted to be embodied aud which, being read was
unanimously and warmly received
The address begins aud proceeds follows:
The late invasion OF Virginia at Harpers Ferry by
coniederated baud of abollOnists encouraged by tn,
counsels and supported by the material aid of promnen
in several of the Northern States has confirmed IN,
of the suspicious aud shaken the confidence of tn,
trusiulpeope of the South to the good faith of I'll,
nonslayehoding States in respecting constitutions
rights and diSSpates all further hope Q: their preserving
Nth US peaceful aud fratcrna relations Ii Is
great change, and has already produced quick
sudden revulsion OF feeling among all parties.
The 'irrepressibe conflict forcshadowed by distin
Guished Senator OF New York has had practical com
mencemen, earlier than he perhaps foresaw and more
ragical well shortved and aborve than even his
theory contemplated Ii nevertheless the first fruits
and effect OF his bloody instruction. Aud fortunate for
us perhaps It is that came SO soon and in the very
striking and significant shape il assumed IL told the
whole tale OF his political philosophy, aud illustrated the
moral OF the perncious and inhuman teachings of the
most mischicvous class of phanthopists dangerous
type OF fanacism that disturbed the social quiet
ude dgraeed the morality, or brought odum upon the
| religion of any country in any civilized age.
Ii Is but too evident from all the Developments of the
HarPers Ferry conspiracy and massacre that they
be interpreted rs symptom of general maady widely
| dhused, and spreading the whole body of the
North at least that the infection general for
u.s. who deeply affected by its existence TO stop
TO enquire who exempt aud who not aud dscru-
mate IN our condemnation between the innocent aud the
guilty This logic forces itself irrcsistaby upon our
minds 1t is sufficient for know that the conspir-
cies against property and lives daboca schemes
for ncnglserye revolt aud for the murder and rob-
berry OF ourselves wives and daugherwth all their hor-
rble and atrocous concomants and were
deliberately planned and matured and the instruments
for their execution furnished and fitted the North
with the cognizance, encouragement inslgation and
sstance of there OF high social aud political posi-
ton. And further know that since the first act OF
this atrocious drama has been performed, have
ceived no such manifestation of decided ind naton and
abhorrcnce of the deed furnishes warrant to the
South of the absence of all sympathy the part of the
North with the traitors and murerers actively or passive
ly engaged in it. There have been, indeed some edto-
rial comments, less condemnatory of the affair
with professions of regret for what had occurred
and some disclaimers OF sympathy with the perpetrators
but these sentiments aud feelings far from being
universal as have right expect On the contrary
they manifesty but partial and than offset
and neutraZed by the most violent and nammatory
peraton OF the South aud Virginia especially from the
press and the pulpit accompanied with the most turgid
and some euoges that rhapsody aud rhetoric run mad
could bestow, upon John Brown, He is hailed as he
70 aud martyr and more than a Moses and Washing
ton, Should the spirit of phrenzed adulation and
idolAy distinguish their future orgies the sensbiity of
the nation may be prepared TO be shamed aud shocked
by solemn apoheoSs OF their Kansas and Harpers Fer
~ hero In little while at least, il is not improbable
that We shall witness the demolition OF the statue of
Daniel Webster and the Inauguration in its place of
statue OF OsSdr1ttomie Broom with Grafton on the
occasion by Wendell Phillips, in which the orator will
trace with rapurous ecStacy the murders assassinatous
and robberes OF his hero which he will extol into the
su5imest of virtues, aud the ceremonies be CON
Quoted by that learned aud eloquent divine the Rev Mr.
Beeeher assisted by the pOus Rev. MeSrs Cheever
and Wheelockl
Is this the tone and spirit and manner in which this
haguous assault upon territory and our lives and
property should be estimated and treated by American
citizens who live under the same government and the
constitution with ourseves-and are bound to Us
by many ties OF consanguinty-interes and honor!
Are they content, in this extremity, TO withhold a
cordial tribute OF consolation and succor-and think TO
satisfy with cold expression of regret or formal
dsayowa OF sympathy with murderer aud thefs Have
they no more expressive than call the feIo
NOUS ioray OF Brown mad and reckless enterprizeg"
l. this the only a,onement they propose TO make TO Us
tor such murderous outrage the legitimate result of the
teachings OF their statesmen and doctors of divinity
Have they no deeper feelng-nO profounder sense of
honor at the foul act-no expressive mode of con-
veyng their sense of shame and conron than by fu-
gye and unmeanng uerance of pity and regret in an
editorial paragraph which be the sentiment of many
OF them-or may be aud likely il only of one l.
there no other reparauon they makeg Or is the
ouy assurance they give of sorrow for the pas
and guaranty OF security for the future tell us-that
this demouac abolition feeling Is confined to few f,n,
ties IN which the Northern people a whole do not
symplhlze and participate! With accumulated evidence
before US not this heavy DAFT upon credutyg But
empty words and they moderate and guarded the only
proof OF sorrow or hostage OF security-and proer of
guaranty to riEhts-thAt these Northern brethren
have TO gyes Ii So they sufficient? Do they sat.
isy the demands of the South: Why is it. if the North
as body, does not symplthze with John Brown, and
his coneterates secret and open, that they do
in the unequiyocal terms and give Us an unmi:
taxable manifestation of their minds in their acts WHY
do they not call the people together, in meeting
and with unequyoca and unanimous demonstration of
purpose and sentiment denouuce the conspirators and
their plots: Why do they not purge themselves OF all
suspicion Of completely n the horrid schemes of thes,
abOtonists, and furnish with aacrity every practica
Die facility and aid unye and surrender the secret
coniederates OF Brown? Do they know that liar.
Der thie or murderer, Is to be TO the
/ cHmey But II i needless to ask the question. We
shall look in vain for any such active and
sympathy and from the North The remedy which
they have If they please IT, il not to he expected
OF them. Il i with We take our own cause
| and our safety, in hands The Constitn-
onal guaranty which We have depended upon aud have
constantly raised shield for defence has proved
We fear, Inadequate TO protection. The legislation
Of COugress-the judgment OF the Courts-the ntclH-
gbe safeguards OF the Federal Constitution have proved
wholly insufficient to protect against the rbald and
centiOus sco taunts rdicule lbel insults and abuse
in every shipe-heaped upon and our institutions by
Northern statesmen, editors and preachers Of the Cos
pei! These harmless weapons Of offence might have
stood a. we have done to the endmschievous a. thew
are in their ncendary effects upon slaves and eIas
/ psrating upon minds
Butcaryng their impotence further we have at length
that have been safe as recent events prye
from their hostile assault with Shapes rifle and the dead
y pike and revolver in the hands Of abolition invaders
upon our own soil! What then we to do Where
protectiOn-where our remedyy IL il idle 10 ex
pec It as We have SEEM from the people Of the North
All they can, disposed to grants mild depreca
few mingled with applause aud Iopeans on the part Of
others from the rosirum and the pulpit addressed 70 the
hero and martyr, John Brown with loud approval of
| bis conduct and principles? We resort TO RENE
dies Of our own, aud dsdan TO ask expect any step 70
be taken by the North the evil For what can
We expect from people Boosting Of their purity-par
osm aud inelgence-who will 90 this crisis fold their
| arms and look With comparative indifTerence-pav
even with sueer Of contempt aud rdicule-whist their
men reared IN their midst and schooed in the doctrines
and principles Of their Stewards and Smiths-atrocous
asassns a. they here insgate our slaves
70 revot-and murder wives-daughters and sleep
Ing niants-they Themselves leading the attack and
participating IN the bloody massacre
II is to ms, citizens Of Wesmoreland painful conou.
sion TO arrive At that compelled counsel resist
ance by The most energets This feeling h more
intense and regretul, have been constantly and
consistently among the number Of those who have ever
cherished the most hopeful and conservative sentiments
Whilst we have and oensured the criminal errors Of
the North, the question OF slavery, we have always
endeavored 70 distinguish the fsnatical Aboonst from
the patriot aud statesman aud whilst never palatcd
the conduct excused the principles and opinions Of
the former We still held hope that they we're few 90
number, and harmless for III practical mischief We
confess We we're greatly deluded. We we're, and are
devoted the Union ~ fathers formed 4