The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-12-07
Atgtstrr
WEDNESDAY, DEC. I, 1859.
Dec. 2 1860.


falls to the earth, the weeping clouds are
depressed, and general depression has
fallen upon the hearts Of thinking, sympa-
thizing men and women throughout all
our extensive borders. A more than
Sabbatica seriousness rests upon the faces
OF the passers by, and the remark we hear
is these are the last hours Of JonE
Bows" # avails nothing TO say that
Brown suffers justly Tor attempting to
free q magazine, which might have pro-
duced consequences too disastrous to con
template: it ayails nothing to assert that
he madly threw himself into the Jaws Of
death there is IA sadness IN every heart
because every one feels that "A noble man
has suffered an ignominious death
1t would he vain to attempt to Justify
the course Of Brown by any system of
ethics nor can we see how it might even,
by any possible contingencies, have gained
for ii the questionable sanction whirh at
tends success. According to the prevail.
ing standards Of right and wrong the at
tempt was crime and so far as bis own
plans seem to have reached it was a totai
failure, as a clear headed, sound minded
man should have expected. Indeed it is
difficult to see how the Old Dominion has
been imperiled in the least, to see why the
palpably demented old man need to suffer
death, II is by such sentiments as these
and admiration for the rare herosm of the
man that the people of the North are so
generally moved to mourn the fate of
John Brown, rather than any uniriend-
illness for the South We have no ,loubt
that the extraordinary spectacle just ex-
hibted in the commonwealth of Virginia,
Notwithstanding its extreme righteousness
has been an occasion Of general mortifca-
ton and regret throughout the North
But Brown has suffered far more sue
cessfully than he labored. 1t was little
that he could do to hasten the downfall of
the system which so engaged his hate, but
by the foolish management Of the people
and the authorities OF Virginia more has
been accomplished for the cause of Free.
dom within the few weeks last past than
by all the Iabors of fanatics for a genera
ton From the present time datea the
rapid decline of Slavery in Virginia.
Browns part OF the great tragic COM
edy is played out according to the pro-
grmnmc. file exhibited the same charac-
teristice which have so excited the admir-
alton and wonder Of the world, to the last
moment Of his life He appeared to con.
his death with clear resignation
and expressed his belief that the good Of
the cause required that be should be le-
gaIly murdered
His wife was with him four hours of
the evening preceding his death The in
terview vas spoken of as not very affect
ing, bu. rather of a practical character,
having reference to the welfare of his
wife and family. A correspondent says
| learn from Capt Avis, the jaiior, that
the interview between the prisoner and
wife was characteristic of the man, and
the direction given for the management
and distribution of bis property embraced
all the minor details Of his last will and
testament
Gen Taliaferro was also present. and
Capt Brown urged that his wife be al
lowed to remain with him all night To
this the General refused assent allowing
them but four hours.
On first meeting, they kissed and afiec-
tionateiy embraced, and Mrs. Brown shed
a few tears, but Immediately checked her
feelings They stood, embraced, she
sobbinq, tor nearly five minutes, and he
was apparently unable to speak The
prisoner only gave way for moment, and
was soon calm and collected, and remain
ed firm throughout the interview At the
close they shook hands, but did not EN-
brace, and a. they parted be said God
| l--. he l1t,..., NJ.