The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-11-05

MnAlu nave insured lhtlf Destruction.
have heard him often lament the loss Of
this chance with the most earnest sincerity
What are five 10 one p said he, when our
men would be lighting for their wives, their
children, their homes and their liberties
against party, ono haTf df whom W6T6 msr'
cinary yasnbonds who enlisted for a mere
frolic lured on by the whisky and the bacon,
and large portion Of the Others hat gone
under the compulson Of public opinion and
prescription and because they feared being
denounced - abolilionists Il they refused
/ lis conduct az the sack of Osawatame is
well known John Reid, a prominent las
ger of Jackson county, and a member of the
Missouri Legislature marched upon that
town With 800 men and two pieces Of artille-
aud Brown had barely time 10 get inio TIM
Der which lines the Usage River with 80 men
aud limited supply Of ammunition, when
the whole force Of their assailants marched
upon the prairie 10 front Of them. With his
usual irdomitahe courage AID Undertaking
confidence la himself be- gave no thought 10
tbc odds Of ten tu ono, Or 10 making his cs-
cape from the danger nor did he wait for the
enemy to commence the fight, but carefully
dispo,,ng bis men, hc opsned rapid and
constant fire, which was returned of course,
but the MiWouriaus, not knowing his mum
bgrs aut'icaring an ambuseadc, would not
venture into the woods, and their artillery
did little harm 10 men lying on the ground
and loading at the brecch, The result was
that 90 or 20 Of the Missourians we're Killed
or wounded two OF Is roWns n,en we're killed
aud the rcst be carried IN safety, through the
timber up The river aud across the ford.
These are a few Of the, incidents In the life
Of this remarkable man, and serve 70 throw
some light, not only on his character but al
40 on the mad attempt In which he was re-
Gently engaged. He has elements Of charac'
ter. which under circumstances favorable 10
their proper development and rgh, direction
would have made him one Of the great men
Of the world. Nopoleon himself had no
more blind aud trusting confidence in his
own dc,li1y and resources has iron will and
uuOcudiug purpose we're equal 10 that Of any
man living or dead liis religious enthusiasm
and scusc Of duty exaggerated and false
though it vu,) was yet earnest and sincere
and uo, cNcelird by that Of Oliver Cromwell
OF any Of his followers, while no danger
could for moment alarm or disturb him.
Though certainly, his whole nature ~ss sub
icct TO, aud almos, eonstantly, for the last
thrcr OF four years, pcNaded 10y the deepest
cNcitcmcntN Nis exterior vas always calm and
. cool Ills manner, though conveying the
idea Of stern aud sclfsustaining man, Was
o. vet gentle and courteous, aud marked 10y fire.
h qucut aud decided manifestations Of kindness,
d and il can probably be said Of him, with
TRUTH that amid all his provoeatious he nev.
. cr prrpc,ra,cd an act of wanton or uuncecs.
( sary cruelty, lie Was scrupulously honest,
T. moral and temperate, aud never gave utter
4 aucc to boast Upon one OCCASION when
b one Of the EN. Governors of Kansas said to
q him that he was a marked man, and that the
d Mi,sourians were determined, sooner or later
p 10 take biz, scalp, the old man slraightcned
', himsclfpp with a glance Of cnthisiasm ard
IS, defiance in his grey eye, 'S,r,' said he, rh,
e angel Of the Lord will camp round about me.
Ills is fierce and relentless nature Th,
c slave power had driven the iron Of persona
Vt wrong. in the form Of persecution, oppression
At and murder, into his soul anu maddcncd hin
b. into the one idea Of life, lous -uod!iu war pr
y an institution which hc believed to be- urcurs
d. ed Of God and man. Who can wonder a
@, the result And who can doubt that he, ia
,r more than the many criminals purged OF
IN guih for deeds of ,ioi,nsc at the hands OF
re courts and jurirs, is cmiucntly entitled to ,h
'd plea OF insanity write thus not to justif
in him. Society cannot afford to justify sue
I'd deeds Of blood, although many Of those wh
e. are luuIcst in their dcnunciations would b
ny very ready to justify him had he eommtte
H. these wrongs in recovering slaves and attach
nd ing abulitonists, and have had no word o
i'm condemnation for the foul murders whc
no. nude John brown desperate man. For h
- .ptvusC be IS responsible. II there Is any 1,
WI spousiJiuty- -eehlnd him. II rests on tho'
N- who first introduced uud suttiteRed the- ~
ter strumcntulities OF violence, oppression, an
,d murder, in the contest over the extension q
slavery, for they have taught him the gan
w. and educated him to proficiency IN playing
'ld Let them punish, il they will, the pupil vi
In has out learned his teachers, but it il wor
,,s than idle 20 diisavow the paternity Of the ~
tenn they have taught him. HIS own tespO
i'e slbiIity he will meet, like hero us he is. A
ts- Virginia iu arms cannot unstrng his nery
or blauch his cheek, and hc will meet his fat
ZEN whatever it is, probably w,th feeling of gri
. satisfaction that, almost unOided aud aou
~ he Was able TO throw the bpasted Slave POI
M cr OF Two great slave states into convu'sio
np- OF terreE aud summon ARMED thousands
m the Chiyalry to his capture.
rN
lii SEEpY.-Wouldnti it be well to have mi