Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-07-13

became so by the irrtations and excitcments
Of those collisions. When comparative peace
was restored there, many, trained by such a
school, were ready for new fields Of lawless
enterprise. 10 was from such elements that
John Brown concocted his conspiracy, con-
sistiug Of young men and boys. ovor whom
he had entire control. many of them foreign.
ors, and none of substance or position in the
country.
BY peryerting tho arms, ammunition, and
clothing with which he had been entrusted.
from the purpose for which he had received
them, he secured his supplies.
1t is almost astonishing that in a country
like ours, laden with the rich experience OF
tho blessings Of security under the protection
of law, there should still bo found large bod
les of men, laboring under the inlatuation that
any good object can be effected by lawlcss-
ness and violence. IL is the prostration of
law, which is the only bond of security. 1t
can, in its nature, bcgct nothing but resist
ancc, retaliation insecurity, aud disastcr.-
And yet with all our intelligence and expe-
rience we have most unfortunate and dcplo-
rable manifestations of such infatuations.
Thoy arc dangerous in direct proportion TO
the extent Of public countonancc they receive
No object, however desirable, can iustify
them or prevent their disastrous example and
consequences. The unpunished lawless in
vasions of our weak neighborinr nations; the
tagrant and merciless breaches of our laws
against the African slave trade, ''unwhipt Of
justice;' the lawlcss armed invasions of our
own people in our own weak Territory of
Kansas, not only unpunshod, but justified.
sustained, and even rewarded. all. it is believ-
ed, to extend and sustain slavery, tended
strongly to suggest acts of lawless violence to
destroy it, especially in those who had wit
messed and suffered by these collisions. They
arc, however, all without excuse, and they
but add to the experience that no public peace
or private security can be found but where
every disregard of law meets with the most
prompt public rebuke and effective punish
ment or correction.
While this act Of violence and treason, and
the alarm, suspicion, suffering, and death it
involved are so deplorabo, we cannot but see
that the lessons which il teaches furnish ma
NY considerations of security against its rene
tition. Ages might not produce another ohm
Brown, or so fUrtuitously supply him with
such materials. The fatal termination of the
enterprise in the death and execution of SO
large part Of the number engaged the dis
persion of the small remainder as fugitives in
the land the entire disinclinaticn of the
slaves TO insuToction, or 10 receive aid for
that purpose, which was there exhibited; the
very limited number and peculiar character Of
the conspirat0rs, all combine to furnish as
suranccs against the most distant probability
of its repetition
The extent and freedom with which This in
vestigaton has been conducted has resulted
in showing that the peonle OF the free St,tcs
have had no complieity with tbis otror;ty
aud, if viewed with candor the evidence vill
remove the suspicion of extensive cor,plic;t,
which the possession of such n ouariity of
arms, unexplained. was likely 20 create. itnovy
fully appearing they were neycr furnished f,r
such purposo. Thi, Investigation has its
value. il its record be examined and treated
with candor, as it fully shows that there is no
such ground Of suspicion and distrust as has
been INDUCED amongst our peopIe and that
lawloss violence as to slavery, by efforts from
beyond its border has eliminated in this dis
astrous and abortiyo experiment.
We have very succinctlv stated the origin
agents. instruments. purposes. and result of
this doplorablo outrage, and briefly stated the
reflections, we think, it sugscsts The facts
disclosed, viewed in the light in which tbev
appear to us, and in which VIC have presented
them, however much calling for reprobation
and regret. may be, and we think should be.
used and improved to allay excitement, quiet
suspicion, and restore tranquility.
The committee having come to the conclu-
sion that no such facts have boon disclosed as
call for any Congressional legislation, we
should regard this the termination of its
duty bat, by its majority, the committee
seems to have entertained different Wow of
the object of the resolutions and purpose of
the inquiry. They give, as we suppose,
different construction from our understanding
OF those words of the resolutions which direct
an inquiry whether any citizens of the Unit
ed States not present were implicated therein,
or accessory thereto, by contributions Of mon
ey, arms, munitions, or otherwise We con-
slider that no man can be properly said to be
implicated in any transaction, or accessory
thereto who had no knowledge Of its pur-
pose, character, or existence; and the whole
committee consider that there is no evidence
that any citizen, not present, had any such
knowledge of this. Yet the committee, by its
majority, seem to regard it as their duty to
inquire whether there are any citizens who,
though not implicated" in this affair, yet
hold such opinions and pursue such courses
On the subject of slavery as are dangerous to
the national tranquility, even although Con-
gross has no power to take any action in re-