The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-07-03
REPORT OF THE HARPER'S FERRY
COMMITTEE

I On the 18th ult., the Senate Select Committee
on the Harpers Ferry raid made report, signed
by Senators Mason, Davis and Fitch. They re-
view at great length all the circumstances connect
ed with that raid, and quote largely from the volu
minous testimony They speak of the insecurity
of the peace and safety of some of the Southern
States, in the existing condition of the public
Northern mind. 1t may not, they say, become
them to suggest duty in those States to provide
by proper legislation against the Vaccinations
within their borders destructive of the peace of
their eonfederated Republics, but it did become
them fully to expose the consequences resulting
from the present license there existing to the
peace and integrity of the Union, which is neces-
sarily to involve in its continuance
The report also traces the history of the large
armament collected by John Brown, at Harpers
Ferry. The committee say there can be no doubt
that Browns plan was to commence seryile war
on the borders of Virginia, which he expected to
extend, and which he believed his resources were
sufficient to extend through that State and through
the entire South 1t does not seem he en-
trusted even his intimate friends with his plans
fully even after they were out for execution; nor
have the committee been able clearly to trace
knowledge of them to any one. The committee
after mature consideration, are not prepared to
suggest any legislation which in their opinion would
be adequate to prevent like occurrences in the
future s.f'&
The report speaks Of the constitutional duty to
protect States against invasion, domestic insurrec-
ton, ETC. Browns raid simply the act of law
less ruffanis:n under the sanction of no public
political authority So far as the safety of the
public property is involved the committee would
earnestly recommend that such provisions should
be made by the Executive, or if necessary, by law,
to occupy, under adequate military guard, the
public arnlores and arsenals of the United States,
in the same manner that the navy yards are now
protected. -.
The minority of the committee (Serators Cola
mer and Doolittle) make minority report They
say there is no evidence that any other citizen
except those who were with Brown, were accessory
to any outbreak or invasion by contributions,
threats or otherwise; any proof that any others
had any knowledge OF the conspiracy or Its purposes
in the year 1859. They say, too, there is no evi-
dence to show that there conspiracy to rescue
Brown his associates from the prison in Virgin
ia. h. ez-.ss lrTas
Time and reflection have happily disspated
much of the alarm and suspicion and shown that
this was but an ofshot from the exciting outrages
and lawlessness in Kansas, commenced and contn-
ued there by an armed invasion Of that territory,
to control its own people, the elections and the
government, for the introduction aud perpetuity
of slavery in that territory, hand, and resis
tance or defiance on the other The committee
say there is fact calling for legislative action.
They insist there is no such matter presented in
the testimony, in fact, as is more than intmated
in the report, that even the abolitonists in the
free States took course verify intended to pro-
duce reasonable violation of the laws and the
peace of the slaveholdihg States, much less that
any such cause is countenanced by the body of
the people in the free States.
The committee was discharged from the further
consideration Of the subject.