Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1860-06-23
Report OF Harper's Ferry Investigating
Committee.

COMMITTEE.
The Senate Select Committee on the
n4rper's Ferry flair. made repnrt on
the j.h inst. 1t is signed by Messrs.
Mason, Davis AMI Fitch. They review
at length all The circumstances connected
win that raid, AMI qrole largely from the
voluminous testimony. Ii speaks Of The
insecurity OF the Southern States in the
present condition of the public mind al,
North. 1t may not, they say, become
them 10 suggrS. duty 10 those States TO
provide bg proper Legislation against the
IN ,ch!natons within their borders, de
stuct.ve OF the peace Of any nf the con-
fe ierale republics, bat il did become them
foxy TO oppose the consequences result
ing from the present license there existing
To the peace and integrity of ihe Union
which is necessarily involved in It's con.
tnuance. The report, also. traces the
history Of the large armament collected by
John Brown al Harper's Ferry, and says
the raid might hav been prevented by HE
Massachusetts Kansas Committee. The
Committee say there can he no doubt that
Browns plan was 10 commence seryi G
war upon the borders of Virginia, which
he expected tn extend, and whlcl he be.
l.eved his means were sufficient TO extend
throughout the SnuIh. 1t does not seem
he entrusted his intimate friends with his
plans, even after they were ready for ex
ecrtion; nor have the Comnittee heen
able CLEARLY 10 trace know ledge e them
10 any. Tire Committee alter mature
consideration are not prepared to suggest
any Legislation which in their opinion
would be adequate 10 prevents like &C.
currence in the future.
The report speaks Of the constitutional
duty Of Congress To protect States from
INVASION, domestic insurrecliOn, &C., g..
but says that the States alone can render
such provisions effec,ual. Browns raid
was simply an act Of lswless ruffisnisn,
under the sanction Of no public or polili-
cal authority. SO far as the safety Of tie
public property is involved, the commit
tee most earnestly recommend that such
provision should be made by The Execu-
tive, or if decessory by law, 10 protect
with adequate military guard, public hull
dings and the arsenals in the States in the
same manner that Navy ards are now
protected.
The minority Of the committee, Sens
tors Collamer and Ooolitlle,) make mi
nority report. They say there is no evil
dence tina, any other citizens exrep, those
who were with Brown. were accessory
10 any outbreak or invasion by cOntrIbu-
lions thereto or otherwise, nor any proof
that any others had knowledge OF the
conspiracy, or its purposes in 1859.
They say too that there was no evidence
that ihare was conspiracy TO rescue
Brown from the prison in Virginia.
Time and reflection have happily dis
sipaled much Of ,he alarm and suspicion,
and shown that this was but an oifshoi o.
the ouuages, and lawessness in Kansas,
commenced there by an armed invasion
to control its own people, the elections.
and the government, for the Introduction
and perpeluity Of slavery in that territory
on the one hand aud resistance or defiance
on the other.
The committee say there is no fact cal
ling for legislative action. No such mat
ter is presented either in fact or testimo-
ny, as is lntmated in the majority re-
port, that the abollionisIs of the Free
States took coverIly intended TO pro-
duce a reasonable violation Of the laws
and the peace of The slave holding States,
much less than any such course is coun-
tenanced by the body of the people in the
free States.
The committee pray 10 be discharged
from the further consideration OF The sub
ject The report, exclusive Of the volum-
NOUS testimony, occupies $50 foolscap
pages.