Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-02-17
Prom the Churchman'S Magazine for January
Reflections upon the Fate Of John
Brown

AND THE PRorRIETY AND JUSTICE OF MS
EXECUTION, AND THE GENERAL WANT
OF CANDoR IN THE NORTHERN rREss
IN REGARD To TIE AFFAIR.
The Northern Press, as general thing,
has certainly spoken with great want Of
candor, in regard to the affair at Harper's
Ferry. The thing to be settled in regard
TO such an occurrence, undoubtedly is its
true character. However strange and un-
accountable il may seem, il is nevertheless
undenable, as it seems to US, that it was
serious attempt, on the part of few de-
luded men, instigated and encouraged by a
good many more, 10 excite insurrection
among the slaves, in the Southern States !
The demonstrations made at Harper's Fer.
ry, the deliberate preparation, the cores
pondence, the arms, both for the servile
and free, who should cooperate, and above
all the issuing of foreign commissions. pur-
porting TO emanate from Independent au-
thority. certainly justify the belief, that its
rash and demented abetors, had conceived
the purpose of superseding the authority of
the State of Virginia, and of the United
I
force of arms. This then was technical
treason in the most unequivocal form, both
as to the government of Virginia and the
Uuted States.
How then could have been treated in
any other manner, than il has been, by the
authorities of the State of Virginia? Are
men, found in arms against the State. and
who declare the purpose, and persist in the
right and the duty, of subverting the gov
eminent, and who have committed numer-
GUS murders in their mad efforts towards
the accomplishment of their horrid pur-
poses, the proper objects of forbearance and
clemency? Men who, but for being over
powered by military force, would now be
spreading firebrands and death throughout
the length and breadth of the land
There can be but one opinion upon this
subject, among considerate and thoughtful
men. The only doubt which any one could
possibly entertain, is in regard TO the per-
feet sanity of such men. There is doubt
less a species of monomania about it, but so
i'll defined, and so much under the control
of the will and the judgment, as TO afford
no proper excuse for crime. There was no
such loss of free-will, or any such delusion
or illusion, in the case of Brown even, as
to Justify an acquittal for murder. He was
cool, deliberate and collected in all that he
did, The train was laid with wonderful
coolness and composure: the correspond
ence was conducted with unquestionable re-
serve and secrecy, and with consummate
skill the material Of war was accumnlat-
ed with precauton and circumspection the
affair was conducted under his superin
tendence, not only with such wisdom as to
elude all suspicion Of his leading purpose
and design, among those not in the plot
but also with such consistent ability, and
persistent design, as to excite no suspicion,
in the mind Of any of his followers, of his
perfect sanity.
The thing which has struck the public
mind with most convincing force, as proof
of the want of sanity in those who planned
80 chimerica a project, is its utter and de-
piorable hopelessness. with the proposed
means of its accomplishment! But this
even is now somewhat explained by Browns
last interview with Cook. The old man,
even on his way 10 the scaffold, complained
of being deceived and duped by tis Cocoon
spirators, in regard to aid which they might
expect from the slaves, and also, it would
seem. from sympathizers, not slaves. This
affords, undoubtedly, the clue to much of
the inherent absurdity of the enterprise.
| They expected more extensive cooperation
from the professed friends of free labor and
anti-slavery in the North, and TO find also
willing mind in the slaves. In both of
these expectations they were fatally disap-
pointed.
Herein, as it seems to US, may be found
the key 10 expose much of the delusion
which evidently exists both at the North
and the South. We know next TO nothing
of the real state of things in either section.
except as we reside and move in the one
or the other, and in some few rare exccp
tions, in both.* The general rule with Us
all is, to know nothing Of what exists in
| the other section of country.
The South, in all sincerity, believe that
the entire North is bristling with bayonets.
and prepared with revolvers and sabres and
spears, TO rush down upon ihen AMI libe-
rate their slaves. And this is not wonder
ful a. it seems TO us, Judging from the tone
of the public press. More than moieiy
of the Northern press is occupied in the
most elaborate and studied abuse OF the en-
tire mass of shareholders in the South
There is nothing too bod or too bad TO
otter IN the way Of imprecation against
them. Even old Brown took these North
ern writers at their word. and in his last mo
merits charged his feolhardy enterprise, and
ms destruction. to the folly of trusting 70
suci, reckless clamor. Is il wonderful. then
that the South should believe il We thiak
not They Judge orr literature and our
daily and weekly press. by fair rule Of
judgment, whea they suppose that the de-
mand and supply regula,. each other
They can scarcely be made 10 believe up
on the strongest assurance that this is MT
so. But old Brown found that it was not.
And so will every one who canvasses clo'e-
ly. There Is not one man in hundred IT
there be one in thousand, at the North,
who will give any serious counienance 10
the foray at IIarper's Ferry. And there
is not one in a hundred Of the das.rsctive
aboliionists, sho will pay or esRt to garry