The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-03-12

| to satisfy his ciaic. This is . fair business
transaction, and probably Dr. Potts was so
! horr'te ut the idea OF av'ng anything to do
with slaves that he, like many ether Northern
theoretical aboli,i onists who come into posses
sion Of that kind of property in some unex-
pected way, sold his niggers at the earliest
possible opporlui i;y. Our Southern CO
temporary blames Dr.. Potts foo selling
negroes in 1874, ard preaching an abo-
lition sermon in 1859; but 1t must be re-
membered that, like most antislavery people.
be bad already made all the money he could
out Of the business, and was therefore at liberty
to relieve his mind on the subject. Probably
Beecher, Cheever, and all the other sbolitien
parsons, would do the same thing If they were
placed in the position Of DR.. Potts. He lends
money on interest that il his worldly business-
with Niger securities; he breaches abolition
sermons-that is his way OF keeping square with
the other world. The Doctor Is paid for his ser
mons, and must suit the taste Of his congrega
ton, being, like Saint Pasl, Gan things to all
men, 7" white, black and yellow, North and South
We do not suppose that either the Southern or
Northern press, religious and secular, WIN Wow
the apparent contradiction between DR.. Potta'
principles and his practice from the broad
philanthropic standpoint which we have a.
sumcd, but We should like to hear from the
Tribune and the Independent on the subject.
The LAST OF THE HAMPERS FERRY REBEIs.-
i We have already given the fact that Mr.. SEN
motifs appeal to the Senate Committee of the
Virginia Legislature, to induce them to inter
pose with the Governor, SO as to induce HIM
20 parocn Stevens and Hsz'ett, the two last o.
the crimipals Convicted OF participation 10 thr
Hs,p-r's Ferry rebellion had failed. Thes.
men ~ere not tiled on the indictment for trea
| son. Ike Brown, but Ter murder aud conspiri
| cy. Had they been tried and convicted of
| T., ason. ,be Governor could not pardon The
| gardening power in such cases is only in the
stare Sc, ate; but the conviction being for
| different offences, it is in the power of the
.sovrnor to paIdon and not in the
oow+r Of the Senate. The Committee
therefore, only listened to the argument
| of Mr.. Senuott from courtesy, and his
object was to persuade them TO influence the
! Executive IN favor of pardon. After hearing his
argument, however, the committee unanimously
dec,,.d II at th.r, was no ground advanced on
which they could recommend Governor Letcher
to show mercy to those misguided men. The
suit Is. that they will be hanged ON Friday
next. And that will be the last Of the Harper's
Ferry insurgents.
Tbese men, like the other criminals, have
bad a TAU ilial. They had able counsel. There
is NO allegation that they were not lilty OF
the acts with which they were charged. The
peopls Legislature and Exc :utve OF Vir-
GINA hav- either 'nterfered for nor against
them, but a. owed tie law TO take It's cotuse,
aud its n sj.s'y to t.. vindicated by the sicri-
fee Of those who 60 wantonly violated it hV
def DIS of blooi 1t is the eternal law Of justice,
that whatsoever sheddeth mans blood By man
shall his blood be she'd.
MIR. Sennott, whose argument was chiefly in
favor of Stevens, IN the ground OF his extreme
youth ind his fanatical ideas, suggested to the
committee that the convict was not In his right
MIND and therefore ought not to suffer. We sup
pose the fanaticism OF Stevens was of the same
Engaged in the business were more or less
fanatical; but that Is no reason why they should
be pardoned. Their fanaticism is Of too dan.
gerous and criminal description to permi,
them to live to play over again the same
tragedy, or to encourage Their men like them
| to follow their bad example.
Mr. Sennott COM ares them with Washing.cr
who, though he killed SO many of his fellow
countrymen, was adjudged not only I'M ocent
but Zero, By the American people Wsi
George Washington, item, only fanatic, and
are his glorious deeds 10 be brought down to q
level with the acts of gang of mar .uder. and
horse thieves? George Washington fought
not against his country, bnt for it,
and the cause in which he W s engag.d was
holy. The cause in which John Brown and bis
associates were engaged was mt o'y nd ac-
cursed, and the most criminal that ever mortal
man embarked in. There is, therefore, no
analogy between the cases, and it is impious to
make such comparison. We do not believe
in the doctrine that success sanctif q rebellion;
for If Washington had failed his cause would
have been equally good. But insurrection to
overthrow free government where the people
rule, and can chsnge the laws if there Is any
thing wrong in them is the most detestable of
all crimes, and, lift were possible, deserves a
| punishment worse than the ignominious gal
l,ws.
| AFFAIRS OF THE CENTRAL PARK-We have
already printed the resolutions introduced in
the State Senate on Friday week by Mr.. Mcleod
Murphy. apropos to the affairs Of the Central
Park Mr. Murpby's resolutions which passed
the Senate without dissent, asked the Com
missioners OF the Park for certain details of