Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-03
sTAUNToN VIRGINIA. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1860

have gone to greater lengths, and blasphe-
med more eloquently than this. They have
pronounced John Browns gallows holier
than the cross, aud held up his rebellion as
rebuke to the unfinished mission of our
Lord the Saviour.
~. sAt this moment" you say. "America
attracts. the attention of the whole world. .
Not at this moment only, but ever since
she became free nation this has been a
truth. To all the Kingly Governments of
Europe she has always been contrast and
an irritation-a subject fer criticism, and
whenever an opportunity for blame arose, of
denunciation. 1t is not strange then that d
rebellion in part fostered in Europe should
call forth bitter remarks there.
s1net the Judges of Charlestown and the
saveholding Jurors, and the whole popula-
ton Of Virginia ponder on it well-they are
watched they not alone in che world :
:. They have pondered on it we'll, and tho
ezeoltion. of John Brown has taken place.
If the Whole American Republic were re-
sponsible for his death, as you say it ls-it
would simply be responsible FOR a most pain
full duty solemnly performed; and received
with mournful resignation even by the most
merciful, because Of its imperative necessity.
Justice demanded the life Of this man foshe
had taken human life necessity demanded
it fer he was the spirit and soul Of treason
that threatened the foundation of our nation
ality-that would forever have been plotting
more bloodshed SO long as he Lived OH
easth. .~s+a
You call the execution Of Brown Sc broth
efhood Of blood you say that 'the fasces
of our splendid Republic will be bound to-
gether by the running moose that hangs from
his gibbet." ~.a q
If this is true; if any brotherhood Of blood
is connected with hispainful event, it rests
neither with the ''whole' American Repub-
lie nor with the State Of Virginia; but It's
red track may be found across the foam of
the Atlantic, linking Exeter Hall with the
sensation pulpits on this side the OCEAN
The weight of J ohn Browns blood lies with
England and the confederates of England,
who have by their teachings, their money
and crafty sympathy led the old man on to
death. What but this ''band Of blood did
the people Of England expect when they
gathered penny contributions throughout tho
length end breadth of their land, in order to
urge this incendiary spirit forward in Amer
lea Penny contributions if Liberty
were a Tyrant or Pauper, to be intimida-
ted or .bribed by their infamous copper.
What was this contribution intended for?
Al insult, or fund for incendiary uses 2
IF sent to the United States for the purpose
Of melting insurrection, or in any way oppo-
sing our laws, then that money has been the
price. of John Browns blood, and was the
first strand Of the halter that hung from his
gallows. 49,.
What did the people of Scotland expect
when they rent the American flag in twain,
and hung it, tattered and quivering beneath
the indignity, over the head of an American
woman, who smiled henignly under the in
salt, and received aims after it was offered =?
Out Of such acts and such insults, the halter
Of John Brown was woven; to such insidlous
encouragement the old man owes his death.
Was there an English man or woman liv-
ing, who supposed that q great nation would
allow the treason thus instigated on q for
eign soil, to ripen in her bosom,. and fail to
punish it with al the force Of her Just. laws?
It is the people of England, then, with a
very small party in the United States. who
are united by this bond of blood" It red
dens the vcstments of our sensation minis
tiers, not the ermine Of our judges. The sac
ramental tables of our political churches are
overshadowed with it, and the places once
sacred, are overshadowed by the old mans
crime. In these places when you call John
Brown ''the champion of Christ itma1 bs
considered meek and holy lahguage; bat the
great mass Of our American people will turn
from such impiety with shudder
Your letter closed with an appeal to our
Republic, calling it the sister of the French
Republic. How little you know CT the great
land you compliment and reyile in the same
breath Liberty with US subjects herself to
the laws which she has inspired, and he who
revolts against those laws sins against her
and the whole people whom she protects
She sprang another Minerva from the minds
of patriot statesmen, modestly clad, serene
and beautifully, she presides over our Repub
lie, and has SO far protected it from anarchy
or oppression. ), E.
1t is that our. Republic may have no sis
te-hood with those Of France that sucn in
surrections as you denominate "a sacred du
ty" are met with the whole force Of our laws
We're they permitted to obtain 3 foot-hold
in the land, our Republic might, indeed,
become sister to those Of France, and perish
as they did.
Had the instruction at Harper's Ferry
succeeded, the scenes Of anarchy which left
France lying like an unnatural monster sa-
tiated with the blood Of her own children,
might have been repeated here. But we
are not yet prepared to see innocent babes
shot down in battalions, or fair girls compel
led to drink blood .frothing from.a yet warm
human heart, in order to redeem their faith
ers from the Ratchet We are not prepared
to see our pastors slaughtered at the foot Of
their own affairs, or hear coarse songs thun-
dering through the solemn arches of our tenn
Piles. It is to save our country from con-
sanguinity with Republics founded on afro
cities like these, that our laws crush rebel
lion when it first crests itself
Rest, sir, upon your knees before the.star-
spangled banner. While our pulpits are
turned into political forums, and their min
listers preach rapine and bloodshed, the foot
of our flag staff is, perhaps, the most sacred
place for devotion that we have to offer you.
There, certainly, pure spirit should inspire
W