Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-03

ter TO tho London Star has found Its
way into the Americas press, for which
L. was doubtless intended. If ardent
.cnthuaiasm could win justice from hes
l.trict course, yours might have had some
effect upon the dcstiny of John brown.
But all the eloquence Of genius cannot
take the blackGcss from treason, or the
crimson stain from murder. 1t requires
something more than an Outburst OF fine
poetry to turn crime into patriotism
something more than impetuous denun-
Citations to check the solemn footsteps Of
justice.
Before this time you will have learned
that Virginia has vindicated the majesty
Of her laws; and that John Brown and
his unhappy confederatcs have passed to
higher tribunal for judgment. You
will learn, also, that out of nearly thirty
millions ofpeople, spreading over great
continent, there is but handful Of men
and women who have rereived the news
of this execution with disapprovsl. North
and South, the great body Of our people
acquiescc in the fate Of John Brown, a.
al inevitable neccssity-a solemn obi
CATION to the law. Like you, we may
feel compassion for the man who was .
great criminal, and SO persisted. God
have mercy upon his soul
The impulses Of humanity which
prompted your letter meet with symra-
thy from every true heart. But no out
burst Of compassion, no denunciation
from abroad, is likely to influence peo-
pie who have learned to govern their pas
.ions while they protect their rights.
When in the ardor Of your fancy
Washington stood before you-immortal
with heavenly greatness-your intellect
should have gone a step farther, and 10
formed itself more correctly regarding
the Constitution, to establish which he
gave the hest years Of a glorious life.-
You would have learned that each State
Of this Union is sovereign in itself-iu
its laws and in its power to punish
crimes committed on its soil.
| TO establish the distinct sovereignty
Of these States and link them in one
beautiful confederation, concessions were
made and obligations of forbearance were
entered upon to which the sacred honor
Of our Revolutionary fathers were
pledged-not for themselves alone, but
for their children and children's child
rcn. These obligations make slavery
with US forbidden subject.
Washington himselt was born in q
slavehelding State-lived and died the
master Of slaves. Neither on the bat
tie field. the floor of Congress, nor in the
Presidential chair, did he suggest the
possibility of revolt against the solemn
compact made in the Constitution.
Had treason, like that Of Old John
Brown, broken out in his time, he would
undoubtedly have done what james
Buchanan is doing now. Maintaining
his august position as the chief Of great
confederation, our President respect.
tho rights OF a sovereign State, over
whose internal laws he has no authority;
and leaves to her courts the punishment,
or pardon Of tho treason which broke
out on her territory.
Washington could have done no more
than this, crown him with the halo Of
poetry as you will.
Virginia, sovereign State, has main
tanned her authority. John Brown is
dead. Proven guilty of treason, con-
demncd for atrocious murders, be has
atoned for these crimes on the scaffold
1t is impossible for man to stand on
the verge Of eternity into which he must
be launched by violent death, without
filing every good heart with grief and
compassion. But when he is brave, when
his path of blood has been lighted by
the lurid torch of fanaticism and insan-
ity, such minds as yours, affluent, earnest,
and poetical, may be expected to clothe
bis crimes in white garments, and for
getting the murderer in the brave man,
sing peans to the martyr of q vivid i'm
agination only.
am of a sex and nature to whom
these feelings are kindred. I cannot
think Of old John Brown upon the scat
fold without shudder throughout all my
being. caLnot think Of a man made
in the image Of his God, suffering an ig-
nominious death, without thrills Of pain.
But find it impossible to fix my mind
upon the scaffold of this old man. It
goes back to his victims at Harper
Fcrry-to the women made widows by
the outbreak Of single morning-to
the orphans, who had never wrouged
him, so cruelty bereaved by his crime.
| see the two sons who b!indly followed
his lead, fall martyrs to his rebellious
spirit.
| l look beyond all this, far away into
the beautiful south, and instead of an old
man on the gallows, l see Thousands Of
my countrywomen, gentle, good and
lovely, given up prey to wild insurrec-
toni see those murdcrous pixies, man
ufactured with such cruel forethought,
piercing their bosoms-I hear the cry Of
children calling for their mothers, who
will never answer them again. see
proud, strong men struggling against
the brute strength of their own house
hold servants. The picture strikes my
compassion dumb, and l can only cover
my face and pray God to have mercy on
the old mans soul!
John Brown was tried, condemned,
and executed as traitor-a guard Of
American citizens stood round the scaff-
old, sad at heart, but steady in their de-
votion to the laws. The legislature of
a great commonwealth sat, deliberately.
| of,op hsa ooufncca. euI =.