The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-01-14

will be anxious to know why it does not
meet our appreciation, and we will take
upon ourselves to answer" She then adds,
" In the first place they begin their letter
with contemplate fattery to Gov. Wise.D
But in the classic style of speech peculiar
ly characteristic to Philadelp phia ladies, 1
reply, | can't see it."
In my humble opinion, the words gen.
erous and humane conduct" "noble Dig
nity," or decision of character and
magnanimity of soul, THE words that
might be construed to imply fattery if left,
unquali6ed-are strictly accounted for and
qualified in the act referred to in the SEN
tence, and the only act in all the life of
Gov. Wise that is alluded to in that SEN
tence; and while others speak of his setting
the example by his speeches and acts, that
have led to this result. These words are
virtually qualified by referring the Gov to
his act of granting the same request to our
fellow citizens of the opposite caste; and
on the ground of that generosity extended
to them in granting them their request;
and that dignity and decision of character
that protected them in its execution, the
committee based their hope of similar
favor. And l still think that all this was
developed in that simple act Of the Cover
nor-mean as he may be, and as he GER
tainly is-yet | think his conduct in grant
ing the bodies of the men at such time,
and in open contrast to the avowed will
and protest Of nearly the whole common
wealth of Virginia, and then escorting the
friends of the condemned men, rank Abo-
litionists, into the very heart of the fre-eat-
ing Cannlbals, gathered there from all
parts of the South, ready for any thing,
and allowing them calmly and openly to
convey those bodies through the State
without the slightest mark of indecency
contrasts most beautifully with the conduct
of some of our Northern officials who forced
the friends of the deceased to slip into a
private conveyance to be hurried through
alleys and by-ways, while the police ruth
lessly and discourteously smuggled the
body of the devoted hero into an old bag
gage car or some other vehicle, and hur-
ried it through the streets at railroad speed,
as they say, to prevent mob and insurrec-
ton here at the North; but as l am still
constrained to think it was to develope to
the world that Gov Wise was far the more
generous, magnanimous, and dignifed,
Judging from this stand point, than either
the Northern magistrate who did this, or
the community who stood by and saw it
done without saying word about it at
that time Or since. Oh consistency, thou
art jewel
DO you know, Mr., Editor, that it is said
here that Mrs. Brown, had she resided
here, could not have buried the captain in
this city without row? Do you know,
sir, that the Express Company adams,
refused to bring them, (the colored mem
though paid in advance, and that the COM
mittee were informed that the Mayor and
Council would not permit them to bring
the bodies within the boundary of the city
corporation; and that quite number of
the more intelligent citizens of Philadel-
phis said they done perfectly right? Per-
haps they did-but there is no consistency
in the same persons being the first to cry
out that the committee did not bull-rag the
Governor and disgrace themselves to their
satisfaction.
AS to their being misguided, their own
language is enough on that point Capt
Brown himself admitted this, not as to the
criminality Of the act, but the folly of its
defeat when they had all the advantage in
their favor. l believe that had they not
been misguided, Harper's Ferry, as town,
the L. S. Arsenal, the railroad bridge, and
all other combustible matter, including
Capt. Browns prisoners, would have been
today numbered among the things that
were.
Judgement alone will probably reveal
the why and wherefore of their defeat,
their capture and execution, when they
could as well have marched away unharm-
ed, has fully developed the fact of their
having been by the powers of light ordark-
ness miguided; the effect of their effort for
the end or purpose they sought to pro-
mote, may yet develope that they were
misguided in this effort, that greater good
may come than they were able to suggest
or effect by such a means. / believe that
a majority of persons who have read the
letter will decide with me, that there are
strong and impressive sentences in the let
ter Indeed the whole Tenor of IN ;s coro