The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1860-03-16

/ impatient Of tho constitutional system that
confines tho citizens of every State to polit-
ical action by suffrage in organized parties
within iheir own borders, inspired by an on.
thusiasm peculiar to themselves, and exas-
perated by grievances aud wrongs that some
Of thom had Suffered by inroads of armed
propagandists of Slavery in Kansas unlaw-
as their own retaliation was, attempted to
subvert slavery in Virginia by conspiracy,
ambush, Invasion and force. The method
We have adopted, of appealing to the reason
and Judgment Of tho people. then 10 DO pro-
uounced by sutfrages, 10 the only ORC by
which Toe government can bo maintained
! anywhere, and the only one as yot devised
which is in harmony with :ho spirit of tho
Christian religion. While generous and
charitable natures will probably concedu
that John Brown and his associates acted
on earnest though fatally erroneous cnnYic-
tions. yot all good citizens will nevertheless
agree that this attempt 70 execute an unlaw-
FOL purpose in Virginia by invasion. involv.
ing servilo war was an act of sedtiOn and
| treason. and criminal to Just the extent that
it aifecrcC the public peace and was dcs,ruc.
/ tive of human happiness and human lifo.-
/ IL is u painful reflection. that after 81 long
an experience Of tho beuehcnnt working of
our system MS wo have enjoyed, we have
| those new illustrations in Kansas and Vir-
gnia, of the existence among us of a class
of mon so misguided and so desperate as to
seek to enforcu their peculiar principles by
tho sword. drawing after IL need for tho
further Illustration by their punishment. Of
tho grcat moral truth especially applicable
~ Republic. that they who take up tho
sword us u weapon Of controversy shall por.
In hf Inn N I,
monIed dcnths of So many citizens slain
from an ambush and by surprise-all tho
more lamcntable, because they were limo.
cent victims of u frenzy, kindIed without
their agency, in far distant firos-the deaf he
oven OF tho offenders themselves pitiable,
although necessary and Just. because acted
under dolirium which blinded their iudg.
nents to the real nature of their criminal
enterprise; the alarm and CONSERVATION nat
urally awakened throughout tho country,
exciting for moment tho fear that our en-.
tire system, with all it's securities for life
and liberty, WAS coming to an end-a fear
none tho more endurablo bccauso coutrnu
ally aggravated by new chimoras to which
the great leading event lont an air of prob
ability; surely all these constituted a sum Of
public misery which ought TO have satisfied
the most morbid appetite fer socinl horrors
But, as IN the caso OF the gunpowder plot
and Salem witchcraft and the New York
colonial negro plot. so now; tho original act
mrs wore swiftly followed by another ahd
kindred class, who sought to prolonp and
widen tho public distress by attempting TO
direct tho Indignation which it had excitod
against parties guitless equally of compile
ity and sympathy with tho offenders Pos
torIty will decide in all the recent cases in
! which political responsibility for public dis
! hStcrs must fall; und poSteritv will gIve lit
tic heed TO our instructions. 1t was not
until tho gloomy reign of Domiiian had
ended, and liberty and virtue had found as
surcd refuge under tho sway of the mildcr
N0rva, that the historian arose whose nara.
tive of that period of tyranny and terror has
been accepted by mankind The Republi.
can party being thus vindicatod against the
charge of hostility to the South, which has
been offered as an excuse for the measures
OF unconstitutional resistance 10 tho event
OF It's success, feel assured that it will sus.
tam mo IN meeting them in tho spirit of the
defender of the English commonwealth
Surely they that shall boast. as we do, to
DO free nation. and having tho power, shall
not also havo tho courage TO remove, const.
tuiionaliy, every governor. whether he be
tho supreme or suhorGina,o. may please
freedom, fit to cozcn babies. hut arc, indeed.
under tyranny and sorviiudo, as wanting
that power which 10 the root and source of
all liberty, to dispose of and econonizo in
the land which God hath given them. as
members Of family in their own homos and
tree inheritance. Without which natural
and essential power of Il FREQ nation. though
boaring high their heads. they in duo csteom.
may DO thought no better than slaves aud
vassals born in tho tenure and occupation
+ OF another inhoriting lord, whose govern
mcnt, although not illegal or intolorable,
hangs on them AS q lordly scourge, not US a
FREQ government"
The Republican party knows, as the whole
t country will ultimately come to understand.
that tho nobIGst and most laudable OH
jects of national life must perish. if that life
iisoIt shall be lost. and therefore iC will &C.
cept tho issue tcndored. 1t will tako up tho
word Union. which others arc so willing to
ronouncc, and combining il with tho other
glorious thought. Liberty. which has been
lts inspiration SO long. 1t will move onward
with tho motto inscribed on its baner, Union
and Liberty, como what may. in victory as
as in dcioat, in power as out of power, now
and forever Ii tho Republican party main.
tain the Union, who aud what party is to
assail it: Only tho Donocra,ic party
Tor there is no other. Will tho Democratic
party tako up the assault: Tho mcnaces of
Disunion ara madc, thongh not in it's name,
, yet in its behalf 1t must avow or disuynw
thom. Its silence thus far is portentous.
but is not alarming. Tho effect of the in.
tlmida'i0n, if successful would 10 10 continue
tho rule o: tho Democratic party, though
II minority, by terror. 1t certainty ought to
, mood no more than this TO secure tho sue.
cess of tho Republican party. If, indeed,
tho tImo has come, when tho Democratic
party must rule by terror. instead of thro'
conceded public confidence, then it is quito
certain that i; cannot DO dismissed from it's
power too soon, Ruling on that odious
{ principle, it could not long save either tho
constitution or public liberty. But | shall
not believe th" Democratic party will con.
, sent TO stand in this position, though it does,
through tho action of It's representatives
, seem TO coVor aud sustain thOso who threat
on disunlon. | know tho Democracy of tho
, North. | know them now in their waning
strength. l do not know II possible disun.
onist among them all bcliovo thoy will
/ be us faithful to tho Union now US they were
in tho by gone days when ;hcir ranks wero
full, and thoir challenge to tho combat was
tho war cry of victory. But, il it shall prove
OthorwIsc, then tho word will all tho sooner
know that every party in this country must
stand on Union Ground: that the Amurican n