The Van Buren press., 1860-03-02
M9giatelIallg.
f. Noble Letter from a Noble wo.
man

3400.
Victor Hugo, prominent French writ
er and patriot, wrote letter, relative to
the events of Harper's Ferry, and its fu-
ture consequences, which was published in
the London Star, and thus re-published in
this country. Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the
Union-wide known, and popular writer, re-
plies to it in manner which places before
the enthusiastic Frenchman O new view of
the picture he had drawn -
TO VICTOR HUGO.
Sin Your letter to the London Star
has found its way into tho American press
for which it was, doubtless, intended. If
ardent enthusiasm could win justice from
her strict course. you might have had some
enbct upoa the destiny q John Brown.-
But ali the eloquence Of genius cannot take
the blackness from treason, or the crimson
stain from murder. 1t requires something
more than an outburst of patriotism-some-
thing more than impetuous denunciations
to check the solemn footsteps Of justice.
Your picture of John Browns trial is a
painful one. 1t must be hard heart which
does not swell with compassion as it pre-
sents itself: Upon wrctched pallet, with
six half-gaping wounds. bathing his mat
trass with blood, and with the ghostly pres
ence Of his two dead SONS forever before
him." Thus You place the unhappy man
before the world. forgetting that those
ghastly wounds are but the evidence of a
more ghastly crime-the fearful witness by
which his guilt was confirmed
1t is, indeed, terrible picture YOU have
drawn, but the streets of Harper's Ferry
had one more terrible still. There innocent
meE, all unconscious of danger, were shot
down like wild animals. There widows,
newly bereaved, knelt moaning over their
dead, and orphan children cried aloud for
the parents that John Brown had so ruth
lessly murdered. This picture you have
forgotten to place side by side with the 9TH
er; but we who love our countrymen haye
sympathy for the innocent us we'll as pity
for the guilty.
You complain that his trial was hurried,
that the jury sat only forty minutes, and
that all the proceedings were indecorously
urged forward but were they as swift as
the rifle balls that shot down unarmed men
in the streets at Harper's Ferry Were
they SO ruthless as John Browns midnight
descent upon a sleeping village in Kansas
where husbands and sons were dragged out
OF their beds and shot down within hearing
OF their wives and mothers ? Is this the
man whom you speak of as "pious, aus
tere, animated with the old puritan spirit,
inspired by the spirit of the Gospel - while
You call his companions :" sacred martyrs -
This. sir, is the blasphemy of highly
wrought imagination-excuse me for say
ing-not original with you, for wilder and
more irreligiOus men than l trust you are.
have gone to greater lengths and blasphem-
ed more eloquently than this. They have
pronounced John Browns gallows holier
than the cross, and held up his rebellion as
a rebuke to the unfinished mission of our
Lord, the Savior.
at 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 a contrast and
an irritation-a subject for criticism, and,
whenever an opportunity for blame arose,
OF denunciation. 1t is not strange. then,
that rebellion, in part fostered in Europe,
should call forth bitter remarks there.
Let the Judges Of Charleston AMI the
slave-holding jurors, and the whole popu.
lation of Virginia ponder on it well-they
are watched-they arc not alone in the
world'
They have pondered on it well. and the
execution of John Brown has taken place
If the whole American Republic were re
sponsible for his death, as you say it is, it
would simply be responsible for mos
painful duty, solcmnly performed, and re
ceived with mourning resignation by thu
most mcrciful, because of its imperative ne
cessity. Justice demanded the life of thi.
man. for he had taken human life neces
sity demanded it for he was the spirit ant
soul of treason that threatened the foun.
dations of onr nationality-that woult
forever have been plotting more bloodshef
so long as he lived on earth.
You call the execution of Brown "bro
| therhood of blood ;" you say that "th
fasces of our splendid republic will be bount
from the gibbit.'
If this were true (; if any brotherhood o
blood is connected with this painful even
it rests neither with the "whole" Ameri
can Republic nor with the State of Virgin
ia /; but it's red track may be found across tn
foam OF the Atlantic linking Exeter Hal
with the sensation pulpits on this side tn
ocean. The weight of John Browns bioo'
lies with England, and the confederates o
England, who have. by their teachings
their money and crafty sympathy, led tn
old man on to death. What but thisshan
of blood did the people Of England cxpec
when they gathered penny contributions
as if liberty were tyrant or a pauper, t.
be inundated or bribed by their infamou
copper.
What was this contribution intended for
An insult or fund for incendiary nscs
sent to the United States for the purpose G
melting insarrection or in any way oppos
ing our laws. then that money has been tn
price of John Brqnn's blood, and was tn
first strand of the halter that hung from hi
gallows.
What did the people of Scotland expec
when they rent the American flag in twain
and hung it,.scattered and quivering be
meath the ind snity, over the head of a.
American woman. who smiled bcnignl.
under the insult. aud received aims after
was offered ? Out of such acts and sue
| ;rc,,lte xy,o hc Jtar oc ToLv Rrow.n xrec vn