The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-22

1Ae SAr9anae Coosparacy ASalnst WASH
HnStoa-HarPer's Ferry Immortslized.
In the curious intelligence which we received
last night from Chambersburg, Pa, we think
we have the clue to the Virginia conspiracyfor
the seizure of Washington, in behalf of the revo-
lutionary government of our revelted States.
Three of the four men who had been put on
guard at Harper's Ferry by Lieut.. Jones, on
the eve of his destruction of that arsenal,
and who could not escape with him in
his retreat effected their escape on Satur-
day last, and safely reached Chambers
burg They report that the destruction
of the buildings and arms was complete, that
six or seven thousand Virginians were at the
Ferry, and that five thousand more were ex-
pected on Saturday evening from Richmond,
under Col. Lee. Now, in lingering behind to
bring this intelligence from Harper's Ferry, we
dare say that these three men have rendered .
most important service to the government, .
service which renders full and complete the
splendid achievement of Lieutenant Jones'
The significant fact in this connection is the
concentration of the hostile Virginians at Har-
per's Ferry. That was the place of their pre-
arranged rendezvous. The advanced guard from
which Lieut.. Jones so narrowly escaped was
sent on to seize the arsenal and its desirable
store Of over fifteen thousand stand OF rifles
and muskets Of the most approved patterns.
| The main body OF the insurgents would follow as
rapidly as possible; all would be supplied
with arms from the arsenal. and, thus equipped,
the railroad leading to Baltimore and Wash
ington would be pressed into service, and
within few hours this invading revolutionary
force would be discharged at the foot of Capt.
| tol Hill.
This, we suspect, was the plan, and but for
| the brilliant coup of Lieutenant Jones, in the
| burning of that arsenal, this deliberately con-
| trived seizure of the authorities, the magnif-
cent buildings and their archives, the treasury,
and the seat Of the government OF the United
States, would, perhaps, have been attempted
| several days ago. The burning of the arsenal
disarmed the conspirators, and the three loyal
men of our government who were from stern
necessity, left behind, have escaped in season
| to report the secret and the failure of the
| plot. Ex-Governor Wise had, doubtless,
| concluded that if Old John Brown,
with seventeen white abslitionists and
| five negroes, could take possession of the
Harper's Ferry arsenal and town, twenty-five
hundred Virginians could certainly do the
same thing, especially with the town on their
side, and with a defensive force in the arsenal
of only some forty men.
Old John Brown and his followers suffered
the penalty demanded by their crime; but his
crime is not to be compared with that contem-
plated by these Virginia traitors. A madden
ed and reckless fanatic, he blindly and des-
perately struck for the extirpation of Southern
slavery, while these Virginia consprators aimed
at nothing less than the destruction of
the liberties of the American people. A
little fire OPPORTUNITY applied by faithful hands
to faithful combustibles has foiled this last
horrible scheme of rebellion, and has saved
the capital of the United States.
The various fortresses, arsenals, minis, &c,
seized in the name Of the revolted States
should, as last resort have been disposed Of
as was this Harper's Ferry arsenal by the
United States guardians in charge Thus
this whole gigantic scheme Of Southern
rebellion would have been disarmed
Doubtless, had there been any means of
escape for bis men from the surrounding sea-
Major Anderson, on leaving Fort SUMTER
would have applied a fuse which would have
blown it into the air. As it was, he nobly did
his duty, and will be honored for it till the Ian
guages of our day shall have become unintelli
gible to mankind. But who can estimate the
value of that timely little confagration at Har.
per's Ferry. We consider it greater victory
than that Of Waterloo; for we believe that it
has saved the capital of our country. 1t is, we
think, now safe; but we must make assurance
doubly sure" and carry the war into the enc
my's camp.
Our last advices report the safe arrival of
our Seventh regiment at Annapolis, and that
the railway at that point was in charge of
Massachusetts, regiment. From Annapolis it is
some forty miles to Washington, by branch
road which, half way, connects with that from
Baltimore. Thus, b rail to Havre de Grace,
at the head of Che peake Bay and thence by
steam down the bay some forty miles, to
Annapolis, a direct and desirable route
! is secured to Washington without touch
| ing Baltimore. We have some faith.
too, in the loyalty OF Maryland,
and in the common sense of her responsible
| and substantial people. She has been outraged
| by the rufians of Baltimore instigated and set
on by secession emssaries from other quarters.
| These rufians are too strong for the loyal peo-
pie of the city, and the claims OF these loyal
men should be respected. Thus, instead of
| having Maryland as a rebellious State to be
subdued, we hope soon to find her an active
ally for the Union. Accordingly let old
Virginia begin to put her house in order,
and pack up for the removal of her half
million of slaves, for fear of the i'm
pending storm. She has invited it, and only
| a speedy repentance will save her from being