The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-27
The Virginia Conspiracy Against wash
lngtOn..Harper,s Ferry lmmOr taiized.

In the curious intelligence which We received
last night from Chambersburg, Va, We think We
have the clue to the Virginia conspiracy for the
seizure of Washington, in behalf OF the tevolu-
tonary government of oul revolted 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 Saturday last, and safely reached
Chambersburg. They report that the destract-
ion of the buildings and arms was complete, that
six or seven thousand Virginians were ut the Fer
nv. and that five thousand more were expected
on Saturday evening from Richmond, under Col
Lee. Now, in lingering behind to bring this i'll
tclligence from Harper's Ferry, we dare say that
these three men have rendered most important
service to the government, service which rem
ders full and complete the splendid achievement
OF Lieutenant Jones.
The significant fact in this connection is the
concentration of the hostile Virgipians at Har-
per's Ferry This was the place of their pre- ar
ranged 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 pos
sible; all would be supplied with arms from the
arsenal, and, thus equipped, the railroad leading
to Baltimore and Washington would be pressed
into service and within few hours this invading
| revolutionary force would be discharged at the
foot of CAPITAL Hill.
This, we suspect, was the plan, and but for the
brilliant coup of Lieutenant Jones, in the burn
ing of that arsenal this deliberately contrived
seizure Of the authorities, the magnificent build
ings 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 Sc.
cret and the failure of the plot. Ex-Governor
Wise had doubtless concluded that if Old John
Brown, with seventeen white abolitonists and
FIVE negroes, could take possession of the Harp
ers Ferry arsenal and town, twenty FIVE hundred
Virginiaps could certainly do the same thing, es-
pecially with the town on their side, and With a
defensive force in the arsenal Of only some forty
men 81
Old John Brown and his followers suffered the
penalty demanded BY their crime but his crime
IL not "a be compared with that contemplated by
t,bese Virginia traitors. A maddencd end reek
4 less fanatic. he blindly and desperately struck
n far the exterpution OF Southern slavery, while
these Virginia consprators aimed at nothing less
,hap the destruction of the liberties of the ,\Ner
lean people. A little fire OPPORTUNITY app 70,
q faithful hands to faithful oombustibles has aiet
this las, horrible scheme of rebellion, ana ha!
saved the capital of the United States. 81
: The various fortresses, arsenals, minis, &c:
sezed in the name OF the revolted States should
a, a last resort, have been disposed Of as wa
this Harpers Ferry arsenal by the uaited State
} Guardians in charge. Thus this whole glganti
sscheme of Southern rebellion would have beer
5ssrmed. Doubtless, had there been any mean
, Of escane for his men from the surrounding sea
Major Anderson on leaving Fort Sumter, woul,
have applied fuse which would have blown
. into the air. Asst was he nobly did his duty
: and will be honored for it till the language Q
t our day shall have become unntell'g,ble 70 mas
0 kind. But who can estimate the value OF tns
t timely little confsgration at Harpers Ferry W
. consider it greater victory than that OF "a.el
i loo; for we believe that it has saved the capits
Of our country 1t is, We think, now safe o.
!; we must make assurance douby sure, and ca
q ~ the war into the encmy's camp
t Massachusetts, is still active In the good caus
i Two more regiments, one of them commando
- pta,eher Webster ara nearly ready.