The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-05-07
Governor Brown, of Missouri.


Virginia family of Browns, of Amherst,
Bedford, and Campbell and a near relative OF
the late JOHN THOMPSON BRowS, of Peters
burg, q man Of great ability-a statesman iii
the broadcast and most elevated meaning OF
the phrase-who died untmey, and WAS thus
cut of in the midst Of his career before he
had taken his place amongst the first men Of
national fame, to which he was eminently EN-
titled. We do not know Governor BROWN,
but after learning that he Is so closely con-
nected with the Virginia BRowSs we feel en-
tirely ready to trust him.
A contemporary calls him " renegade y;
we suppose because, although southern
man, he Was al emancipationist and Joined
the North In the late civil war. Gle was be-
fore the war In favor Of the abolition of
slaycry.) If he is to he considered Il irene
gade" for being an abolitionist, then we
shall be compelled to blacken the memory OF
some Of the best and greatest men this
State ever produced. Beginning with
WASHINGTON and JEFFERSON, we could run
through bright list of worthless in the
course of history down to the immortal
ROBERT f. LEE. who but adopted the
sentiments of his father "Light-horse HAIR
RY" OH the subject. Our contemporary
may take upon itself to befoul the memories
of these Worries we can do no such thing.
II he isa renegade " for joining the North
and is to be assailed therefor, how are we
ever to get out Of the rut of antagonisms of
the war, and how Is the South ever to be re-
Neyed from It's isolation and exclusion from
all part and lot In the Government save to
bear Its burthensP Are we to be continued
In this sad state by such folly on our part?
Governor BRowN resided In q State in
which the people were closely divided
upon the question. lie had, In con-
sonance with bis views, joined the Free-Soil
party, and supported ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
Naturally enough, he was carried along in
opposition to the South, and though we
would have preferred that he should have
been with the South, we cannot pronounce
him renegade" and do not think any
body else can Justly so stigmatize him. He
might, with the highest and most solemn
convictions OF duty, take the side he did.
We claim the justification Of Il high sense OF
duty and honor for the course we pursued.
A generous and just view Of his case must
compel us to accord to him motives just as
worthy.
But to come more practically to the point
touched above: How are we ever to be res
cued from our helplessness and distress If
we continue the war Of passions? We have
been thus far more sufferers in the war Of
passions than we were in the war Of blood.
Our defeat has been SO much more severe,
more humiliating in the strife Of rancor and
hate, marshalled and led OH by greed, that
the war of blood might well be preferred to
It. Who, then, wants to help to keep up
this war, and to prolong the sorrows and
degradation Of the South? If there are any
such let them echo the cry of renegade"
against Governor BROWN and add new bitter
ness to strife which has been so disastrous,
and which has carried misery to every south
ern home and afflicted every man, woman,
and child in the South.
Finally, let 1t be remembered that Governor
BRowS was at the head Of the first efficiently
organized Liberal party in any State that
went with the North. We mean any Liberal
Republican party. Therefore, he displayed
the first beacon light that iliumined the only
way by which the poor tempest-tossed South
could gain safe and peaceful haven. For
this he IL entitled to the gratitude of the
whole South, and it Ill becomes any southern
man to call him renegade" The epithet
Is unjust in any mans mouth but when ut
tered by southern man, It is more than un-
jnst-it Is ungratefnl.
sGoyern0r Brown is the son of Judge Mason
Brown, Secretary Of Stale OF Kentucky while G. n.
Morebead WIS Governor. He Is grandson Of Hon.
John Brown, who was born In Koekbricge county
Virginia In 1857. He removed TO Kentucky and rep
resented that Stste for several years In the United
States Senate.