Year: 1859

dc. That the public mind was sufficient
ly excited to overcome all domestic resist
ance. and that they could whip the North
in the fight. He seemed to be perfectly
cool and abstract in these declarations, and
without doubt implicitly believed what he
said"


What an enormity was thisl Because
the people of the nation, acting in con-
stitutonal manner, might prefer cand-
date for the Presidency who did not hap
pen to suit the whimsof these southern die
tators, the whole country was to be delug-
ed in blood. Twenty or thirty thousand
soutlerncrs were to band together, to seize
the arsenal at Harpcr's Ferry, march upon
Washington, take possession ofth United
States Treasury, prevent the Inauguration
OF the new government, and provoke the
whole country to war Nothing in the his
tory OF Mexico or the South American
States is more atrocious than tli, proposal
La those unhappy victims of anarchy, where
they maintain semllancc of free govern.
ment, but where elections are revolutions.
and each leader puts arms in the hands Of his
partlsans to carry his points. such counses
would have been in character; but in this
country of constitutional forms and peace
iul procedures they were only infamous
1t Gov. Wise had been a Miramon. an AL
varez, or Santa Anna. he could not have
proposed course more likely to introduce
into this great northern republic the spirit
and license which prevail in the turbulent
republics of the South.


When Browns plot was disclosed ter
rible noise was made about it all over the
South. although the worst that he conceiv
ed was mere flea bite of iniquity to the
gigantic wickedncss which Wise had in his
head. Brown. moreover, was animated by
the noblest purposes Of philanthropy, even
II they were mistaken, while Wise was an
i'nated by the lowest spirit Of demagogue-
ism and partisanship. Brown only de-
signed to set the negroes of Northern Vir-
ginia on the run. while Wise designed TO
to stip up the entire nation. The robbery
OF property was the extreme of Browns
crimes. while Wise intended not merely to
rob the public buildings. but to arrest the
federal authorities. shoot down innocent
citizens. and arm the mob against the
agents of law and order Yet nothing was
said in denunciation of this Infamous plan
Of Governor Wise. Thirty thousand men.
N fact, stood ready to execute it, and even
after it had been peacefully defeated by the
election of Mr.. Buchanan, his adherents
boasted Of their determination and ability
to put 1T into execution.


What wonder that Brown, who doubt
less read the addresses of the Governor. and
made himself familiar with the details Of
his proposed military operations, should
have treasured the knowledge in his mind.
should have remembered that Harpcr's
Ferry was to be the first point of attack.
the seizure of the arsenal the first coup de
man. and then such other proceedings as
circumstances might prompt? The old
man OF OSawatomie has been only the dis
cIple of the Governor who is now char
get with his hanging, and it would be hut
a fair requital, when his aged limbs stand
under the fatal moose. if he should read to
the rcople of Virginia 1.-THE bloody in
structlons" which he had learned from the
mouth of their own Governor.