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The Abolition Insurrection at Harper's Ferry --
The Irrepressible Conflict begun.
Milledgeville, Georgia, Federal Union [Democratic]
(1 November 1859)
In our columns this week will be found further
particulars concerning the insurrection at Harper's
Ferry. There can no longer be any doubt but
what this was a regularly concocted, and
premeditated attempt of Abolition Fanatics to overthrow
the Government, and emancipate the
slaves. The form of a provisional government has
been found among the papers of the prisoners,
and the officers of the new Government are there
named. Without such positive proof, it would be
difficult to believe that such fools could be found
running at large in the United States. To think
that about twenty men should deliberately attempt
to overthrow the Government, and commence their
operations in a thickly settled portion of the
country, surrounded by the chivalry of Virginia and
Maryland, shows a degree of ignorance and
infatuation among these fanatics never before dreamed
of. If they have received direct encouragement,
and have been promised assistance from
any of the leaders of the Black Republican Party,
it is to be hoped all these facts will come to the
light. We know they have received indiret
encouragement from William H. Seward, Joshua
Giddings, Horace Greely, and other Republican
leaders, who, by their speeches and writings, have
encouraged fanatics to such deeds as this.
Perhaps the sudden and dreadful retribution that
has overtaken their fanatical followers will cause
these arch traitors to pause in their carreer.
Upon
their heads rests the direful responsibility of the
blood that has been shed at Harper's Ferry. Will not
honest and conscientious men at the north now
see the necessity of putting down a party whose
principles, if carried out, can lead only to civil
war, murder, and rapine? The discovery and
sudden overthrow of the conspiracy before it could
produce much damage, shows that our country is
still under the guardianship of Divine Providence.
No weapon forged against our Government, whether
by enemies without or traitors within has ever
prospered, and we believe they never will prosper
so long as the great mass of the people shall be
worthy of liberty; or capable of self-government.
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This document was produced as part of a document analysis project
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(Proofing info: Entered and reverse-order proofed by Lloyd Benson..)
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