Newspaper Page Text
of you.” Then turning to Lieut. Col. Grabbe,
he said, “ proceed forthwith to St. Petersburg,
and report to the Emperor what you have seen.
To-morrow I will send a report and Schamyl
himself.” •
The following details of Schamyl and the war
in the Caucasus are of interest at the present mo
ment : —lt was towards the ond of the last cen
tury that the Russians, having become masters
of the Crimea, advanced towards the Caucasian
regions. They commenced by the side nearest
the Black Sea, and in 1791 took Anapa, the oth
er places on the coast falling into their power
one after the other. The conquest of the low
lands was easy, but when the Russians arrived
in the mountains, they found them occupied by
fierce tribes, who made a terrible resistance,
which was rendered more determined by the na
ture of the ground. The mountaineers were
commanded by chiefs who possessed all the con
fidence of the population, both for their religious
and political character. The most powerful of
the chiefs at the beginning of the century was
Khasi-Mollah, a prophet and a warrior who ex
ercised authority over all the tribes on the side
of the mountains towards the Caspian Sea. Du
ring twenty years he made war on the Rus
sians, and died in combating. lie was succeed
ed by a man still moio resolute, and who in a
short time acquired great celebrity—Schamyl.
This leader was born on the 14th May, 1797, of
a family of Tartar shepherds who had founded
the village of Himry, to the north of Daghestan.
He was brought up by the Arab Dlejal Eddin,
the founder of a popular religious doctrine, cal
led the Soulfine, traces of which previously ex
isted in the creeds of the tribe of Upper Asia.
Schamyl adopted the new religion, making
modifications in it, and taught its tenets to the
inhabitants of the mountains. He commenced
in 1824 the war-like career by which he has
gained so much glory. He proclaimed the holy
war, and up to 1831 obtained continued success.
In that year he was hard pressed, and escaped
almost by a miracle from the pursuit of his ene
mies, disappearing for a time. At the end of
1833 bo recommenced the campaign, and con
tinued during twenty years with more or less
success, but always with credit. The fortress
of Gounib, in which he finally sought refuge,
having been invested by the Russians, he at last
gave himself up under a capitulation approved
of by Prince Bariatinski. Schamyl has been
sent with his three sons and the rest of his fam
ily to St. Petersburg, and the last accounts from
the Black Sea state, that he had already arrived
at Odessa on his way there.”,.
CHESS COLUMN.
Advantage of the First Move. —All au
thorities agree that the player who has the at
tack, has an advantage, and that the first move,
in many variations, leads to this attack. Some
authors have, indeed, gone so far as to regard
the first move as theoretically decisive of the
battle, while others regard it as a very consid
erable advantage.
Tho authors who attach the most importance
to the first move, are Philidor and Carrera. The
former, in 1749, page 24, in a remark—which,
however, was omitted in a later edition of his
works —says, at the close of the first variation of
the second game that these variations show
how, when the game is properly played, the first
player must almost always win. This remark,
doubtless, refers more especially to the opening:
1. P. to K. 4th—P. to K. 4th; 2. B. to Q. B.
4th P. to Q. B. 3d, from which the variations
in question arise. Philidor merely intended to
disapprove of the defense, 2. B. to Q. B. 3d, but
has by some authors been misunderstood to
promise, once for all, the victory to the first
player This is certainly too wide a stretch of
tho author’s meaning, although it may be seen
from other portions of his treatise that Philidor
attached great importance to the first move and
the attack. The unqualified statement, that the
first move is decisive, was not made by Philidor,
but Carrera. His judgment, however, is of mi
nor importance, it being that of an ordinary
player, as is manifest from his works. The
statement in question is cited for the first time
in Bilguer’s third edition. In our opinion, Car
rera's assertion is not sound. Against every
possible attack, the move P. to K. 3d furnishes,
most undoubtedly, a safe defense. In many ca
ses, in fact, that" move very often permits the
second player to obtain the attack very soon.—
More difficult, it is true, is the defense of the
second player after the opening moves: 1. P, to
K. 4th —P. to K. 4th. Here it may possibly
very often happen in practice, that in the open
ings, which are acknowledged to be correct, the
attack will win more frequently than the de
fense. A statistical table of the results of the
different openings, taken from a series of good
games, would probably lead to some interesting
conclusions. Many games, which in strict the
ory, taking no account of oversights and weak
moves, are regarded as equal, might in actual
practice prove advantageous to one or the other
party. On the other hand, it must also be ta
ken into consideration, that many players un
derstand better than others the attack and de
fense of different openings. On the whole, we
are of opinion that some, though not many,
more games are won than lost, by the party hav
ing the first move.— [The Gambit.
Mr. Paul Morphy was to play at chess, last
evening, (Nov. 18.,) in Philadelphia, blind-folded,
at odds, with several first-class players for the
benefit of the “ Ladies' Mount Vernon Associa
tion.”
We do not understand tho solution of Problem,
by “James,” as furnished us. (See F. & F.,
page 197.) He will please send solution, ex
pressed in the form we have adopted for our col
umns.
R. S. P., of Charleston, will please do the
same, for the Problem and solution sent us last
week.
OPENING VII.
(From De la Bourdonnaiß, page 15,)
WHITE. BLACK.
1 Pawn e 2—e 4 P e 7—es
2 Bishop f I—c 4 B f B—cs
3 Pawn c 2—c 3 Q d B—f 6
4 Knight g I—f 3 Kt b 8—c6(l)
5 Pawn b 2—b4 (2) B c s—bG
6 Pawn a 2—a 4 P a 7—a 6
7 Pawn d 2—d 3 P d I—d c
8 Pawn h 2—li3 P h 7—h6
9 Queen d I—e 2 B c .8 —e6(3)
10 Bought b I—a 3 Kt g B—e 7
11 Bishop c 4—e 6: Q f 6—e6:
12 Knight a 3—c 4. B b 6—a 7
13 Bishop c I—e 3
NOTES
(1) The Blaeks play this Knight to prevent the Whites
from playing P d 2—d 4, whteh would mask the attack
of their bishop.
(2) It is not always advantageous to advance the
pawns of the wings, and itshould not'be done.-except for
very good reasons.
(8) Being unable to mask the play of your bishop with
their pawns, the Blacks oppose to yon their queen's
bishop.
In this position the Blacks may take the adversary's
bishop, and their position is quite as good as that of the
Whites.
XKX SOTfTKKBJST VXS&D J&SB BUUBBXBE.
FUN, FACT, AND PHILOSOPHY.
(Carefully prejiarcd for the Southern Field and Fireside)
Sound of Sunset.—On the arrival of an emi
grant ship, some years ago, when the North
Carolina lay off the battery, an Irishman hearing
the gun fired at sunset, inquired of one of the
sailors what that was.
“What’s that?”
“ Why, that’s tho sundown,” was the con
temptuous answer.
“ Sunset 1” exclaimed Paddy, with disten
ded eyes. “Holy Virgin! and does the sun
go down in this country with such a bang as
that 1”
The first instance of witchcraft known in New
England, occurred in Connecticut, where Mary
Johnson was executed at Hartford, early in the
year 1647. Witches were hung in England
twenty-nine years after the illusive error was
over in this country.
The most influential man, in a free country at
least, is a man who has the ability, as well as
the courage, to speak what he thinks when oc
casion may require it.
A gray hair was espied among the raven locks
of a fair lady a few days ago. “Oh, pray pull it
out,” she exclaimod. “If I pull it out ten will
come to the funeral,” replied ihe lady who had
made the unwelcome discovery. “ Pluck it out,
nevertheless,” said the dark-haired damsel, “it
is no sort of consequence how many come to
the funeral, provided they all come in black."
Calculation (in French called calcul,) is derived
from a Latin word signifying a little stone, because
the ancients used such instead of figures, in their
computations. All our numbers are expressed
by different arrangements of the cipher, (0) and
the nine figures called digits. This was learned
from the Arabians, who are said to have derived
their knowledge from countries still farther
East. The Greeks and Romans, used the letters
of their alphabet to express numbers.
A great, good and a right mind is a kind of di
vinity lodged in flesh, and may be possessed by
a slave as well as by a prince.
A thin old man, with a rag-bag in his hand,
was picking up a large number of pieces of
whalebone which lay on the street. The deposit
was of such a singular nature that we asked the
quaint-looking gatherer how he supposed they
came there ? “ Don’t know,” he replied in a
squeaking voice: “I ’spect some unfortunate fe
male was wrecked hereabout.”
Cumberland Presbyterians. —This body
which had its rise neat the beginning of the
present century, has the following statistics.—
Ministers, 390; Licentiates, 593; Candidates,
196. Cengregations 1189; Communicants 82,-
000.
We should manage our fortune, as we do our
health—enjoy it when good, be patient when it
is bad.
Mr. Randolph, at an early period of his Con
gressional career, submitted to the House a res
olution of inquiry in relation to some measure of
public interest. A Mr. Dana, from one of the
eastern States, proposed an amendment, which
he asked Mr. Randolph to accept as a substitute
for his resolution. Mr. Randolph’s instanta
neous reply was: “ Mr. Speaker, Timeo Danaos
et dona ferentes. I don't like that Dano."
The amount of salt manufactured at Syracuse,
New York, is seven millions of bushels yearly.—
The annual revenue to the manufacturers is
three millions of dollars. The whole amount of
salt manufactured in the United States is sixteen
millions of bushels annually.
A negro, soon after the revolutionary war,
being told of the great valor of Lord Cornwallis,
replied, “ King George send him ober to dis
country Cornwallis, but Mas’ Washington git at
him and scrape de corn all off, send him back
Co&wallis.”
The aggregate vote of Texas at the recent
election was about 70,000. This would indicate
a population of 600,000, and would entitle the
State to six Representatives in Congress under
the present ratio.
Cultivate a cheerful disposition; endeavor, as
much as lieth in you, always to bear a smile about
with you.
A gentleman named Dunlop being present at
a party where one of the company had made
several puns on the names of the persons pres
ent, remarked that he had never heard his name
punned upon, and didn’t believe it could be done.
“ There is nothing in the world more easy, sir,”
replied the punster. —“Just lop off half the name
and it is dm."
It is authoritatively stated that the amount of
money remitted home by Irishmen, resident in
America, the last year, for the purpose of assist
ing their friends to emigrate, was two millions
eight hundred and sixty thousand, ($2,860,000.)
The ten preceding years, the amount was forty
nine millions six hundred and eighty thousand,
($49,680,000.)
Catch not too soon at an o‘ffence, nor give too
easy way to anger. The one shows a weak judg
ment, the other a perverse nature.
Drawing the Line. —A lady of fashionable
piety, once took a friend to task for wearing
feathers. “ But,” said the friend, “ are my feath
ers any more objectionable than tho brilliant
artificial flowers in your bonnet ?” “ O,” re
plied the censorious lady, “ Christians must
draw the line somewhere, and / draw it at feath
ers 1”
Adieu.—This is from the French a Dieu, (to
God). I commit you to God, or God keep you.
When Aristotle was asked what were the ad
vantages of learning, he replied : “Itis an or
nament to man in prosperity, and a refuge in ad
versity .” •
An Irish housemaid, who was sent to call a
gentleman to dinner, found him engaged in
using a tooth brush.
“ Well, Mary, is he coming?” said the lady of
the house, as the sen-ant returned.
“ Yes ma’am, directly,” was the laconic reply,
“lie’s sharpening his teeth. ’
PERSONAL.
—Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, who has
been in England for some time past, will spend
the winter in Switzerland. Her husband will
return home immediately.
The Louisville Courier says Miss Eliza
Logan has retired from the stage, and has? enter
ed into an engagement for life—matrimonial —
with Mr. Wood, of Wood’s theatre, Cincinnati.
—The Right Rev. Andrew Benade, the old
est Bishop of the Moravian church in America
and nearly ninety years of age, died at Easton,
Pa., on the 31st ult.
Mr. J. F. Cropsey, the distinguished Amer
ican landscapist, has now been a resident of
London for about four years. His success in
England is so great, that he is tempted to re
main there permanently.
Mr. Theodore S. Fay, the United States
Minister to Switzerland, is calling the attention
of the Swiss government to the state of the Jews
in that country. Their condition seems to be
generally deplorable.
—A Concord paper says, that ex-President
Pierce last week purchased of Joseph Stickney,
in Concord, New Hampshire, a tract of about
fifteen acres of land, situated west of the asy
lum for the insane, on the Hopkinton road. It
is said that he intends to erect suitable build
ings, and make Concord once more his home.—
The site selected commands a wide and pictu
resque landscape.
The New York Herald “ understands” that
the famous Monsieur Felix Bf.lly, who is go
ing to cut our continent into, is now in our
midst, probably to carry out his great project.
Like the crowned families of Europe, when
traveling, the great French engineer has as
sumed a nom de guerre, and is now stopping at
the St. Nicholas.
—At Madrid, recently, Mario and Grisi,
while singing in opera, were hissed from the
stage and the lady was complimented by a show
er of potatoes from the gallery. She burst into
tears and left the stage, and Mario, who attempt
ed to brave the storm, followed her shortly after.
No cause is given for this extraordinary scene.
—lt is reported in the fashionable circles of
Rome that the Prince of Wales, during his re
cent visit, then at the Palace Cafarelli, tne King
of Prussia's residence, had opened a flirtation
with the King’s niece, the Princess Alexan
drine of Russia, which is likely to result in a
matrimonial attachment.
—The Hon. Mr. and Mrs. Norton were to
gether for the first time in several years, at the
funeral of their son, who was buried according
to the Roman Catholic ceremonial, at Wakefield,
England, on the 23d ult. They dined together,
and Mr. Norton paid his afflicted wife every at
tention. The hope is expressed that the mourn
ful event may result in their reconciliation.
Mme. Ernest Feydeau, wife of the author of
“ Fanny,” has just died in Paris. She was a wo
man of imposing beauty, and the daughter of
Blanqui, the great economist, who became Di
rector of the School of Commerce in 1830, a po
sition which he held unto his death, which oc
curred in 1854. It is said that when “Fanny”
was first issued, the author had no anxiety
about any criticism but one—that of his wife.
—The Utica Observer of the 10th says that
Gerrit Smith, though very deranged, is not vi
olent. He is suffering from bodily as well as
mental illness. In the asylum Mr. Smith now
occupies the room once tenanted by the Hon.
John M. Niles, formerly United States Senator
from the State of Connecticut. It is said that it
was only by a stratagem that his friends suc
ceeded in getting him to Utica. For some days
before the absolute necessity of restrictive meas
ures became apparent, he manifested a most
nervous anxiety to anticipate the requisition
which he expected would be made upon him,
and to proceed to Virginia and surrender him
self into the hands of the authorities. When it
was resolved to place him under restraint, this
anxiety was taken advantage of. His friends
chimed in with this notion, and when he set out
for Utica, he was under the impression that he
was on his way to Richmond.
<«> i
NEWS SUMMARY.
Death of Ex-Gov. Gilmer. —On Wednesday,
the 16th instant, Ex-Gov. George R. Gilmer
died at his residence in Lexington, Ga.
PJSavannah, Nov. 16. —The case of Brown, Ra
gesta and Aguivia, seamen on board the yacht
Wanderer, was brought up for trial to-day in the
United States court. The jury was empannel
lod and the trial commenced.
Post Office Finances. —The deficit in the
Postal Service appropriation for the fiscal year
ending the 30th of June is ascertained to be $4,-
200,000, being nearly half a million more than
was estimated. The aggregate expenses of the
first quarter of tho current year, ending the
30th of September, are about $3,600,000, the ac
counts of which are adjusted.
Washington, Nov. 14.—The Hon. S. A.
Douglas is alarmingly ill. A council of physi
cians were all night in attendance on his case.—
Some difference of opinion exists among his
professional attendants as to the propabilities of
his recovery, but all admit that he is alarmingly
ill.
Gerrit Smith’s IxsANiTY.-The Albany Amer
ican has the following paragraph:
“ We learn that for some time past, Mr. Smith
had his house surrounded by armed men to pre
vent his being taken to Virginia. He keeps his
room and presents a very haggard appearance—
evidently the effect of fear. He has sown the
wind and is reaping the whirlwind.”
The Utica Herald of the 7 th, says that Smith
is an inmate of the New York State Lunatic
Asylum, on account of marked insanity. He is
very violent and has exhibited a dispoition to
commit suicide, and that an attendant keeps con
stant watch over him to prevent him from lay
ing violent hands on himself.
Slaver Captured. —The American bark Emi
ly, which was captured as a slaver off the coast
of Africa by the U. S. sloop-of-war Portsmouth,
arrived in New York Friday in charge of Lieut.
Stephens. This is the fourth slaver captured
within a few months by the U. S. men-of-war
on the coast of Africa, while the British cruisers,
three times more numerous, have only caught
one during the same period.
Our Mexican Relations.— A dispatch to
the Charleston Courier says:—The President in
his forthcoming message, will take strong ground
in relation to tho present aspect of Mexican af
fairs. At present there is a greater prospect of
war than the negotiation of a treaty with that
country.
Washington, Nov. 14.—1 tis reported herein
well informed circles, that Gen. Sam Houston’s
proposition for a limited protectorate over Nor
thern Mexico has been increasing in favor with
the Administration. Since the Rio Grande dis
turbances, it is not nnlikely that this protector
ate policy will form an important feature in the
debates of the next Congress.
Emigration to the West. —The Tuscaloosa
(Ala.) Observer of the 9th, says : “ Our streets
have been literally crowded, during the past ten
days, with emigrants to Louisiana, Arkansas,
and Texas. Not only are the young in search
of fortune, but even the old, are leaving their
old familiar home for new scenes of labor.”
A London correspondent of the Boston Post
says the leading journals record the trial trip of
the Great Eastern as ‘ only a partial success.'
We all know what that means. She rolls like a
porpoise or a log canoe, the decks leak, the iron
plates don’t fit, the decorations crumble and
disappear, and —the worst remains behind —she
can only go a little more than half the speed
that was expected of her! The very best that
that can bo got out of her under the most favo
rable circumstances of wind, water and coal, is
thirteen miles an hour. So say some knowing
engineers who were on board, and who wished
and hoped the most favorable result There is
no disguising it The great hull is worth all it
would bring for old iron.”
Westward, Ho I— Among other passengers
on board the Maria Denning, which passed up
yesterday, were three hundred and fifty Ger
mans, en route for the rich lands of the North
west, where they will find homes. They were
clad in the same vestments in which they left
Fatherland—wooden sabots and all—and ex
cited the astonishment oi various little niggers
and the Sunday loungers about the levee.—
[Memphis Avalanche, Vilh inst.
Total Loss of the Royal Charter. — Four
Hundred and Fifty Persons Drowned. —Tho Liv
erpool Times records the total loss of the mag
nificent screw steamship Royal Charter, and of
four hundred and fifty of her passengers and
crew. The ship was well known as one of
Messrs. Gibbs, Bright & Co.’s fleet of Australian
clippers, and famed for the regnlarity and speed
of her voyages to Australia.
This lamentable event occurred during the
gale on the morning of Wednesday, the 26th
lilt., in Red Wharf Bay, which is situated about
three miles to the westward of Puffin Island,
Menai Straits, and six or seven to the northwest
of Bcaumarks, on the coast of Wales, some
four hours sail from Liverpool.
Harper’s Ferry Insurrection — Trial, Con
viction and Sentence of Prisoners, ttc.
Charlestown, Nov. 9,1859. —The case ofCapt.
Cook was continued in our Circuit Court to-day,
and drew together a very large crowd. The ex
citement in regard to this case exceeds that of
any of the cases tried, and the result is looked for
with the greatest interest.
The Confession of Capt. Cook. —The confession
of Cook, which was read yesterday aftemooD,
caused much excitement, and some of the com
ments on it were of the most unfavorable char
acter, whilst some others were disposed to view
it in a more favorable light, and the extreme
youthful appearance of the prisoner at the bar,
was generally taken into consideration.
Cook states in the confession that ho met
Capt. Brown in Kansas some two years ago, and
was led by the representations of Brown to join
his band, not knowing at the time what would
be the field of their operations. After some
time had elapsed, Brown informed him that the
town of Harper’s Ferry was the place he con
templated making his stand at, and that he
wished him (Cook) to proceed there and try and
ascertain whether or not the man Forbes had
divulged Jhe plan to any one at Harper’s Ferry,
as a rumor had reached him to that effect. Cook
strongly objected to any such move as projected,
but was replied to by Brown that he ljad taken
the oath to stand by him and that he must not
now desert him. Cook therefore started for the
Ferry, and took up his residence. After having
been there somo time, he was introduced into
society, which resulted in his courting and mar
rying a Miss Kennedy, of South Bolivar. He
then determined by all possible means to change
the determination of Old Brown, but all his ar
guments and entreaties failed when brought to
bear against the iron-will of the Kansas out
law.
The more important portions were those which
told of the Convention held in Canada, at which
the well-known Constitution was framed; of tho
military training under Stevens which Brown’s
party went through, altering their original inten
tior, which was to be instructed by Col. Forbes;
and of his own exploration of Jefferson county,
Ya., under Brown's directions, to prepare the
way for the insurrection.
Gerrit Smith, Fred. Douglass, Dr. S. G. Howe,
and others, were mentioned in the confession,
but not in away to deeply implicate them.
Their connection with Brown involved, however,
the presentation of pistols, money, &c. Cook
said that the time ot the invasion would have
been different, but for the iulbnuntiuM given by
Col. Forbes.
The Case of Cook. —After the proceedings in
the case of Copeland had been gone through
with, the case of John E. Cook was called, and
the prisoner brought in ond placed at tho bar.
He was accompanied by Gov. Williard and Mr.
Crowly, and looked quite cheertul, being evi
dently buoyed up with the hope of a favorable
result from the verdict of the jury empannelled.
Mrs. Kennedy, his mother-in-law, also entered
the court-room at the same time, and took a seat
outside of the bar. She seemed in great distress
of mind, and wept considerably during the ta
king of the testimony. Young Kennedy, broth
er of Cook’s wife, was also present, giving close
attention to the proceedings. The attendance
or strangers from the adjoining counties was
much larger than on any former occasion, and
the proceedings were of much interest. A large
number of witnesses were examined, but the
testimony of the large majority of them has
been heretofore published.
Case Given to the Jury. —The case was then
given to the Jury, at 8 o’clock, and they retired
to their room. At 9 o’clock it was announced
that the jury had agreed on a verdict, and they
were brought in and seated.
The verdict was then read, which is as fol
lows:
“ We, the jury, find the prisoner, John E.
Cook, not guilty of treason, as charged in the
first count, but guilty of murder and conspiring
with slaves to rebel, as charged in the second
and third counts.
Charles T. Butler, Foreman.”
The verdict is in accordance with the public
sentiment, although a strong feeling of sympa
thy has been enlisted in the prisoner’s behalf,
during the last few days. It is now supposed
that strong efforts will bo made by his influen
tial friends to have him pardoned by Gov. Wise,
or his punishment commuted to imprisonment
for a number of years.
The prisoner Stevens has been handed over to
the United States authorities for trial for treason.
He will be tried by the United States Circuit
Court for Virginia, and the decision there will
be final, the law providing for no appeal in crim
inal cases tried in the Federal Courts, even
where life is concerned.
Charlestown, Nov. 11, 1859.—The Court has
closed, and the case of Wm. Hazlitt will not be
tried until next spring. The following is a de
scription of the scene in Court on Thursday, at
the passing of sentence :
The convicts Cook, Coppie, Copeland and
Green, were brought out yesterday at 12 o’clock
to receive the sentence of Judge Parker. The
Court-Room was crowded, and the anxiety
to get another view of the prisoners was great..
They were brought into Court by the deputies,
and placed in the bar, in a range of chairs facing
the Judge. Near Cook was seated Governor
Willard and Mr. Crowly, both of whom seemed
bending beneath the weight of sorrow this affair
has cast over them and their families.
Remarks of the Prisoners. —The prisoners
were then directed to stand up, and asked if
they had anything to say why sentence should
not be passed upon them. Cook and Coppie
then proceeded to deliver short addresses, the
former being somewhat vehement in his man
ner of speaking, whilst the latter made a firm
impression by his quiet and collective style of
delivery. ! oth protested tbeir ignorance of the
attack on Harper’s Ferry, until the Sabbath be
fore the night of attack, when they were called
on to swear to obey the orders of their command
er, Brown. Coppie stated he knew he should
be punished for his foolhardy attempt, but he
thought it should have been lighter than was ad
judged. The negroes declined saying anything.
Sentence of the Prisoners. —Judge Parker then
proceeded to deliver the sentence on the prison
ers, which was received by them with great
firmness. The sentence was that John E. Cook,
Edwin Coppie, Shields Green and John Cope
land: Your trials, on which we have been so
long employed, have at length ended, and all
that remains to be done to complete these judi
cial proceedings, is to pronounce and record the
judgments which by law must follow upon the
crimes for which you have been found guilty.
These crimes have all grown out of a mad in
road upon this State, made with the predeterm
ined purpose to raise in our midst the standard
of a servile- insurrection. In the execution of
this purpose, jn the darkness of a Sabbath night,
you seized upon a portion of our territory, capt
ured several of our best citizens, holding them
as hostages of war until your party was itself
overcome by force, armed such of our slaves as
you could seize upon,with deadly weapons, which
they were to use against their owners, whom
you denouheed to them as their oppressors; and
in your efforts to push your bold and unholy
scheme through to a successful issue, you have
taken human life in no fewer than five instances.
The evidence most abundantly proved that all
these things had been done, and by the force of
that evidence jury after jury has felt itself com
pelled to bring in its verdict of guilty upon each
one of you.
Happily for the peace of our whole land, you
obtained no support from that quarter whence
you so confidently expected it. Not a slave uni
ted himself to your party, but so soon as he
could get without the range of your rifles, or as
night gave him opportunity, mado his escape
from men who had come to give him freedom,
and hurried to place himself once more beneath
the care and protection of his owner.
When we reflect upon all the mischief and
ruin, the dark and fearful crimes, which must
have attended even your partial success—men
everywhere should be thankful that you were so
soon and so easily overpowered.
For these offences the law demands the pen
alty of death, and imposes upon me the duty of
pronouncing that sentence. It is the most
painful duty 1 have ever been called on to per
form.
In spite of your offences against our laws, I
cannot but feel deeeply for you, and sincerely,
most sincerely, do I sympathize with those
and relations whose lives are bound up
in yours, and whose hearts will be so wrung
with grief when they shall hear of the sad fate
which has overtaken you, the object of their
warmest and holiest affections. For them we
all do sorrow, whilst a due regard for our safety
may not permit us to forgive the offences of
which you have been guilty. I hope that they
will turn for consolation, and you for pardon, to
that good Being, who in His wrath, remember
eth mercy. Make then, your peace with Him—
for you must soon be ushered into His presence,
there to be dealt with as His justice and His
mercy may ordain.
To conclude this sad duty, I now announce
that the sentence of the law is, that you and
each one of you, John E. Cook, Edwin Coppie,
Shields Green and John Copeland, be hanged by
the neck, until you are dead—and that execu
tion of this judgment be made and done by the
Sheriff of this county, on Friday the 16th day of
December uext, upon you, Shields Green and
John Copeland, between the hours of eight in
the forenoon and twelve, noon, of that day—
nnd upon you, John E. Cook and Edwin Coppie,
between the hours of twelve (noon) and five in
the afternoon of the same day. And the Court
being of opinion that the execution of this sen
tence should be in public, it is further ordered
that this judgment bo enforced and executed,
not in the jail yard, but at such public place con
venient thereto as the said Sheriff may appoint
—and may God have mercy upon the soul of
each one of you 1
During the delivery of the sentence the utmost
silence was observed, and the solemnity was
very marked. A large number of the spectators
wept, as also did the Judge.
The prisoners were remanded to jail, there to
await the execution of this judgment.
Miscellaneous Matters. —lt is supposed that
Gov. Wise will respite Brown, who is sentenced
to be hung on the 2d of December, until the day
fixed for the other executions, so that the ex
citement attending the affair may be all gone
through with on the same day.
Gov. Willard, Attorney General McDonald,
Mr. Vorhees and Mr. G. Crowley left yesterday
for Washington city, and it is supposed will also
visit Richmond, for the purpose of consulting
with Gov. Wise.
Washington, Nov. 12.—A man calling himself
McDonald was arrested here to-day on suspicion
of being one of the Harper’s Ferry conspirators.
He admits that he was there with Brown. He
has been sent to jail for identification.
Excitement at Charlestown, Fa.—We learn
that considerable excitement still exists at
Charlestown, Va., caused by numerous incendi
ary fires in the neighborhood, and a belief
among the inhabitants that emissaries of Old
Brown are still lingering about. The Mayor of
Charlestown had issued the following proclama
tion:
"Whereas, it is deemed prudent and right, by
the Town Council of Charlestown, that there
should not be longer permitted to remain in our
town or county, any stranger who cannot give a
satisfactory account of himself: Now, there
fore, I, Thomas C. Green, Mayor of Charlestown,
do hereby proclaim, and make known, that all
such strangers must immediately leave the town
or county, and if they do not, any member of
the Town Council, the Town Sergeant, Col.
Davis, Lawson Botts, E. M. Asquith, Wells J.
Hawks, are requested to make it their special
business to bring such strangers before the
Mayor or some Justice of the Peace, to be dealt
with according to law; and the authorities of
Harper’s Ferry, Bolivar, Shepherdstown, or
Middleway, and all other authorities in the
county are hereby requested to take like action.
Thomas C. Green,
Nov. 19,1859. Mayor of Charlestown.
On the appearanee of this proclamation, Mr.
Hoyt, who had returned to the town, Mr. Sen
nott, one of the counsel for the prisoner, and
Mr. Jewett, connected with Frank Leslie’s pub
lication, received an intimation from CoL Davis
that they were among the strangers whose pres
ence was not satisfactory to the people, and
that their personal safety would best be secured
by an early departure. Mr. Sennott declined
leaving until he had concluded his business.—
Mr. Hoyt had already made arrangements for
his departure before the proclamation appeared,
and he, with Mr. Jewett, left there on Saturday.
Mr. Jewett was suspected—unjustly, he declares
—of being the correspondent of the New York
Tribune, which paper has recently published
some letters from Charlestown of an irritating
character. — [Baltimore American.
205