Editorials: The Irrepressible Conflict at the South-The Destiny of Virginia, The Secessionists Uneasy (8/20/1860)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 8/20/1860

[Homer_J_Simpson]

If the disembodied spirit of JOHN BROWN be observant of earthly affairs, and ordinarily conversant with the primary rules of arithmetic, the aspect of affairs in Virginia at the present moment must greatly glorify his martyr's crown. For infinitely vaster evils than the largest preconceived results of the Harper's Fery enterprise at any time involved, seem about to flow from that tragedy. Evils more seriously imperiling the stability of Slavery than all the rant and madness of practical or impracticable Abolitionism. In saving the institution from such assaults as BROWN’S, large expenses were inevitable. In the first instance it was thought that a quarter of a million would suffice to meet the extraordinary demand, and that sum was placed by the Legislature in the hands of a careful commission, instructed to disburse it with the utmost possible parsimony, any surplus to be returned to the treasury of the Commonwealth. But so far from there being any surplus, the claims have reached thrice the appropriated amount, and then with the fresh safeguards required by the invasion, new arsenals, armories and ammunition, and the whole of that military profusion into which the State is about to plunge, it seems reasonable to anticipate that the business is to cost the terrified community little less than $1,500,000.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Editorial: The Irrepressible Conflict at the South-The Destiny of Virginia – 2
Editorial: The Secessionists Uneasy – 2-3

[oldplayer]

Thanks for these posts, Homer.

But, I find the New York Times of 1860 to be as difficult to stomach as the New York Time of today. Interestingly, it’s opinions were and predictions were no more accurate then than now.