From the Archives: December 19th, 1859

On the 2nd of December a tragedy was enacted in Charlestown rather resembling the early scenes of the French Revolution than the acts of a free people conscious of their strength. The description given by the American journals of Captain Browne's execution forcibly intimates that even in Virginia there are two parties equally hostile, equally determined, and alike inspired by a desire for revenge.

The preparations for Browne's execution were rather such as would be adopted by a conqueror among a vanquished people, than by the majesty of the law, where all were assenting parties. Though executions are generally performed in private throughout America, Captain Browne [sic] was done to death publicly. The great square in front of the jail was occupied by squadrons of cavalry and companies of infantry; picquets were stationed as if in an enemy's country, and "the citizens were kept back at the point of the bayonet."

Even when the prisoner was placed on the drop, “the soldiers marched and countermarched, and took positions as if an enemy were in sight, and were thus occupied for nearly ten minutes.” The last sound the man heard on earth was the tramp of troops around his scaffold. His last request, “not to be kept waiting longer than was necessary.” was disregarded, from a desire to convince the people that the soldiers of free and civilised America were the troops of slaveholders.

Bravely the old man, enfeebled by wounds, and mourning for his two sons, shot down beside him, bore the revenge of that State whose “institution” of slavery he had endeavoured to overthrow. America had killed the man, but cannot efface his example of the cause for which he suffered. Browne is the first martyr in the cause of Abolition; and, as liberty has ever arisen from blood, from the day of his execution the negroes of America will date their liberation.

All these formidable preparations and this military display prove the sense of danger. Under the upper crust of American society there runs a current full of perils. Lafayette remarked, in 1825, with deep concern, the change in relations which had taken place between the white and the coloured races of the States. On his former visit he had seen men of the two races stand shoulder to shoulder. "They ate and slept side by side in the bivouac." All were "citizens" of our common country.

Now, the law of America declares “that the black man has no rights which the white man is bound to respect.” America is divided into two great camps – the North and the South – opposed bitterly to the means of perpetuating slavery, but not to slavery itself. The North has slaves, and breeds them like cattle for the Southern markets. The Southerns are clamorous for the revival of the slave trade, which will supply slaves at a cheaper rate, and free them from the arrogance of the North.

Whatever ties did exist between the master and his slaves are broken. All acknowledge that a crisis has arrived, and no one can tell what the issue is to be. The North sympathises with Browne; the bells of the churches were tolled in New England and other States on the day of execution.

Force and the law are at present with the slaveholder, but the very violence of the punishment they inflict proves the imminency [sic] of their peril. The slaveowners are numerically weak. Owing to the violence of this party, and their possession of multitudes of slaves, they have as yet had a majority in the Senate, and, consequently, they possess the control of the force of the State.

From the slave trade every civilised nation has withdrawn but America and Cuba. We pass over the attempt of the French Emperor to revive the trade in Martinique and Guadaloupe [sic]; the cost of that attempt has been its cure. But until slavery is legally abolished throughout the whole United States, we must expect an arrogant and insulting policy towards foreign Powers, and a chronic state of hostility in the States themselves. The death of a martyr is the strongest foundation for a cause; and from the execution of Brown, must eventually arise a combined movement for the Emancipation of the slave.

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Selected by Joe Joyce; email fromthearchives@irishtimes.com