The way to Universal Emancipation lies through peace, not insurrection — we regret this outbreak. But we will not, by one reproachful word, disturb the bloody shrouds wherein John Brown and his compatriots are sleeping. They dared and died for what they felt to be the right.
Original passage & context
"Believing that the way to Universal Emancipation lies not through insurrection, civil war and bloodshed, but through peace, discussion, and the quiet diffusion of sentiments of humanity and justice, we deeply regret this outbreak; but remembering that, if their fault was grievous, grievously have they answered it, we will not, by one reproachful word, disturb the bloody shrouds wherein John Brown and his compatriots are sleeping. They dared and died for what they felt to be the right, though in a manner which seems to us fatally wrong."
Greeley's famous sympathetic-but-distancing first word — 'fatally wrong' yet not one reproachful word against the dead — the split posture the Democratic press attacked from both sides. Cross-checked against the LoC page scan (sn83030213, Oct 19, p. 4).
Read it in the original — Furman Secession Era Editorials transcription ↗
Northern press · Republican Condensed — not verbatim Source scan differs from our text — see the record