Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-28
CopEIAND's FAREWELL LETTER.

CHARLEsTowN JAN, Va, Dec. l6, 1859.
DEAR FATHER, MOTHER, BRorHERs HESRY,
WILLIAM AND FREDDY, AND SISTERS SARAH AND
MARY The last Sabbath with me on earth has
passed away, never more to return. Tie last
Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, which
shall ever see on earth are now passed Wy
The setting of Gods glorious sun which he
has placed in the heavens to illuminate the
earth, have for the last time seen declining in
all his glory behind the Western Mountains -
This morning beheld, for the last time, this
same glorious sun rising in the far off East,
away off in that land where our Lord Jesus
Christ first proclaimed salvation to man; and
now as he rises higher and his bright light
takes the place of the pale, soft moonlight, l
will take my pen for the last time to write to
you who are bound to me by the strongest ties
that God ever insti!uted-the ties Of blood and
relationship.
am we'll both in body and mind. Ircceiv-
ed your kind and affectionate letters, and one
from Mr.. A. NJ H, and one from E. j., all OF
which | have answered. l was most glad 10
receive them, for they showed me that although
| have been condemned to death-althoueh
occupy a feIons cell, aud that when l leave it
l am to ascend scaffold-they do not con
denim me for my participation in these scenes.
And now, dear ones, if it were not for those
feelings Of love which have for you-if it
were not that l know your hearts will be filled
with sorrow for my fate, l could pass from this
earth without a regret. Why should you
sorrowl Why should you let your hearts be
racked with grief Have / not everything to
gain and nothing to lose by the change! l
| fully believe that not only myself, but all
three of my poor comrades who upon this day
are to ascend the same scafTold,-a scafiold
already made sacred by being the one upon
which that great champion of human freedom,
| Capt JOHN BRowN has suffered and ded-are
prepared to meet our God am but leaving a
world that is filled with sorrow and woe TO enter
one in which there is but one lasting day Of
happiness and bliss ! feel that God in His
mercy has spoken peace to my soul, and that
my numerous sins are forgiven me. SO, my
dear parents, though you will lose a son in this
life, it is only to give to him that eternal life
which be could not receive here.
Dear Brothers and Sisters. it is true that
am now in few hours to start on that journey
| from which no traveller returns. Yes, long be-
| fore this reaches you | shall, as i sincerely
| hope, have met our brother and sister, who
have been singing the praises of God and
thanking Him that He gave his Son that they
might have Eternal Lie. l pray hourly that
l may be fitted to have my home with them,
and that you, one and all, may prepare TO meet
your God, that in the end, though we meet no
more on earth, we may meet in heaven
where we shall not be parted through the de-
mand of the cruel and unjust monster, Slavery.
Think not that / am complaining. l feel re-
conciled to meet my fate. pray God that His
will, notlImine, be done. l. is not the mere
fact of having to meet death that causes me
regret (if / should express regret, but that
such an unjust institution exists as that which
requires my life, and not only my life, but that
of those to whom my life bears but the relac
tive value of Zero to that which is infinite.
beg of you one and all, not to grieve for me,
but to thank God that He has spared me to
make my peace with Him.
And now, dear ones, attach no blame to any
person for my coming here, for no other person
is to blame Again must bid you serve your
| God and meet me in heaven where we shall
never part more. With few words more !
must close my correspondence with those who
are the dearest to me Of any on earth, but l
hope in the end we may commune again never
more to cease Dear ones, he who utteTs this
will in few hours be in this world no longer.
These iingers that write will ere the MERRIAM
sun be cold in death, and this soul have gone
to meet its God Dear ones, must bid you
that last, long, sad farewell. Good bye, Father
Mother, Henry, William, and Freddy Sarah ant
Nary. Serve your God and meet me in heaven
Your son and brother to Eternity.
JoHN A. COPELAND.
One three cent piece keep as q token.