Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-12-22
CHAR1rsrows, Va, Dec. 10, 1859


CHARLrsTows, Va, Dec. 10, 1859
Mr. DEAR BRorHER:-I now take, my
pen to write YOU few lines TO let you
know how I am, and in answer to your
kind letter of the 5th instant. Dear
brother, am, it is true, SO situated at
present, as scarcely to know how to com,
mence writing; not that my mind Is hiied
with fear or that it has became shattered
in view of nv near approach to death
Net that / am terrified by the gallows
which I see staring me IN the face, and
upou which l am so soon TO stand and
suffer death for doing what George Wash
ipton, the so-called father of this great but
slavery-cursed couutry, was made hero
for DOING, while he lived, and when dead
his noble deeds in behalf of freedom taught
BY parents to their children. And now,
brother, for having lent my aid to General
no less brave, and engaged in 3 cause no
less honorable and glorious, I am to suffer
death. Washington entered the held to
fight for freedom of the Ameican people
not for the white man alone, but for
both black and white. Nor were they
white men alone who fought for the free
dom of this country. The blood of black
men flowed as freely as that of white men.
Yes, the very best blood that was split was
that Of negro. 1t was the blood of that
heroic man, Though black be was Cyrus
Attuck. And some Of the uery last blood
shed was that of black men. To the truth
ofthis, history, though prejudiced, is COM
PEELED to attest. 1t is true that black men
did an equal share of the fighting for the
American independence, and they were
assured by the whites that they should
share equal benefits for SO doing. But
after having performed their part honorably,
they were by the whites most treaherously
deceived they refusing TO fulfill their part
of the contract. But this you know as well
as do, and l will say no more in reference
to the claims which we, as colored men,
have on the American people.
1t was sense Of the wrong which We
have suffered that prompted the noble but
unfortunate Captain Brown, and his associ-
.ates, to attempt 10 give freedom to small
number, at least, of those who are now
held by cruel and unjust laws, and BY no
cruel and unjust men. To this freedom
they we're entitled by every known principle
of justice and humanity, and for the enjoy
ment of it God created them. And now,
dear brother, could / die in q more noble
causel Could l, brother, die in a manner
and for cause which would induce true
and honest men more 10 honor me, and the
angels more readily TO receive me to their
happy home of everlasting JOY above. l
imagine that hear you and all of you,
mother, father, sister and brothers, say
"No, there is not cause for which we,
with less sorrow, could see You die.
Believe me when 1 tell you, that though
shut up in prison and under sentence OF
death, tia. | have spent some very happy
hours here. Ard were it not that l know
that the hearts of those to whom | am at
tached bv the nearest and most endearing
ties of blood relationship-yea.. by the
closest and ;trongest ties that God has IN
stituted-will be filled with sorrow, L
would almost as lief die now as at any
time, for feel that am now prepared to
meet my Maker.
Dear brother, want you, and all of you,
to meet me in Heaven. Prepare your
souls for death. Be ready to meet your
God at any moment, and then, though we
meet no more on earth, we shall meet in
Heaven, where parting is no more. Dear
William and Fred, be good boys-mlnd
your mother and father-love and honor
them-grow up to be good men, and fear
the Lord thy God. Now. l want you,
dear brothers, to take this advice and follow
it; remember, it comes from your own
brother, and is written under most peculiar
circumstances. Remember it is my dying
advice to you, and l hope you will, from
the love you have for me, receive it.
You may think l have been treated
very harshly since ] have been here, but
, 1t is not SO. have been treated exceeding
sy veil-far better than expected to be,
Ny jailor is most kind hearted man, and
has done all he could with duty
to make me and the rest of the prisoners
comfortable. Capt. John Avis is gentle
men who has heart in his bosom as brave
as any other. He met US at the Ferry ane
fought us as brave man would do But
since we have been in his power be has pro
teeted US from insult ard abuse which
towards would have heaped upon US. He
has done as brave man and gentleman
only would do. Also one Of his aids, Mr.
John Sheats, has been very kind to us and
has done all he could to serve US. And
now, Henry, if fortune should ever throw
either Of them in your way and you car
confer the least favor on them, do it fol
my sake. Give my love to all my friends
And now my dear brother, one and all
pray God we may meet in Heaven.
= Good bye. am now and shall remain
your affeetienate brother.
s JOHN A. COPELAND. +