Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-11-26
JOHN BROWN.

The general object of Brown appears to have
been commendable in the highest degree. What
nobler design can any man have than to free the
slave His aim was good, all must admit, and il
blamed, it can only be for the choice of measures.
That he attempted to run slaves, rather than free
them by tho slow process of legal and social
reform, is doubtless chargeable upon him but
to actors themselves must often be left the Sc.
lection Of means, and if they so determine, an ex-
odus may be as constitutional as an emancipation
act. The Stampede is only Il practical use of the
Bill of Rights which God incorporated in the
charter of human existence. Legislation adds
nothing to a mans rights. it merely helps main
tain the rights with which the Creator endowed
the race. The only question then is, was there q
reasonable prospect for success in this case ? 1t
must be acknowledged there was not. Humanity
tie enterprise was hopeless and foolish. But let
il not be forgotten that as much may be said of
nearly all the great achievements that have blessed
the world, and that too, whether conducted by
God or man. In their i~ncipient stages, these
movements have uniformly appeared prepostcrous,
and their originators have been awarded poverty,
disgrace. and death. Nor is there any better way
of serving a good cause, than to die for it. 1t is
questionable whether John Brown could have done
more than he has done. He can die, and it is
death that the world wants nothing SO helps on
a good cause as the death of its best friends. "The
blood Of the martyrs is the seed of the Church. +"
So also in the state. Its foundation is cemented
by patriotic blood. Bunker Hill and it's fellow
fields Of carnage tell the price of our civil liber,
ties. Our African bondmen will have freedom,
but not until the ground on which they have toll
ed, has been abundantly watered with their blood
The south will not allow q peaceable and legal en-
reimbursement ; one Of a different kind it cannot
prevent. Pharaoh had a call to the use of gentle
means for emancipation, but as he did not choose
to regard it, Providence took another way. What
scenes Of slaughter are reserved for the slave states
of this Union, is of course hidden from US, bu,
but nevertheless such scenes must come, if God
has NOT changed his plan Of governing the world
in the light of these facts, the question O
Browns sanity is easily disposed of--he is NJ
more insane than all the heroes and martyrs o
the past. The very circumstances of the cas-,
prove him not only sane, but possessed of the yer,
highest degree of intellectual and moral force. o
what more sublime or excellent thing is a man ca
pable than to offer himself deliberately to dealt
for the benefit of the oppressed This Brown ha
done. and the highest upon the list of fame hav
done no more. The point was to die for o goo,
cause, and be is likely to succeed. He seems i'm
patient to ming!e his blood with the blood of hi
m~artyred sons. The ago capable Of estimatin
him has not yet come. For the present, men wi
write him down as an insurrectionist, as a mul
derer. as mad but posterity will rejudge sue
judgments and give him the honor due to the nc
blest Of men. His speech before the court show
what was the state of the mars mind and moral.
and is an upanswcraLle reply to all who impeac
either his reason or bis integrity.