Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-12-24
Prom Friedrich Douglass Paper. .-.
THE EXECUTION OF.CAPT. BROWN.

Yes, the old hoto has gone. The bravest, trpest
man of the 10Th century has just died on vir.
ginia galovs. lie came upon the stage Of &c.
ton, to bring back to earth type Of old Romsa
heroism, intensified and illuminated by the motise
power Of primitive Christianity. The combina..
ton of qualities which made up the character Of
this great man we're unique and peculiar. ~
was q hero, ffes from roinapes. the sclor in the
greatest tragedy OF the century, and Ssi never
STOPPING for stage eject. He was dfsTppdfted by
any of the inspiring incidents which often infuso
spasttodie courage into the nerves of tmid man,
treading his high path In alm most sotsry grsHdSdf
until events made his name echo from every rock
and hill and valley in the land. He had worked
silently quietly. and steadiIy, under the very
mountain Of oppression, needing not tie ddhSef
that it might crush him in it's fall. The object
for which he labored had drawn out Gii the lat
ent philanthropy and heroism Of his soul: iis
was a single eye So lofty was his aim, go self
forgetfu! his efforts, thas his fellows called him
had. 4 prophet-yea more thsn q prophet-sn
actor-has been among us, and the world knew
him not, until in his old age he was lifted up up'n
galows, and then he drew the hearts q All
brave men unto him. His downrigh. simplicity
of character wac SO out of the ordinary range OF
the wold's perceptions Of greatness that he gould
only be Known in TIE crisis Of a tragedy. There
was not one showy trait about him. In this res9
pect, he was unlike all modern heroes. !, ,,,. |.
Kossu,h can make his patriotism fash through
brilliant rhetoric; Mazzni can be heroic in essays
and proclamations; Lamartinc can illuminate MS
sublime political philosophy by the scintilanons
Of poetic and oratorical genius. But JonS BRo~s
had no power of eloquent speech no giits as
framer of brilliant sentences no genius Tor hgures
and tropes of song, hut his calm steel nerves nis
unb!anched face before million of enemies, bis
unfaltering tread of unwavering directncsr, DIS
sublime faith in God, and his tender and compre.
hensive love for man, made him greater In s4e
aim an tone of his deeds than any of these. 10
suffer for ones own race and countrymen, for
ones own home and family altGr:--that common
man may debut to leave al social afhni'ise.'
give up wife and children, and lifs. and walk
steadily down into the den Of thousands :oi muT-
deyous enemies, to deliver scorned, aad despissc'
and foreign race, is the deco Of such Chrisuan
hero as only comes to earth at long intervals.
Then the brave old man was true to the end'
As the hour of execution came on, thousands
abated their breath and checked tbeir heart-th7oos
mot with fear-and yet under the shadow OF
possibility, that wounded. weak, harrsssed and
lacerated in heart by that last parting with h's
wife, even he might show some weakness oil tts
flesh Bot there was no sign Of weakness. THAI
terrible and fendish ordeal Of standing quar-
ter of an hour over the fatal drop. while the awk-
ward military went through the dumb show OF sy-
olutions was awful beyond comparison as 9 trfsf
of nerves. But there be stood, the cnlm old msa
Of mighty soul, looking grim death in the eye.
while not a nerve quvered Such death Was In
ITSELF ude pendent of the principle which led ii.
glorious triumph. Henceforth aboliiionists will
be respected even by the South and the esusS 10Y
; which JouN Brown died can no lDnger be rsgst-,
ded with contempt. aaF re-
And Virginia was also consistent % the last.--
Her brutality and her co*ardice. did not absis 10
: the least. Whom the heroic wife OF tho prisoner
came to visit him, tie gallant (f) Governor sses
orders to have her detained at Harpers Ferry
and watched closely for hours. When al iass per-
mission was given for her to proceed. her female
: travelling companions were not permitted to 90,
b company her. A boorish poliroon Of o ospss
6 Somebody ~ commanded her escort. ard Isosursd
her BY ihs way on her husbsrd's ositas. 1hrf
brute had not ssnss or deosuoy enough to fSspaSs
y the saoredusss Of that last journey to msss bet
o husband, He was sufficiently mpudens or druak,