Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-21
Letter From John Brown

By permission of the Rev. j. W. Mcfarland
of Wooster to whom it was addressed, we copy
from the original, the following letter written
by John Brown, in answer to one received by
him, from Mr. Mcfarland The letter, like all
the others, written by Brown since his impiis-
onment, speaks the spirit of true hero and
martyr. John Brown meant well--he was
honest, unselfsh, and risked his all to benefit
the slave; and, like man, met the penalty Of
his wrong doing, his terrible mistake. The
letter will be read with deep interest by all.--
Wooster Dem.
JAIL, CHARLEsTowN, Nov. 29, 1859.
Rev. MCFARLAND,
DEAR FRIEND:-Although you
write to me as stranger, the spirit you show
towards me and the cause for which | am in
bonds, makes me feel towards you as a dear
friend. / would be glad to have you OF any OF
my liberty loving ministerial friends here, to
talk and pray with me. | am not a stranger to
the way Of salvation by Christ. From my
youth have studied much on that subject, and
at one time hoped TO be a minister my self but
God had another work for me to do To me it
is given in behalf OF Christ, not only to believe
on him, but also TO suffer for his sake. But
while | trust that | have some experimental
and saving knowledge of religion, it would be
great pleasure to me TO have some one better
qualified than myself TO lead my mind in pray.
er and meditation, now than my time is SO near
a close You may wonder, are there no minis.
tiers of the gospel herel answer no. There
are no ministers of Christ here. These minis
ters WHO profess TO be Christian, and hold
slaves, or advocate slavery, cannot abide them
My knees will not bend IN prayer with them
while their hands are stained with tine blood Of
souls, The subject you mention as having
been preaching on, the day before you wrote to
me- is one which have often thought Of since
my imprisonment / think feel as happy as
Paul did when he lay in prison. He knew ii
they killed him it would greatly advance the
cause of Christ, that was the reason he rtjoieed
30. On that same ground, 81 do rejoice yea
and will rejoice" Let them hang me. for
give them, and may God forgive them, for they
know not what they do. l have no regret for
the transaction for which / am eondemned.-
l went against the laws of men, it is true, but
''whether it be right to obey God or men, Judge
We" Christ told me TO remember them that
are in bonds, as bound isith them, to DO toWards
them as | would wish them to do towards me
in similar circumstances. My conscience bid
me do that. l tried to do II, but failed There.
fore l have no regret on that score. | have no
sorrow either as TO tho result, only for my poor
wife and children. They have suffered much,
and it is hard to leave them uncarsd for. But
God will be husband to the widow, and a
Father to the fatherless.
have frequently been in Wooster, and il
any fmy Old friends from about Akron are
there, you can show them the letter. have
but few more days, aud feel anxious to be
away, "where the wicked cease from troubling
and the weary are at rest" Farewell.
Your friend and the friend Of all friends o
Liberty. JOHN BROWN.