Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-02-02
THE EVENING STAR.
Letter from Old Brown. Secretary of state.

Letter from Old Browns Secretary OF state
The following is a copy of a letter from Richard
Realt, Old Browns Secretary OF State, to the
brother-in-law Of Cook, who was executed for
participating In the Brown raid:
WARRINGTON, %. c., Jan. 30, 1860.
DEAR SIR-Your favor of the 9th instant. ad-
dressed in care of the Senate investigating COM
rnittee Is received, and hasten to assure YOU of
my sympathy and coincidence with yourself and
family IN your recent so:rowful bereavement
You VIII, am sure, pardon me for saying that IN
relation TO your deceased brother cannot consent
% adopt as my own the sentiments with which
you appear TO regard him. ! cannot, that Is, con-
sent to call him unfortunate. Doubtless life is
dear and liberty sweet, and to die by the execu-
toner's hand is an igitornnious doom; yet when
In the lapse of tI,c the deed for which John
Edwin Coo. incurred the extreme penalty of the
law shall 5e seen in its true proportions, ana cain
analysis shall be substituted for loud nouthed
horror. and the motives which impcllrd 10 the ac'
shall as they Will, determine the verdict upon IL,
the name and memory of your dead brother may
become unto you glorious Inheritance forever
take no shame unto myself in that d. ssoiEed
my connection with that mistaken and Ill lated
enterprise; and vet. In justice to the solemn dead
I must confess that tae spirit Of beneyoience. and
self sacrifice, and high audacity OF courage, upon
whicht rested, eclipse so surprisingly my careful
prudence and polite caution that though the
result has confirmed the justice of my judicious
fears, cannot choose but 90 homage to their
memories, beings who. in all noble attn outes
Of character. were Infinitely above myself.
The fatal error OF John Brown consisted in
taking fer granted the premises upon which his
movement was pTeficated, and without the abso
Lutte correctness Of which it could not possibly
succeed IL was based on the mistaken suppose
Con that the slaves themselves Were anxiously
awaiting All opportunity Of sri king for their free
4om and John Brown labored under an lnfatua-
rion of intellectual obusity in attempting to exc
cute his project before having thoroughly assured
himself that he might rely upon their COO peration
He was swayed by other errors. He COMPOUNDED
BIS own differences 10 duty with duty itself, be-
ueviEg that the conclusions which bound his
conscience were binding on the cOnsciences of all
other men. ard he translated the sensitiveness of
his heart and the suggestions Of his idosyncracies
70 be a command unto him from Heaven. These
things impaired his reason, and prevented him
either thinking impartially Judging accurately
and wisely. But as he possessed that strange
power which enables 10 inflct many
with his views, he SO psychological his associates
that, seeing only through his Medium of vision,
they consequently were unable to con.r0vert his
theories; therefore the movement went blndly on.
For myself too. X Is certain that had been sent
80 New York. where. out Of the reach Of his great
mesmeric influence I could in some sort m 'ster
the questions involved, | should have been with
she enterprise down to the bitter end. | should,
INDEED have had no other choice. Had John
Brown sent man OF Grand to Hades he must
have started thither, for he was one Of God's own
commanders.
| knew your brother. We have been friends
Permit me TO say of him that his faults We're such
as belong to warm. impulsive. chivalrcus nature.
He was quick hearted, swift blooded. brave unto
recklsssness, generous unto prCdigaiity. We
have been together on the stump, In the solitude
OF the far praires in the social circle in the retire
meGt CT or own homes, and never knew him
ether than what have stated. In the history Of
Kansas lie bore an honorable part, and leaves
honorabls record; and you must not, IN your sor-
row at the manner of his recent destn forget to
consider the that led thereto, for so shall
you be comforted and consoled by the reflection
that all the clamorOus noise and passion which
The Instruction hss engendered, the snre and true
Interpretation 1t will receive from time il even
now being rendered, and that too, in the spirit
trr Ile
Gppermost, and makes justice ever be done.
With much respect, yours truly,
RICHARD REALF.
r. Crowley, Esq New York city.