Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-10-20
JOHN BROWN.
Virginia Cor. Of Harper's Weekly.

James Redpath, in letter to the Boston alias,
thus speaks of
MS CHARACTER AND MISSION.
70 Kansas, he was the great living test of prin-
ciple in politcians The more corrupt the
man, the more he denounced Old Brown It was
true compliment to be praised or TO be recogn Z
ed 10y him as friend for, even in bis pocial
dealings he would have no connection with any
man OF unprincipled or unworthy character. In
his camp he permitted profanity no man Of
loose morals was permitted to stay there-unlsss
indeed, as prisoners of war. II would rather have
the small pox, yellow fever, and cholera, all to-
gelheI, in my camp, than man without princi-
ple." This be said to the present writer, when
speaking of ruffanly recruits whom we'll
know leader had recently introduced. "Its n
mistake, sir" he continued, that our people
make, when they think that bulles are the best
fighters, or that they the tiI TO oppose
these soutberners Give men Of good princi-
PIES God-fearing men-men who respect .hcu.
selves and with a dozen Of them will oppose oil y
hundred such men as these Buford rufians." His
whole character is portrayed in these words He
was Puritan in the Crom Eellian sense of the
word. He trusted in God, and kept his powder
dry. Prayers were rendered up his camp, every
morning and evening; no food was eaten, unless
grace first asked on it.
For thirty years he secretly cherished the idea
of being the leader to a servle insurrection the
American Moses, predestined by Omnipotence to
lead the servile nation in Southern States to
freedom if necessary, through the Red sea Of
a civil war, or fierce Of races It was no
"mad idea" "concocted at a fair in Ohio" but
which be nourished in his hear! FOR half life
time.
HIS POLITICS.
As to John Browns political opinions. Ii is
asserted that he was member Of the Republican
party. 1t is false. He despised the Republican
party. Of course he was opposed to the extension
Of slavery; and in favor, also of organized polit
cal action against it. But when the Republicans
cried, Halt John Brown said-FoRwARD, march!
He was an Abolitionist of the Bunker Hill school,
He had as little sympathy with Garrison MS Sew
ard. He believed in human brotherhood and in
the God Of Battles; he admired Nat Turner as we'll
as George Washington. lie could not see that it
was heroic to fght against potty tax on tea, and
endure seven years of warfare for political right
and crime to fight in favor of restoring an out
ragged race to every brtbright with which their
Maker has endowed them, but OF whieh the South
has for two centuries robbed them. The recent
outbreak was premature. The inevitable coming
triumph of the Republican party, l have the best
authority for stating, was the most powerful rea
son for the precpitate movement. The old man
J;s,r al .ba he
their success would be backward movement 10
the anti-slavery enterprise. His reason was that
the masses Of the people had confidence in these
leaders and believe that by their action they
would ultimately and peacefully abolish slavery.
That the people would be deceived, that the Re
pubiicans would become conservative Of slave
ry as the Democrats themselves, be sincerely
may add, aud with TedsOn,-believed Apathy
to the welfare Of the slave would follow, hence it
was necessary to strike blow at once. You know
the result.
The poem we have copied is sufficiently descrip-
tive to present a picture of the Harper's Ferry
war. After the leader was captured and brought
up for examinations in reply to a question put by
Senator Mason, he offered this
JUSTIFICATION.
think, my friend, you are guilty of great
wrong against God and humanity. l say that
without wishing to be offensive. 1t would be per
fectly right for any one to interfere with you so
far as to free those you willfulIy and wickedly
hold in bonds. do not say this insultingly. i
think did right; and that others will do right who
interfere with you at any time and all times. i