The weekly Anglo-African., 1860-01-14

10 Commemorate TIE NANNY Virtues Of
those Noble Representatives. Of the Col
ored Race Of the Nineteenth Century,
John A. Copeland, Lewis Leary and
Shields Green, aojto, for the Cause Of
Freedom, laid DOZEN their hves at Hay-
per's Ferry and CharlestoWaa, Va, Oc-
to6er IL, and December 16, 1859.
The citizens of Oberlin have undertaken
the work of erecting a monument to the
memory of these, their honored friends and
townsmen. But as they are representative
men, of whom every colored person in the
land has reason to be proud, we have not
thought it right to withhold from such,
nor indeed trome any the privilege of shar-
ing the honor with US.
We make no stirring appeal for funds
prefering to say in the language of the
blessed book, which was the solace of our
friends as they approached the hour of
their mortal agony" Let every one aohose
heart hath starred him up and a0ll0se spiy-
II hath made him aciltang, bring the L0rdS
| Offering TO the eoork Of the" monument
The funeral of John Copeland was held
in the Oberlin Church on the last Sabbath,
and although but short notice of the meet
ing was given, fully three thousand per-
sons were present to unite in congratula-
tions and to mingle their tears with those
who wept.
Our esteemed fellow citizen, the Hon.
James Monroe, member elect of the Ohio
| 1,,n n Ill
had Just returned from his humane mission
to Virginia, and presented an interesting
statement of his earnest though unsuccess-
full efforts to recover the body of our
friend. Other and earlier efforts for the
same object, though intended to be eff
cient, had likewise proved a failure.
Professor Ii. Z. Peck, of Oberlin Col
lege, tone of the men who lay in Cuyaho-
ga Jail for eighty-fve days, for alleged
completely with those who rescued fellow
being from the grasp of manstealers, )preach-
ed an eloquent funeral sermon. He mark
ed the providence of God which had fur
nished for the colored race not less firm,
heroic and Christ-like champion than had
the white race i'll the person of the immor-
tai John Brown.
Young Copeland was a man of incom-
plete education, and of few words, but
brave and energetic. He was favorably
known in our community; and was honor
| ed as the second man who entered the
room and faced forest of revolvers when
| the noted John" was rescued.
How brightly do his virtues shine when
the circumstances of his last days are care
fully considered Falsely published by
the highest authority of Virginia as craven
and trembling fearful, doubtless, that the
base slauder might be helieved-uncheer-
ed by the friendly assurance of admiring
thousands which so greatly sustained 9th
er patriots surrounded by those who new
er dreamed Of nobleness in a negro; why
| did he not sink ?
Answer-God inspired him with Chris
tian courage to nobly represent a race; and
how worthy did be represent them !
The Baltimore Sun " says: A few mo-
ments before leaving the Jail, Copeland
said, " If | am dying for freedom l could
not die in better cause-I had rather die
than be &ave ~ A military officer in
charge on the day of the execution says,
81 had position near the gallows and
carefully observed all. | can truly say l
never witnessed more firm and unwavering
fortitude-more perfect composure or more
beautiful propriety than were manifested
by young Copeland to the very last
Nor was Lewis Leary an unsuitable as
sociate of the heroic Copeland. A Chris
tian man-driven forth amid shower of
rifle balls from the land of his fathers be-
cause of efforts to deliver him that was
spoiled out of the hands of the oppressor,"
he still pursued the same God-like calling
in the home of his adoption For this
purpose, and for nothing else, Leary and
his associates went to Harper's Ferry.
When forced into battle, he bravely fought,
in selfdefence. His eye never quailed
and his cheek never blanched till he fell,
l0ith face to his foe, and covered with NOR
tai wounds. Why did he rush on death 2
Not that life was WEAKNESS to him. OBJ
jects of tender love were cherished in his
heart. His young wife and babe whom
he has left in our midst (may God sustain
and bless them were inexpressibly dear
to him. But the tender words of coniugal
love and the winning smiles of helpless in
fancy could not change his purpose to do
and dare nobly for the deliverance of his
brethren.
Shields Green was but little known to
us excepting as he has been made known
to the nation and the world by his manly
conduct, his patient and heroic endurance
in prison, and his pious, courageous and
consistent department as he stood on the
fatal gallows.
Our messenger to Virginia saw him as
helay in garnet, naked, frozen and bloody
his dead eyes open and looking straight to
heaven as If he would say, How long, o
Lord, holy and true, dost thou not Judge
and avenge our blood"
The great congregation assembled at
young Copeland's funeral contributed near
ly one hundred and seventy-fve dollars
towards the monument and expences, al
though FIVE other public collections had
been made within thirty days.
Il