The Portage County Democrat. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-01-04
and the General Welfare.
hands if such man is to die on the gallovs
thenceforward that gallows will he CROSS
/ a cross omninofant for tha oo,nal of l;harty 4

thenceforward that gallows will he cross
cross omnipoteut for the gospel of liberty.
His death will be the beginning of the end.
As lover of man, as lover of freedom
in all this see nothing to fear. Above all
this, above the storm, shove the cloud, in the
region of Gods impartial holiness, in the Just
government of his affairs, all is calm, all is
serene. The end is right. Impartial Justice
will be done. Even in this world the peaceful
reign of Christ shall abolish all distinctions
that have their origin in human sel6shness. and
that have their support from adventitious
power. d s lsea
But, my dear sir, the concern which induces
me TO trouble you With this is from another
source. Those scenes which had their origin
at Harpsrs Ferry and their denoument at
Charlestown. have an interest aside from and
beyond all these consi ierations To these
higher considerations beg your attention
Justice has its changeless foundation in chage
less rights. Injustice is the violation of those
rights, and whether perpetrated under the
pretext of law, and the sanctions of human
governments, or against law it is injustice still
No official tampering can change its character
in the sight of God, and all injustice God ,ril
auenge John Brown is good man, a noble
man. He is DO traitor to any law which God
sanctions. If he dies, he will die for the no.
blest emotional principle that ever inspired
man. If he dies. he will die martyr to the
rights of our common nature While human
governments are "a terror to evi-doers," they
have the sanction of God but for any wrong
inflicted upon the least of bis creatures, they
must one day reckon with justice on the same
ground as the meanest slave. Nor will the
wrong be diuied by their concrete action. 1t
will be multiplied, in it's abstract wholeness
into each individul actor. The folio wing syl.
logsim will set the matter in fairer light:
In the death of John Brown, Virginia
murders good mau. The act is multiplied
into every voluntary participant Every vol
untary participant is responsible for the deed
Ny dear sir pray God his blood be NOT
found in your skirts. John Brown is physic
ally imperiled. But yourself and all the actort
with you in that matter are morally imperiled
Of the two. your danger is infinitely the great
est. To die for principle is not dreadful TX
die for sympathy for poor, crushed, and down
ltrodjen humanity is not dreadful. But t.
shed the blood of such one is quite another
lthing. To shed the blood of such one thai
thereby the hands of tine oppressor may be
made strong. is a deed that shall find no coy
sriDg. neither from the sheltering wing of hu
man governments, nor from the rocks or the
mountains in the day of God.
My dear sir, it is for you, not John Brown
plead Spare yourself know not that il
is in your power to save him. But II it is ia
your po,Oer 10 save him, and he dies the day
of his death is the day of your doom. Th.
death-warrant of John Brown will convict
both the hang-man and its author in the day
when God shall make inquisition for blood
That day that sees John Brown on the scat
fold, sees your horizon obseured by clout
that no sun shall ever chase from your skies
No matter with what scenes you may surround
yourself from that day the graphing iron o
your own doom will have fastened upon your
own soul. Thence onward, JohE Brown, witt
his calm, honest, loving, serene, but Borrowing
face, is to be your companion. Waking OF
sleeping, at home or abroad. that strange mar
who could forget vengeance for the cruel mur
der of his own sons, in his compassion for the
poor slave. is to be your companion You
shall see that patient face in the sparkling cur
of earthly pleasure. You shall hear the soft
football of bis gentle spirit around your do
mestic board, reminding you of the home yer
have made desolate. And in that last lone
hour, to which we are all Fastening, when the
summons shall come which calls you to your
last account, the voice of John Brown will
strangely mingle with that summons Aud to
p that dread account the scenes of Virginia will
follow you. Then the weak will be as the
strong. There the wrong-doers, and the
wronged ones of earth will stand togsther be-
fore the impartial judge There the bias
phemies of those who have spurned the higher
law, will be hushed forever. and justice viii
fulfill her pledge to the universe.
These are not chimere of a distempered
imagination. The things that God has said
in his word are verities. There is world
where the fictitious distinctions of earth are
unknown, and where justice reigns. think
of you as a man. l love you as brother.
man. God forgive me if it is not in nay heart
to do good to my brother-men involved in the
meshes and even guilt of slavery, with as ten,
der and self-sacri6cing zeal as would to any
friends have on earth. / love John Brown.
revere him as noble specimen of my race.
he may die victim to partial and unjust leg,
islation. But rather envy than regret his
lot I trust that he who made the noble vic
Tins of Roman law and Philippian magistrates
to sing in their prison at midnight, win not
forget John Brown in his American Philippi
But have not the same comfort for those
who are seeking his blood. fear the day of
his death will be the day that seals their ruin.
My dear sir Brown is already saved. Save
yourself Slavery is madly rushing upon its
own doom. You cannot save that. In Gods
name, save yourself.
With very great respect, remain your
friend and humble servant.
"a NATHANIEL CoLvER.
RATHER DEsTrTuTR.-A schoolmaster in
Connecticut was on one occasion examining a.
boy from Rhode Island in his catechism, and
asked the following question:
L tuow, p,anv Go1s fhara -