The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-01-22
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
Hon. JEFF. DAVIS, Washington, ID. c.
- Old John BrOWn.''-An Unexpected
Letter.-HOw He Faced Death.

He NieNeiahu \oHioJ iltiaiu puolsheS Tue
following letter, never before printed, written
by Captain John Brown, who was hung four
years ago last Monday, to relative and old
friend at Windham, Ohio. 1t shows how
calmly he contemplated death and clung to
his opinion, even under the shadow of the
sallows falling on him
"CHARLEsrowN, Jefferson Co., Va,
10Th November, 1859.
REV. LUTHER HUMPHREY.-My Dear
Friend Your kind letter Of the 18th inst
is now before me. SO far as my knowledge
goes as to our mutual kindred, | suppose
am The first since the landing of Peter Brown
from the MayAower that has either been
sentenced to imprisonment, or the gallows.
But, my dear friend, let not that fact alone
grieve you. You cannot have forgotten how
and where our grandfather. Captain John
Brown, fell in l7.6, and that he, too, might
have perished on the scatfold had circumslan-
ccs been but very little different. The fact
that man dies under the hand of the exc
cutoner, or otherwise, has but little to do
with his true character as suppose. John
Rogers perished at the stake, a great and
good man, as | suppose but his doing so
does not prove that any other man who has
died in the same way was good or otherwise
Whether have any reason to 'be of good
cheer or not, in view of my end, | can as
sure you that feel SO and that | am totally
blinded if | do not really experience tha,
strengthening and consolation you so faith.
fully implore in my behalf The God of ou,
fathers reward your fidelity | neither fee
mortified, degraded nor in the least ashamel
+ of my imprisonment my chain, or near pros
. pect of death by hanging. | feel assured
that not one hair shall fall from my heaC
| without the will of my heavenly Father
also feel that have long been endeavorins
, to hold exactly such fast as God has cho
, sen. See the passage in Isaiah which vol
n have quoted. No part of my life has beer
: more happily spent than that | have spen
2 here, and humbly trust that no part ha
been spent to better purpose. | would no
say this hoastingly: but thanks be unto Co
e who giveth Us the victory through infnit
f rae
S should be sixty years old were | t
y Ii till May 9th, 1860 | have enioye
5 much of life as it is, and have been remark
y ably prosperous; having early learned t
r regard the welfare and prosperity of other
If as my own. | have never, since | can re
IT member, required great amount of sleep
l. SO that conclude that | have already enlo,
0, ed full an average number of waking houl
l. with these who reach their three scol
- years and ten | have not yet been drive
to the use of glasses, but can see to read an
write quite comfortably. But more tha
+ that, | have generally enjoyed remarkab
'e good health. might 90 on to recount Vi
p numbered and unmerlted blessings, amor
to which would be some very severe affiiction,
Id aid those the most needed blessings of a
l. And now, when think how easily | mig
es be left to spoil all have done or suffered
g the cause Of freedom, hardly dare wish a
n other voyage, even if had the opportuni,
6 1t is d long time since we met bnt we sh
n soon come together in our Fathers hous
he trust Let US hold fast that we area
IS. have remembering We shall reap in d
. time if We faint not Thanks be ever U
by 70 God, who giveth US the victory throu
nd Jesus Christ our Lord And now, my ,
" warm hearted friend, Good bye Your
VS. .ectionate cousin, JOHN Brown.