The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-12-01
John Browns ,Farryrdom

john Browns NerfyTd0m
While .acarceTateol in the Charles
ton tF8] jail awaiting execution.
john Brown wrote the following let
Ter 10 his cousin. tie Rev Luther
Humphrcr. This letter has never
been published. Tie original is
now IN the possession OF Mrs. Raw
l.nE-, Of 81 Louis. at present enc
ployed III TIRE Treasury Dep9rtmeu.
at Washiaat7n. whose son received
It fr0m ylc amilr g. l,r iiuupaI..
Immediately after tae death Ot Che
Iold hero on the scdfiold The JET
+ ter Is a remarkably plain hand for
a man 60 wears, exhibits no trcmu-
lousncss, Is free from er3sares. and
contains bug lew lntcrEucalous.
The Phii4utar0pAy which character
lied the entire liie ot the old dmartrr.
and the undauuted courage W.tE
which he faced death on the sc-GOld
for what he believed To- bca JUS.
cause, are fully exhibited in hi- i-.-
ter to Mr.. Humphrey, which was
evidently written In reply tpa .ea-
ternal communication from Chat
I gentleman. Following is the let
Ger.
I GARRISON JEFFEa-oN Co.. Va
Nov 19t>59
Rev. Luther Humphrey
I Ny Dear Friend. G-u A.ua le,-
+ ter of tue 18th iu-.. .- alw bel1rt
me. 80 llr rs uy knowledge goes
/ rs 70 our mutual Kindred. / -uppos.
/ am tle first since the land.u- OF
the Mlylower that has either been
sentenced 20 imprisonment or the
gallows. But ms dear oh friend
let not thc iact alone zr.ayc vcu
You cannot have forgotten h1E uI
where our grandfather. Capa1
John Brown. fell in ill6. and -i..
he too might nave pgr.sucd GOA Oh.
scadO.d had circumstance, U,al
very little different Tee E.t jl.tl
man dies under the hand rt .a .N.-
cutioncr, or otherwise. has hu. 'i,.
To do with las real character ls
suppose john Rogers persisted 90
the stake q great and good u-l
| suppose bat hi- being ' does uul
prove that any other mau who has
died ia tine same way was -al. or
otherwise. Whether ] hav. au.
reason TO be of good cheer or uat.
in view oi nv end. J can assur. v1u
tha, ] feel SO. and that / aui totally
blinded If [ do not really experience
that strengthening and consolation
you faithfully Implorc ia my behalf
God OF our fathers, reward your
fidelity, ! neither feel mortified dee
graded, nor in the least ashamed of
my Imprisonment, ny chains, or
my near prospect OF death bv hang
ing j feel assured that mot one
hair shall fall from my head without
my Heavenly father" / also feel
that have long been cndeavJriue
to hold exactly such % part a- Good
has chosen See the passage iu
Isaiah which Won have quoted.
No part of my life has been moro
happily spent than that have spent
here, and | humbiy trust tuat u1
paTt has been spent to better rw-
pose. would not say this boast
lngly; but thanks be unto God who
gIvoth Us the victory through mf-
mite grace / should be 90 years
old were / to i've till M1v 9. 1861
/ have en-0ved much OF li.r. as tits.
and have been remarkably Dr uer-
ols. having carly learned 60 regard
tne wei a-a and prosperity %. others
as my oHu. / have never. size. &
can remember, required 81 u.t
amount 0 -.erp so that / erUellI.
that hav. cn.3ycd fail an as.u..
uJmJ-~ OF wtEle nrurs with .....
WHO rgaca t-r.r tiUe eG, r.--
and ten. have uaf as y,- u.H
driven &, ,lg a-- oi glasses. Uu. ..l
still see % rad and write clm..t.-
bis. But moro than tha' / h.r.
generally ,.I-., r..... ..
health. MIGHT -o 1I t1 r...
muumr,a.r aII ulmer.ted H.
ings. among which would De- -.1r
very severe Affections. aui tlu tho
most needed blessings 0fIIL A.I
now. when ! think lnw ea..lrI
might De ieit 90 spoil all / have done
or suffered iu the cause OF freedom.
| hardly dare risk another voyaD.
IT | ever have the opportunity Dc
Is q long time since We met. bat u-
shall now soon come together iu our
Fathers house I trust ~Let Us
hold fast that we already have. r,-
memheIin1 that Ue e-hall reap iu du.
time If we Elint not Thanks Do.
even unto God, vino civtth u- tue
victory through Jesus Christ our
Lord And now, my old. Wau.-
hearted friend. good bye. Your
cousin.
JOHN BH-gN