Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-05
ing of their deeds Thcrmopyl1 will be for
JOHN BROWN.

JOHN BROWN.
When / aided in the capture OF John
Brown, who was a murderer on our west
ern border, and who was fairly tried and
convicted of treason before an impartial
Judge and Jury, was proud of my little
share in the ransaction-deemed l was do
ing my duty in helping our country TO per-
form an act of justice. But what was
crime in poor John Brown II now consider
ed by themselves a the greatest and only
virtue Of the whole Republican party.
Strange transmigration Vice to become
virtue simply because more INDUCED IN.
l thought then as now, that the Abol ltlon-
lists we're the only traitors in the land. and
that Che whole party deserved the same
fate az poor John Brown; not because they
wish to abolish slavery. but on account OF
the means they have ever endeavored TO
use 10 effect that abolition. IL Brown were
living doubt whether he himself would set
slavery against the Union. Most or many
in tho North do and openly curse the
Union, if the South is to return and retain
a single right guaranteed to them by every
tie which we once Ieycred as sacred.
ExrERMINATGoS OR SLAVERY.
The South can make no choice. IT is
either extermnation or slavery for them
selves-worse than death to draw from. L
know my choice.
| have studied hard to discover upon
what grounds the right of a State to secede
has been denied, when our very name.
limited States, . and the declaration OF
Independence" both provide for secession.
But this is no time Tor words. write in
haste.
know how foolish / shall be deemed for
undertaking such step as thls-wnere on
the one side have many friends and every
thing TO make me happy, where my pro.
fessOn alone has gained me an income OF
more than twenty thousand dollars year,
and where my great personal ambition IN
INV profession has such great field for
labor. On the other hand, the South has
never bestowed on me one kind word-a
place where have no friends except be
meath the sod; place where must either
become a private soldier or beggar. TO
give up all the former for tho latter, be-
sides nv mother and sisters, whom l love
so dearly though they so widely. diner from
me in opinion, seems insane-but, God Is
my judge.
LOVE JUSTICE
more than do O country that disowns 1t;
more than fame or wealth: more-Heaven
pardon me If wrong-than happy nome.
| have never been upon battlefield:
but. OH NV countrymen, If you could all
see The effects OF this horrid war as have
seen them in every State save Virginia J
know you would think like me and would
pray the Almighty to create IN the north
crn mind a sense of justice and right, even
should it possess no seasoning OF mercy,
and that He would dry up this sea of blood
between us which is daily growing wider.
Alas poor country, IS she 70 meet IeI
Threatened doom? -Four years! l would
give thousand lives to see her remain as
had ALWAYS known her-powerful and I'M
broken-and even now | would hold my
life az naught TO see her as she was.
Oh nv friends, if the fearful scenes OF
the past four years had never been enacted,
or X what has been was but n fearful
dream from which We could now awake,
with what OVERLOOKING hearts could we
bless our God and pray for his continued
fayors.
LOVED THE OLD FLAG.
How have loved the old flag can never
now be known. few years ago the entire
world could boast of none so pure ana
spotless. but | have of late been seeing
ana hearing of the bloody deeds OF wnleh
shudder 10 think how changed she has
grown. o! how / have longed 10 break
from the midst Of blood and death that Cur
cles round her folds, spelling her peauty
and furnishing her honor; but no, Gay Dy
day has she been dragged deeper and
deeper into cruelty and oppression, VII
now, IN my eyes, her once red stripes seem
like bloody gashes in the face OF Heaven.
look now upon my early admiration OF her
elories as a dream. My love, as things
stand to-day, is for the South alone, nor 90
deem il a dishonor to attempt 20 mako
for her a prisoner OF this man 10 whom she
owes 80 much of misery. IL success ATTENDS
me go penniless TO her side.
THE LAST DITCH.
They say she has found that last ditch "
which the North have so long desired ana
been endeavoring to force her IN, forget
ting they are brothers. and that IL IS I'M
polite to goad an enemy TO maansss.
Should / reach her IN satety anu nnu ~
true / will proudly beg PERMISSION 10
triumph or die in that last oitcn ny her
side.
A Confederate doing d wiyx os B s1s own
responsibility. ID. "iAAA'
SIC Semper tyrdnnss."
April IA, 1865.
On the outside of this copy Is the follow
ing superbscription: Copied nom copy
which has been hidden SINCE Aprii, 1900;
but carefully preserved. Inc oni,ed
States suppressed the newspapers AZ once,
but the one this was copied from was
hidden away by lady frlend o. ours
The United States had detectives scat
tered all over the South as wen S
North at the time Of Abraham Lineeins
death, aud friend of our family toia my
people 10 say nothing. for their very soin-
plexion would be known py thxt n'sn' IA
Washington"
teh