Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-11-13
LETTER FROM JOHN BROWN.


New York. Nov. ia dispatch to
the World from New Hartford, Conn,
says:
The Rev Luther Humphrey, a
cousin of the famous abolitionist John
Brown, died here recently. Among his
effects has been found a letter written
by John Brown during his incarcera-
ton at Charleston, Va, after his raid
on Harpers Ferry 1t is claimed that
it has never been published before. 1t
is dated Charlestown, jefferson county,
Va. 18th Nov, 1853, and is as follows:
"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
Maytluwer that has ever been SEN
fenced to Imprisonment or to the gal
lows. But, my dear old friends, let not
that fact alone giieve you. You can
not have forgotten how and where our
grandfather, Captain John Brown, tell
in 1I76, and that he, too, might have
persisted on the scaffod had circum-
stances been cut very little different.
THE fact that "A man dies under the
has but little to do with his true char
acter. as ! suppose. John Rogers per-
ished at the stake, n great ana good
man as / suppose, but his being so does
not prove any other man who has died
in the same way, was good or other
wise.
whether have any reason to be OF
good cheer or not in view of my end,
/ can assure you that | feel So ana
that l am totally blinded If l do not
really experience that strengthening Of
consolation you so faithfully implore
i'm my behalf. God of our fathers re-
ward your fidelity.
81 neither feel mortified, degraded
nor in the least ashamed of my i'm
prIsonment. my chance or my near
prospect of death by hanging. l feel
assured that not one hair shall fall on
my head without my heavenly Father
will. ] also feel that ! have long been
endeavoring to hold exactly such a
part as God has chosen. See the pas
sage in Isaiah which you have
quoted.
happily spent than that ! have spent
here and / humbly trust that no part
has been spent to better purpose.
would not say this boastingly, but
thanks be unto God who giveth us the
victory through infinite grace.
81 should be bU years olu were "
live till May 3, 1860. ! have enjoyed
much of life as 1t is and have been re-
mnrkably prosperous. having early
learned to regard the welfare and pros
nerity of others as my own. l have
never since l can remember required
great amount of sleep, so that con-
clude that / have already enjoyed fully
an average number of waking hours
with those who reach their three score
years and ten. l have not as yet been
driven to the use of glasses, but can
sim see to read and write comfortably.
hut more than that ] can generally en-
ioy remarkably good health. l might
20 on to recount innumerable and un-
merlted blessings. among which would
he some very severe Affections ana
those the most needed blessings OF all.
"And now, when | think how easily
I might be left to spoil all ] have done
or suffered In the cause of freedom !
hardly dare risk another voyage II !
even had the opportunity. 1t Is long
time since we met. but we shaH soon
come together in our Fathers house, l
trust. Let us hold fast that We already
have, remembering that we shall reap
in due time II we faint not. Thanks
be ever unto God, who giveth us the
victory through Jesus Christ our Lord:
And now, my old warm hearteu
friends, good bye
''Your affectionate cousin,
John BROWN"