The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-09
JOHN BROWN,S LAST.
Letter Penned to a Cousin Short
Time Before His Execution Never
Before Published.

Cincinnati, Sept. 9.-The following I'M
published letter from the pen of the
great hberator, John Brown, will be of
unusual interest. The letter was writ
ten to an old friend and relative, Rev.
Luther Humphrey, of Windham, Ohio,
a short time before his execution and
while Brown was under sentence of
death. The letter follows:
Charlestown, Jefferson County, Va,
November 10, 1S59.-Rev. Luther Hum
phrey, Windham. Ohio; My Dear
Friend-Your kind letter of August 20
is now before me. So far as my knowl-
edge goes as to our mutual kindred. I
suppose l am the first since the landing
of Peter Brown from the Mayf1ower
that has either been sentenced to i'm
priSOnment or to the gallOWS. But.
my dear old friend, let not that fact
grieve you. You cannot have forgot
ten how and where our grandfather
Captain John Brown fell in 1776, and
that he, too, might have persisted on the
scaffold had circumstances been but
very little different. The fact that the
man dies, under the hand of the execu-
toner or otherwise, has but little to do
with his true character.
John Rogers, a great and good man,
as L suppose, persisted at the stake, but
his doing so does not prove that any
other man who died in the same way
was good or otherwise. Whether l
have any reason to be of good cheer or
not, IN view of my end, l can assure
you that feel so, and that am total
~ blinded if I do not really experience
that strengthening and consolation you
so faithfully implOre in my behalf. The
God of our fathers reward your fidelity.
neither feel mortified, degraded nor in
the least ashamed of my imprisonment.
my chain nor my near prospect of
death by hanging I feel assured that
not one hair shall fall from my head
without the will of my heavenly Faith
er. I also feel that I have long been
endeavOring to hold exactly such a fast
as God has chosen. See the passage in
hox No
part of my life has been more happily
spent than 1 have spent here, and [
humbly trust that no part has been
spent to better purpose. I would not
say this hesitatingIy, but thanks be
unto God, who giveth US the victory,
through infinite grace.
Il should be 60 years old were I to
live until May 9, 1860. I have enjoyed
much of life as it is, and have been re-
markedly prosperous, having early
learned to regard the welfare and pros
perity of others as my own. I have
never, since 1 can remember, required a
great amount of sleep,sO that conclude
that have already enjoyed an average
number of waking hours as those who
reach their threeScOre years and ten.
I have not as yet been driven to the
use of glasses, but can see to read and
write quite comfortably. More than that
have generally enjoyed remarkably
good health. I might go on to recount
unnumbered and unmerited blessings,
among which would be some very Sc
we're Affections. and those the most
needed blessings of all And now when
I think how easily I might be left to
spoil all I have done or suffered in the
cause of freedom, I hardly dare wish
another voyage, even if had the OPP
pOrtunity It is a long time since we
met, but we shall soon come together
in our Fathers house, I trust. Let US
hold fast that we already have re-
Numbering We shall reap in due time
if we faint not
4" Thanks be ever unto God, who
giveth us the victory through Jesus
Christ, our Lord And now, my old,
farewell Your affectionate cousin.
JOHN BROWN"