Year: 1859

The telegraph has reported, and the periodical
press has circulated throughout the country, de-
tails Of intense interest respecting this man. and
tho daring adventure which has left him in the
hands Of bitter and reckless enemies beref Of
resources and threatened with speedy DEATH


Whatis to be said Of him, and of it2


First, and m )st important, what is to be said of
his character and his motive3 Is he honest or
false, disinterosted or selfish, noble or vile ?
Wss his purpose good purpose'


The history OF Kansas, reported in the newspa-
pers from year to year has told us much of the ac
tions and the.suferings Of one who was familiarly
known there as old man Brown and 'Osawato-
mie Brown and more details respecting him have
recently been published in the alias and Bee, by
perfectly competent and trustworthy witness.
Mr.. James Redpsth. The same moral character
istics appear, the purpose is manifest, in his
conduct at Kansas and during his late residence in
Virginia


In the whole history of the country no man has
appeared Of sterner integrity, of truer nobleness OF
soul of moro hearty devotion 20 what he considered
right, or Of more unsel6sh desires and more assd-
nous labors For the benefit Of others. His whole
lie has shown him to be one Of Gods nobility and
his serious, earnest deneanor,on the only occasion
when had the pleasure of seeing him, well cor
responded with that character His aspect and
bearing, his speech and action took hold of the
hearts of those who possessed any corresponding
nobleness and kindled hearty affection well as
Difference and respect among his associates. He
was man to be loved aud trusted as well as to be
obeyed Such is the testimony of those who
knew him best.


His purpose in going to Kansas seems to have
been to support his family by honest labor, in a
place where he could also take an active part in
confirming free institutions, and averting the curse
of slavery from State then in tho process of for
nation. Disappointed in the first of these pur-
suits by the marauding army OF Border Rufisns,
who burnt his house. murdered his sons. and des-
olated his home, land all these as steps
towards the determination of f,eedom, and the
permanent establishment Of slavery.l he seems to
have devoted himself wholly to the second, and to
have lived, thenceforth, with no selfish private
purpose, but wholly for the defence and relief OF
those who were yet more oppressed than himself
With this view he went to Virginia.


The picture of the Good Samaritan will live to all
future ages, eulogzed by Jesus the model OF
human excellence for helping ono whom he cAanc-
ed to find il need. John Brown did more than
tbis, and emulated the example Of the bene6cient
Savior himself for he went to sock those who were
lost that be might save them. know no more
noble instance of the combination of dsinterested
affection with exalted heroism than the voluntary
conservation, by this strong free, intelligent, man
of all his powers, and the labors of his whole life,
in behalf of the most needy and unfortunate Of
human beings


La Fayotte has won unbounded praise and graf
itude, and lofty place in the records of history,
by volunteering his services in behalf of an op-
pressed people, at the darkest hour in their for
tunes, and with every prospect of losing what he
risked in their behalf lie offered his aiG in this
desperate crisis, and came hither when it was ac-
cepted. It was u noble act aud the glory which
has followed his success is no moro than he has
fully deserved. But John Brown did far more He
voluntarily devoted bis labors, the tolls and suf-
fering of life, to those who were oppressed
that they could not receive a message from him or
send an answer to him. The people for whom he
was planning and toiling could not give him even
gratitude, for they did not know Of his existence
and each one whom he succeeded in delivering
saw him only for an instant, as he despatched
them, under cloud of night, through dangers
which his care had diminished, towards a liberty
which he risked for himself, that he might secure
it for them.


Then the amount and the sort Of danger incur
red, how different in these two cases The risk
of life was common to both, but neither esteemed
this earthly life hii most precions possession. La
Fayeste had not only the consciousness of lofty,
chivalrous position, the satisfaction of fighting an
hat tha aoLn pladr "a tn ha -
in the gaze Of an admiring world


e. But the stern JOY which warriors feel


In foemen ,Uorthy of their steel.'


He was combating civilized nation, which res
rected rank like his, even in enemy. and which
In the event of his imprisonment, would have Civ
on him honorable treatment and ultimate release.


How unspeakably greater the danger how much
more fearful the risk to which John Brown sub
jected himself! Think, reader. Whist it is to 20
to live in Virginia for the purpose of helping the
slaves 1t is to pass ones life among bandits for
the chance of being able to help those whom they
have plundered 1t is to live surrounded by a
brutal, ignorant, vulgar and vicious population,
regardless alike of honor and justice, Of human
ity and religion to have ones life and versa
tion among people who despise benevolence,
mock at the Golden Rule, ignore even such man
illness as an English pugilist practices; strike a
anan whom he is down. get their livelihood by rob-
berry. find their enjoyment In drunkenness. 1t is
to live among people who, being constantly in
the wrong are constantly deserving reprisals, and
constantly fearing them and who, ever suspic-
ious Of a stranger. are wont to count their sus-
picions as evidence and at short notice to infict
upon him such personal indignity, brutal abuse,
and privation of liberty they habitually bestow
upon the slaves and with whom it is customary
to punish humanity worse than in civilized count.
Sies they do crime.


This purpose Of John Brown was, at his own sx-
p,nse, and at enormous and fearful risk TO him