As it respects his object at Harper's Ferry, it has been truly
stated here by those who have preceded me, and by John Brown
himself, whose declarations to the court have been read. The
man who brands him as a traitor is a calumniator. (Applause.)
The man
who says that his object was to promote murder, or insurrection,
or rebellion, is, in the language of the apostle, "a liar,
and the truth is not in him." (Loud applause.) John Brown
meant to effect, if possible, a peaceful exodus from Virginia;
and had not his large humanity overpowered his judgment in regard
to his prisoners, he would in all probability have succeeded,
and not a drop of blood would have been shed. But it is asked,
"Did he not have stored up a large supply of Sharp's rifles
and spears? What did they mean?" Nothing offensive, nothing
aggressive. Only this: he designed getting as many slaves as
he could to join him, and then putting into their hands those
instruments for self defence. But, mark you! self-defence, not
in standing their ground, but on their retreat to the mountains;
on their flight to Canada; not with any design or wish to shed
the blood or harm the hair of a single slaveholder in the State
of Virginia, if a conflict could be avoided. Remember that he
had the whole town in his possession for thirty six hours; and
if he had been the man so basely represented in certain quarters,
he might have consummated any thing in the way of violence and
blood. But, all the while, he was counselling the strictest
self defence, and forbearance to the utmost, even when he had
his enemies completely in his power . . . .
Was
John Brown iustified in his attempt? Yes, if Washington was
in his; if Warren and Hancock were in theirs. If men are justified
in
striking a blow for freedom, when the question is one of a three
penny tax on tea, then, I say, they are a thousand times more
justified, when it is to save fathers, mothers, wives and children
from the slave coffle and the auction block, and to restore
to them their God
given rights. (Loud applause.) Was John Brown justified in interfering
in behalf of the slave population of Virginia, to secure their
freedom. and independence? Yes, if Lafayette was justified in
interfering to help our revolutionary fathers. If Kosciusko,
if Pulaski, if
Steuben, If De Kalbb, if all who joined them from abroad were
justified in that act, then John Brown was incomparably more
so. If you believe in the right of assisting men to fight for
freedom who are of your own color--(God knows nothing of color
or complexion
-human rights know nothing of these distinctions) -then you
mustcover, not only with a mantle of charity, but with the admiration
of your hearts, the effort of John Brown at Harper's Ferry.
I am trying him by the American standard; and I hesitate not
to say, with all deliberation, that those who are attempt to
decry him are dangerous members of the community; they are those
in whom the love of liberty has died out; they are the lineal
descendants of the tories of the Revolution, only a great deal
worse. (Applause.) If the spirit of '76 prevailed to day, as
it did at that period, it would make the soil of the Commonwealth
too hot to hold them. (Loud applause.) . . .
A
word upon the subject of Peace. I am a non resistant -a believer
in the inviolability of human life, under all circumstances;
I, therefore, in the name of God, disarm John Brown, and every
slave at the South. But I do not stop there; if I did, I should
be a monster. I also disarm, in the name of God, every slaveholder
and tyrant in the world. (Loud applause.) For wherever that
principle is adopted, all fetters must instantly melt, and there
can be no oppressed, and no oppressor, in the nature of things.
How many agree with me in regard to the doctrine of the inviolability
of human life? How many non resistants are there here to night?
(A single voice -"I.") There is one! (Laughter.) Well,
then, you who are otherwise are not the men to point the finger
at John Brown, and cry "traitor" judging you by your
own standard. (Applause.) Nevertheless, I am a non resistant
and I not only desire, but have labored unremittingly to effect,
the peaceful abolition of slavery, by an appeal to the reason
and conscience of the slaveholder; yet, as a peace man -an "ultra"
peace man- I am prepared to say, "Success to every slave
insurrection at the South, and in every slave country."
(Enthusiastic applause.) And I do not see how I compromise or
stain my peace profession in making that declaration. Whenever
there is a contest between the oppressed and the oppressor,
-the weapons being equal between the parties, -God knows my
heart must be with the oppressed, and always against the oppressor.
Therefore, whenever commenced, I cannot but wish success to
all slave insurrections. (Loud applause.) I thank God when men
who believe in the right and duty of wielding carnal weapons
are so far advanced that they will take those weapons out of
the scale of despotism, and throw them into the scale of freedom.
It is an indication of progress, and a positive moral growth;
it is one way to get up to the sublime platform of non resistance;
and it is God's method of dealing retribution upon the head
of the tyrant. Rather than see men wear their chains in a cowardly
and servile spirit, I would, as an advocate of peace, much rather
see them breaking the head of the tyrant with their chains.
Give me, as a non resistant, Bunker Hill, and Lexington, and
Concord, rather than the cowardice and servility of a Southern
slave plantation.
