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approve of his method or his principles； recognize his magnanimity。
Would you not like to claim kindredship with him in that； though
in no other thing he is like； or likely； to you？ Do you think that
you would lose your reputation so？ What you lost at the spile；
you would gain at the bung。
If they do not mean all this； then they do not speak the truth；
and say what they mean。 They are simply at their old tricks still。
〃It was always conceded to him；〃 says one who calls him crazy； 〃that
he was a conscientious man； very modest in his demeanor； apparently
inoffensive； until the subject of Slavery was introduced； when he
would exhibit a feeling of indignation unparalleled。〃
The slave…ship is on her way； crowded with its dying victims； new
cargoes are being added in mid…ocean a small crew of slaveholders；
countenanced by a large body of passengers； is smothering four
millions under the hatches； and yet the politician asserts that the
only proper way by which deliverance is to be obtained； is by 〃the
quiet diffusion of the sentiments of humanity；〃 without any 〃outbreak。〃
As if the sentiments of humanity were ever found unaccompanied by
its deeds； and you could disperse them； all finished to order； the
pure article； as easily as water with a watering…pot； and so lay
the dust。 What is that that I hear cast overboard？ The bodies
of the dead that have found deliverance。 That is the way we are
〃diffusing〃 humanity； and its sentiments with it。
Prominent and influential editors； accustomed to deal with politicians；
men of an infinitely lower grade； say； in their ignorance； that
he acted 〃on the principle of revenge。〃 They do not know the man。
They must enlarge themselves to conceive of him。 I have no doubt
that the time will come when they will begin to see him as he
was。 They have got to conceive of a man of faith and of religious
principle； and not a politician or an Indian； of a man who did not
wait till he was personally interfered with or thwarted in some
harmless business before he gave his life to the cause of the
oppressed。
If Walker may be considered the representative of the South； I wish
I could say that Brown was the representative of the North。 He
was a superior man。 He did not value his bodily life in comparison
with ideal things。 He did not recognize unjust human laws；
but resisted them as he was bid。 For once we are lifted out of
the trivialness and dust of politics into the region of truth and
manhood。 No man in America has ever stood up so persistently and
effectively for the dignity of human nature； knowing himself for a
man； and the equal of any and all governments。 In that sense he
was the most American of us all。 He needed no babbling lawyer；
making false issues； to defend him。 He was more than a match for
all the judges that American voters； or office…holders of whatever
grade； can create。 He could not have been tried by a jury of
his peers； because his peers did not exist。 When a man stands up
serenely against the condemnation and vengeance of mankind； rising
above them literally by a whole body；even though he were of late
the vilest murderer； who has settled that matter with himself；the
spectacle is a sublime one；didn't ye know it； ye Liberators； ye
Tribunes； ye Republicans？and we become criminal in comparison。
Do yourselves the honor to recognize him。 He needs none of your
respect。
As for the Democratic journals； they are not human enough to affect
me at all。 I do not feel indignation at anything they may say。
I am aware that I anticipate a little；that he was still； at the
last accounts； alive in the hands of his foes； but that being the
case； I have all along found myself thinking and speaking of him
as physically dead。
I do not believe in erecting statues to those who still live in
our hearts； whose bones have not yet crumbled in the earth around
us； but I would rather see the statue of Captain Brown in the
Massachusetts State…House yard； than that of any other man whom I
know。 I rejoice that I live in this age； that I am his contemporary。
What a contrast； when we turn to that political party which is so
anxiously shuffling him and his plot out of its way； and looking
around for some available slave holder； perhaps； to be its candidate；
at least for one who will execute the Fugitive Slave Law； and all
those other unjust laws which he took up arms to annul！
Insane！ A father and six sons； and one son…in…law； and several
more men besides；as many at least as twelve disciples；all struck
with insanity at once； while the same tyrant holds with a firmer
gripe than ever his four millions of slaves； and a thousand sane
editors； his abettors； are saving their country and their bacon！
Just as insane were his efforts in Kansas。 Ask the tyrant who is
his most dangerous foe； the sane man or the insane？ Do the thousands
who know him best； who have rejoiced at his deeds in Kansas； and
have afforded him material aid there； think him insane？ Such a use
of this word is a mere trope with most who persist in using it；
and I have no doubt that many of the rest have already in silence
retracted their words。
Read his admirable answers to Mason and others。 How they are
dwarfed and defeated by the contrast！ On the one side； half…brutish；
half…timid questioning； on the other； truth； clear as lightning；
crashing into their obscene temples。 They are made to stand with
Pilate； and Gesler； and the Inquisition。 How ineffectual their
speech and action！ and what a void their silence！ They are but
helpless tools in this great work。 It was no human power that
gathered them about this preacher。
What have Massachusetts and the North sent a few sane representatives
to Congress for； of late years？to declare with effect what kind of
sentiments？ All their speeches put together and boiled down；and
probably they themselves will confess it；do not match for
manly directness and force； and for simple truth； the few casual
remarks of crazy John Brown； on the floor of the Harper's Ferry
engine…house；that man whom you are about to hang； to send to
the other world； though not to represent you there。 No； he was not
our representative in any sense。 He was too fair a specimen of a
man to represent the like of us。 Who； then； were his constituents？
If you read his words understandingly you will find out。 In his
case there is no idle eloquence； no made； nor maiden speech； no
compliments to the oppressor。 Truth is his inspirer； and earnestness
the polisher of his sentences。 He could afford to lose his Sharpe's
rifles； while he retained his faculty of speech；a Sharpe's rifle
of infinitely surer and longer range。
And the New York Herald reports the conversation verbatim！ It does
not know of what undying words it is made the vehicle。
I have no respect for the penetration of any man who can read the
report of that conversation； and still call the principal in it insane。
It has the ring of a saner sanity than an ordinary discipline and
habits of life； than an ordinary organization； secure。 Take any
sentence of it；〃Any questions that I can honorably answer； I
will； not otherwise。 So far as I am myself concerned； I have told
everything truthfully。 I value my word； sir。〃 The few who talk
about his vindictive spirit； while they really admire his heroism；
have no test by which to detect a noble man； no amalgam to combine
with his pure gold。 They mix their own dross with it。
It is a relief to turn from these slanders to the testimony of his
more truthful； but frightened jailers and hangmen。 Governor Wise
speaks far more justly and appreciatingly of him than any Northern
editor； or politician； or public personage； that I chance to have
heard from。 I know that you can afford to hear him again on this
subject。 He says： 〃They are themselves mistaken who take him to
be madman。。。。 He is cool； collected； and indomitable；