byHenryDavidThoreau[ReadtothecitizensofConcord,Mass。,SundayEvening,October30,1859。]
Itrustthatyouwillpardonmeforbeinghere。Idonotwishtoforcemythoughtsuponyou,butIfeelforcedmyself。LittleasI
knowofCaptainBrown,Iwouldfaindomyparttocorrectthetoneandthestatementsofthenewspapers,andofmycountrymengenerally,respectinghischaracterandactions。Itcostsusnothingtobejust。Wecanatleastexpressoursympathywith,andadmirationof,himandhiscompanions,andthatiswhatInowproposetodo。
First,astohishistory。Iwillendeavortoomit,asmuchaspossible,whatyouhavealreadyread。Ineednotdescribehispersontoyou,forprobablymostofyouhaveseenandwillnotsoonforgethim。Iamtoldthathisgrandfather,JohnBrown,wasanofficerintheRevolution;thathehimselfwasborninConnecticutaboutthebeginningofthiscentury,butearlywentwithhisfathertoOhio。Iheardhimsaythathisfatherwasacontractorwhofurnishedbeeftothearmythere,inthewarof1812;thatheaccompaniedhimtothecamp,andassistedhiminthatemployment,seeingagooddealofmilitarylife,——more,perhaps,thanifhehadbeenasoldier;forhewasoftenpresentatthecouncilsoftheofficers。Especially,helearnedbyexperiencehowarmiesaresuppliedandmaintainedinthefield,——aworkwhich,heobserved,requiresatleastasmuchexperienceandskillastoleadtheminbattle。Hesaidthatfewpersonshadanyconceptionofthecost,eventhepecuniarycost,offiringasinglebulletinwar。Hesawenough,atanyrate,todisgusthimwithamilitarylife;indeed,toexciteinhisagreatabhorrenceofit;somuchso,thatthoughhewastemptedbytheofferofsomepettyofficeinthearmy,whenhewasabouteighteen,henotonlydeclinedthat,buthealsorefusedtotrainwhenwarned,andwasfinedforit。Hethenresolvedthathewouldneverhaveanythingtodowithanywar,unlessitwereawarforliberty。
WhenthetroublesinKansasbegan,hesentseveralofhissonsthithertostrengthenthepartyoftheFreeStatemen,fittingthemoutwithsuchweaponsashehad;tellingthemthatifthetroublesshouldincrease,andthereshouldbeneedofhis,hewouldfollow,toassistthemwithhishandandcounsel。This,asyouallknow,hesoonafterdid;anditwasthroughhisagency,farmorethananyother’s,thatKansaswasmadefree。
Forapartofhislifehewasasurveyor,andatonetimehewasengagedinwool—growing,andhewenttoEuropeasanagentaboutthatbusiness。There,aseverywhere,hehadhiseyesabouthim,andmademanyoriginalobservations。Hesaid,forinstance,thathesawwhythesoilofEnglandwassorich,andthatofGermany(Ithinkitwas)sopoor,andhethoughtofwritingtosomeofthecrownedheadsaboutit。ItwasbecauseinEnglandthepeasantryliveonthesoilwhichtheycultivate,butinGermanytheyaregatheredintovillages,atnight。Itisapitythathedidnotmakeabookofhisobservations。
Ishouldsaythathewasanold—fashionedmaninrespectfortheConstitution,andhisfaithinthepermanenceofthisUnion。Slaveryhedeemedtobewhollyopposedtothese,andhewasitsdeterminedfoe。
HewasbydescentandbirthaNewEnglandfarmer,amanofgreatcommon—sense,deliberateandpracticalasthatclassis,andtenfoldmoreso。HewaslikethebestofthosewhostoodatConcordBridgeonce,onLexingtonCommon,andonBunkerHill,onlyhewasfirmerandhigherprincipledthananythatIhavechancedtohearofasthere。Itwasnoabolitionlecturerthatconvertedhim。EthanAllenandStark,withwhomhemayinsomerespectsbecompared,wererangersinalowerandlessimportantfield。Theycouldbravelyfacetheircountry’sfoes,buthehadthecouragetofacehiscountryherself,whenshewasinthewrong。AWesternwritersays,toaccountforhisescapefromsomanyperils,thathewasconcealedundera\"ruralexterior\";asif,inthatprairieland,aheroshould,bygoodrights,wearacitizen’sdressonly。
HedidnotgotothecollegecalledHarvard,goodoldAlmaMaterassheis。Hewasnotfedonthepapthatistherefurnished。Ashephrasedit,\"Iknownomoreofgrammarthanoneofyourcalves。\"
ButhewenttothegreatuniversityoftheWest,wherehesedulouslypursuedthestudyofLiberty,forwhichhehadearlybetrayedafondness,andhavingtakenmanydegrees,hefinallycommencedthepublicpracticeofHumanityinKansas,asyouallknow。Suchwerehishumanitiesandnotanystudyofgrammar。HewouldhaveleftaGreekaccentslantingthewrongway,andrightedupafallingman。
Hewasoneofthatclassofwhomwehearagreatdeal,but,forthemostpart,seenothingatall,——thePuritans。Itwouldbeinvaintokillhim。HediedlatelyinthetimeofCromwell,buthereappearedhere。Whyshouldhenot?SomeofthePuritanstockaresaidtohavecomeoverandsettledinNewEngland。Theywereaclassthatdidsomethingelsethancelebratetheirforefathers’
day,andeatparchedcorninremembranceofthattime。TheywereneitherDemocratsnorRepublicans,butmenofsimplehabits,straightforward,prayerful;notthinkingmuchofrulerswhodidnotfearGod,notmakingmanycompromises,norseekingafteravailablecandidates。
\"Inhiscamp,\"asonehasrecentlywritten,andasIhavemyselfheardhimstate,\"hepermittednoprofanity;nomanofloosemoralswassufferedtoremainthere,unless,indeed,asaprisonerofwar。
’Iwouldrather,’saidhe,’havethesmall—pox,yellow—fever,andcholera,alltogetherinmycamp,thanamanwithoutprinciple……
Itisamistake,sir,thatourpeoplemake,whentheythinkthatbulliesarethebestfighters,orthattheyarethefitmentoopposetheseSoutherners。Givememenofgoodprinciples,——God—fearingmen,——menwhorespectthemselves,andwithadozenofthemIwillopposeanyhundredsuchmenastheseBufordruffians。’\"Hesaidthatifoneofferedhimselftobeasoldierunderhim,whowasforwardtotellwhathecouldorwoulddo,ifhecouldonlygetsightoftheenemy,hehadbutlittleconfidenceinhim。
Hewasneverabletofindmorethanascoreorsoofrecruitswhomhewouldaccept,andonlyaboutadozen,amongthemhissons,inwhomhehadperfectfaith。Whenhewashere,someyearsago,heshowedtoafewalittlemanuscriptbook,——his\"orderlybook\"I
thinkhecalledit,——containingthenamesofhiscompanyinKansas,andtherulesbywhichtheyboundthemselves;andhestatedthatseveralofthemhadalreadysealedthecontractwiththeirblood。
Whensomeoneremarkedthat,withtheadditionofachaplain,itwouldhavebeenaperfectCromwelliantroop,heobservedthathewouldhavebeengladtoaddachaplaintothelist,ifhecouldhavefoundonewhocouldfillthatofficeworthily。ItiseasyenoughtofindonefortheUnitedStatesarmy。Ibelievethathehadprayersinhiscampmorningandevening,nevertheless。
HewasamanofSpartanhabits,andatsixtywasscrupulousabouthisdietatyourtable,excusinghimselfbysayingthathemusteatsparinglyandfarehard,asbecameasoldier,oronewhowasfittinghimselffordifficultenterprises,alifeofexposure。
Amanofrarecommon—senseanddirectnessofspeech,asofaction;
atranscendentalistaboveall,amanofideasandprinciples,——thatwaswhatdistinguishedhim。Notyieldingtoawhimortransientimpulse,butcarryingoutthepurposeofalife。Inoticedthathedidnotoverstateanything,butspokewithinbounds。Iremember,particularly,how,inhisspeechhere,hereferredtowhathisfamilyhadsufferedinKansas,withoutevergivingtheleastventtohispent—upfire。Itwasavolcanowithanordinarychimney—flue。
AlsoreferringtothedeedsofcertainBorderRuffians,hesaid,rapidlyparingawayhisspeech,likeanexperiencedsoldier,keepingareserveofforceandmeaning,\"Theyhadaperfectrighttobehung。\"Hewasnotintheleastarhetorician,wasnottalkingtoBuncombeorhisconstituentsanywhere,hadnoneedtoinventanythingbuttotellthesimpletruth,andcommunicatehisownresolution;thereforeheappearedincomparablystrong,andeloquenceinCongressandelsewhereseemedtomeatadiscount。ItwaslikethespeechesofCromwellcomparedwiththoseofanordinaryking。
Asforhistactandprudence,Iwillmerelysay,thatatatimewhenscarcelyamanfromtheFreeStateswasabletoreachKansasbyanydirectroute,atleastwithouthavinghisarmstakenfromhim,he,carryingwhatimperfectgunsandotherweaponshecouldcollect,openlyandslowlydroveanox—cartthroughMissouri,apparentlyinthecapacityofasurveyor,withhissurveyingcompassexposedinit,andsopassedunsuspected,andhadampleopportunitytolearnthedesignsoftheenemy。Forsometimeafterhisarrivalhestillfollowedthesameprofession。When,forinstance,hesawaknotoftheruffiansontheprairie,discussing,ofcourse,thesingletopicwhichthenoccupiedtheirminds,hewould,perhaps,takehiscompassandoneofhissons,andproceedtorunanimaginarylinerightthroughtheveryspotonwhichthatconclavehadassembled,andwhenhecameuptothem,hewouldnaturallypauseandhavesometalkwiththem,learningtheirnews,and,atlast,alltheirplansperfectly;andhavingthuscompletedhisrealsurveyhewouldresumehisimaginaryone,andrunonhislinetillhewasoutofsight。
WhenIexpressedsurprisethathecouldliveinKansasatall,withapricesetuponhishead,andsolargeanumber,includingtheauthorities,exasperatedagainsthim,heaccountedforitbysaying,\"ItisperfectlywellunderstoodthatIwillnotbetaken。\"
Muchofthetimeforsomeyearshehashadtoskulkinswamps,sufferingfrompovertyandfromsickness,whichwastheconsequenceofexposure,befriendedonlybyIndiansandafewwhites。Butthoughitmightbeknownthathewaslurkinginaparticularswamp,hisfoescommonlydidnotcaretogoinafterhim。HecouldevencomeoutintoatownwherethereweremoreBorderRuffiansthanFreeStatemen,andtransactsomebusiness,withoutdelayinglong,andyetnotbemolested;for,saidhe,\"Nolittlehandfulofmenwerewillingtoundertakeit,andalargebodycouldnotbegottogetherinseason。\"
Asforhisrecentfailure,wedonotknowthefactsaboutit。Itwasevidentlyfarfrombeingawildanddesperateattempt。Hisenemy,Mr。Vallandigham,iscompelledtosay,that\"itwasamongthebestplannedexecutedconspiraciesthateverfailed。\"
Nottomentionhisothersuccesses,wasitafailure,ordiditshowawantofgoodmanagement,todeliverfrombondageadozenhumanbeings,andwalkoffwiththembybroaddaylight,forweeksifnotmonths,ataleisurelypace,throughoneStateafteranother,forhalfthelengthoftheNorth,conspicuoustoallparties,withapricesetuponhishead,goingintoacourt—roomonhiswayandtellingwhathehaddone,thusconvincingMissourithatitwasnotprofitabletotrytoholdslavesinhisneighborhood?——andthis,notbecausethegovernmentmenialswerelenient,butbecausetheywereafraidofhim。
Yethedidnotattributehissuccess,foolishly,to\"hisstar,\"
ortoanymagic。Hesaid,truly,thatthereasonwhysuchgreatlysuperiornumbersquailedbeforehimwas,asoneofhisprisonersconfessed,becausetheylackedacause,——akindofarmorwhichheandhispartyneverlacked。Whenthetimecame,fewmenwerefoundwillingtolaydowntheirlivesindefenceofwhattheyknewtobewrong;theydidnotlikethatthisshouldbetheirlastactinthisworld。
Buttomakehastetohislastact,anditseffects。
Thenewspapersseemtoignore,orperhapsarereallyignorantofthefact,thatthereareatleastasmanyastwoorthreeindividualstoatownthroughouttheNorthwhothinkmuchasthepresentspeakerdoesabouthimandhisenterprise。Idonothesitatetosaythattheyareanimportantandgrowingparty。Weaspiretobesomethingmorethanstupidandtimidchattels,pretendingtoreadhistoryandourBibles,butdesecratingeveryhouseandeverydaywebreathein。Perhapsanxiouspoliticiansmayprovethatonlyseventeenwhitemenandfivenegroeswereconcernedinthelateenterprise;
buttheirveryanxietytoprovethismightsuggesttothemselvesthatallisnottold。Whydotheystilldodgethetruth?Theyaresoanxiousbecauseofadimconsciousnessofthefact,whichtheydonotdistinctlyface,thatatleastamillionofthefreeinhabitantsoftheUnitedStateswouldhaverejoicedifithadsucceeded。Theyatmostonlycriticisethetactics。Thoughwewearnocrape,thethoughtofthatman’spositionandprobablefateisspoilingmanyaman’sdayhereattheNorthforotherthinking。
Ifanyonewhohasseenhimherecanpursuesuccessfullyanyothertrainofthought,Idonotknowwhatheismadeof。Ifthereisanysuchwhogetshisusualallowanceofsleep,Iwillwarranthimtofatteneasilyunderanycircumstanceswhichdonottouchhisbodyorpurse。Iputapieceofpaperandapencilundermypillow,andwhenIcouldnotsleep,Iwroteinthedark。
Onthewhole,myrespectformyfellow—men,exceptasonemayoutweighamillion,isnotbeingincreasedthesedays。Ihavenoticedthecold—bloodedwayinwhichnewspaperwritersandmengenerallyspeakofthisevent,asifanordinarymalefactor,thoughoneofunusual\"pluck,\"——astheGovernorofVirginiaisreportedtohavesaid,usingthelanguageofthecock—pit,\"thegamestmanheeversaw,\"——hadbeencaught,andwereabouttobehung。Hewasnotdreamingofhisfoeswhenthegovernorthoughthelookedsobrave。ItturnswhatsweetnessIhavetogall,tohear,orhearof,theremarksofsomeofmyneighbors。Whenweheardatfirstthathewasdead,oneofmytownsmenobservedthat\"hediedasthefooldieth\";which,pardonme,foraninstantsuggestedalikenessinhimdyingtomyneighborliving。Others,craven—hearted,saiddisparagingly,that\"hethrewhislifeaway,\"becauseheresistedthegovernment。Whichwayhavetheythrowntheirlives,pray?——suchaswouldpraiseamanforattackingsinglyanordinarybandofthievesormurderers。I
hearanotherask,Yankee—like,\"Whatwillhegainbyit?\"asifheexpectedtofillhispocketsbythisenterprise。Suchaonehasnoideaofgainbutinthisworldlysense。Ifitdoesnotleadtoa\"surprise\"party,ifhedoesnotgetanewpairofboots,oravoteofthanks,itmustbeafailure。\"Buthewon’tgainanythingbyit。\"Well,no,Idon’tsupposehecouldgetfour—and—sixpenceadayforbeinghung,taketheyearround;butthenhestandsachancetosaveaconsiderablepartofhissoul,——andsuchasoul!——whenyoudonot。Nodoubtyoucangetmoreinyourmarketforaquartofmilkthanforaquartofblood,butthatisnotthemarketthatheroescarrytheirbloodto。
Suchdonotknowthatliketheseedisthefruit,andthat,inthemoralworld,whengoodseedisplanted,goodfruitisinevitable,anddoesnotdependonourwateringandcultivating;thatwhenyouplant,orbury,aheroinhisfield,acropofheroesissuretospringup。Thisisaseedofsuchforceandvitality,thatitdoesnotaskourleavetogerminate。
ThemomentarychargeatBalaclava,inobediencetoablunderingcommand,provingwhataperfectmachinethesoldieris,has,properlyenough,beencelebratedbyapoetlaureate;butthesteady,andforthemostpartsuccessful,chargeofthisman,forsomeyears,againstthelegionsofSlavery,inobediencetoaninfinitelyhighercommand,isasmuchmorememorablethanthat,asanintelligentandconscientiousmanissuperiortoamachine。Doyouthinkthatthatwillgounsung?
\"Servedhimright,\"——\"Adangerousman,\"——\"Heisundoubtedlyinsane。\"
Sotheyproceedtolivetheirsane,andwise,andaltogetheradmirablelives,readingtheirPlutarchalittle,butchieflypausingatthatfeatofPutnam,whowasletdownintoawolf’sden;andinthiswisetheynourishthemselvesforbraveandpatrioticdeedssometimeorother。TheTractSocietycouldaffordtoprintthatstoryofPutnam。Youmightopenthedistrictschoolswiththereadingofit,forthereisnothingaboutSlaveryortheChurchinit;unlessitoccurstothereaderthatsomepastorsarewolvesinsheep’sclothing。\"TheAmericanBoardofCommissionersforForeignMissions\"
even,mightdaretoprotestagainstthatwolf。Ihaveheardofboards,andofAmericanboards,butitchancesthatIneverheardofthisparticularlumbertilllately。AndyetIhearofNorthernmen,andwomen,andchildren,byfamilies,buyinga\"lifemembership\"
insuchsocietiesasthese。Alife—membershipinthegrave!Youcangetburiedcheaperthanthat。
Ourfoesareinourmidstandallaboutus。Thereishardlyahousebutisdividedagainstitself,forourfoeistheallbutuniversalwoodennessofbothheadandheart,thewantofvitalityinman,whichistheeffectofourvice;andhencearebegottenfear,superstition,bigotry,persecution,andslaveryofallkinds。
Wearemerefigureheadsuponahulk,withliversintheplaceofhearts。Thecurseistheworshipofidols,whichatlengthchangestheworshipperintoastoneimagehimself;andtheNew—EnglanderisjustasmuchanidolaterastheHindoo。Thismanwasanexception,forhedidnotsetupevenapoliticalgravenimagebetweenhimandhisGod。
AchurchthatcanneverhavedonewithexcommunicatingChristwhileitexists!Awaywithyourbroadandflatchurches,andyournarrowandtallchurches!Takeastepforward,andinventanewstyleofout—houses。Inventasaltthatwillsaveyou,anddefendournostrils。
ThemodernChristianisamanwhohasconsentedtosayalltheprayersintheliturgy,providedyouwilllethimgostraighttobedandsleepquietlyafterward。Allhisprayersbeginwith\"NowIlaymedowntosleep,\"andheisforeverlookingforwardtothetimewhenheshallgotohis\"longrest。\"Hehasconsentedtoperformcertainold—establishedcharities,too,afterafashion,buthedoesnotwishtohearofanynew—fangledones;hedoesn’twishtohaveanysupplementaryarticlesaddedtothecontract,tofitittothepresenttime。HeshowsthewhitesofhiseyesontheSabbath,andtheblacksalltherestoftheweek。Theevilisnotmerelyastagnationofblood,butastagnationofspirit。Many,nodoubt,arewelldisposed,butsluggishbyconstitutionandbyhabit,andtheycannotconceiveofamanwhoisactuatedbyhighermotivesthantheyare。Accordinglytheypronouncethismaninsane,fortheyknowthattheycouldneveractashedoes,aslongastheyarethemselves。
Wedreamofforeigncountries,ofothertimesandracesofmen,placingthematadistanceinhistoryorspace;butletsomesignificanteventlikethepresentoccurinourmidst,andwediscover,often,thisdistanceandthisstrangenessbetweenusandournearestneighbors。TheyareourAustrias,andChinas,andSouthSeaIslands。
Ourcrowdedsocietybecomeswellspacedallatonce,cleanandhandsometotheeye,——acityofmagnificentdistances。Wediscoverwhyitwasthatwenevergotbeyondcomplimentsandsurfaceswiththembefore;webecomeawareofasmanyverstsbetweenusandthemastherearebetweenawanderingTartarandaChinesetown。Thethoughtfulmanbecomesahermitinthethoroughfaresofthemarket—place。Impassableseassuddenlyfindtheirlevelbetweenus,ordumbsteppesstretchthemselvesoutthere。Itisthedifferenceofconstitution,ofintelligence,andfaith,andnotstreamsandmountains,thatmakethetrueandimpassableboundariesbetweenindividualsandbetweenstates。Nonebutthelike—mindedcancomeplenipotentiarytoourcourt。
IreadallthenewspapersIcouldgetwithinaweekafterthisevent,andIdonotrememberinthemasingleexpressionofsympathyforthesemen。Ihavesinceseenonenoblestatement,inaBostonpaper,noteditorial。SomevoluminoussheetsdecidednottoprintthefullreportofBrown’swordstotheexclusionofothermatter。
ItwasasifapublishershouldrejectthemanuscriptoftheNewTestament,andprintWilson’slastspeech。Thesamejournalwhichcontainedthispregnantnews,waschieflyfilled,inparallelcolumns,withthereportsofthepoliticalconventionsthatwerebeingheld。Butthedescenttothemwastoosteep。Theyshouldhavebeensparedthiscontrast,——beenprintedinanextra,atleast。
Toturnfromthevoicesanddeedsofearnestmentothecacklingofpoliticalconventions!Office—seekersandspeech—makers,whodonotsomuchaslayanhonestegg,butweartheirbreastsbareuponaneggofchalk!Theirgreatgameisthegameofstraws,orratherthatuniversalaboriginalgameoftheplatter,atwhichtheIndianscriedhub,bub!Excludethereportsofreligiousandpoliticalconventions,andpublishthewordsofalivingman。
ButIobjectnotsomuchtowhattheyhaveomitted,astowhattheyhaveinserted。EventheLiberatorcalledit\"amisguided,wild,andapparentlyinsane——effort。\"Asfortheherdofnewspapersandmagazines,Idonotchancetoknowaneditorinthecountrywhowilldeliberatelyprintanythingwhichheknowswillultimatelyandpermanentlyreducethenumberofhissubscribers。Theydonotbelievethatitwouldbeexpedient。Howthencantheyprinttruth?
Ifwedonotsaypleasantthings,theyargue,nobodywillattendtous。Andsotheydolikesometravellingauctioneers,whosinganobscenesong,inordertodrawacrowdaroundthem。Republicaneditors,obligedtogettheirsentencesreadyforthemorningedition,andaccustomedtolookateverythingbythetwilightofpolitics,expressnoadmiration,nortruesorroweven,butcallthesemen\"deludedfanatics,\"——\"mistakenmen,\"——\"insane,\"or\"crazed。\"
Itsuggestswhatasanesetofeditorsweareblessedwith,not\"mistakenmen\";whoknowverywellonwhichsidetheirbreadisbuttered,atleast。
Amandoesabraveandhumanedeed,andatonce,onallsides,wehearpeopleandpartiesdeclaring,\"Ididn’tdoit,norcountenancehimtodoit,inanyconceivableway。Itcan’tbefairlyinferredfrommypastcareer。\"I,forone,amnotinterestedtohearyoudefineyourposition。Idon’tknowthatIeverwas,orevershallbe。Ithinkitismereegotism,orimpertinentatthistime。Yeneedn’ttakesomuchpainstowashyourskirtsofhim。Nointelligentmanwilleverbeconvincedthathewasanycreatureofyours。Hewentandcame,ashehimselfinformsus,\"undertheauspicesofJohnBrownandnobodyelse。\"TheRepublicanpartydoesnotperceivehowmanyhisfailurewillmaketovotemorecorrectlythantheywouldhavethem。TheyhavecountedthevotesofPennsylvania&Co。,buttheyhavenotcorrectlycountedCaptainBrown’svote。Hehastakenthewindoutoftheirsails,——thelittlewindtheyhad,——andtheymayaswelllietoandrepair。
Whatthoughhedidnotbelongtoyourclique!Thoughyoumaynotapproveofhismethodorhisprinciples,recognizehismagnanimity。
Wouldyounotliketoclaimkindredshipwithhiminthat,thoughinnootherthingheislike,orlikely,toyou?Doyouthinkthatyouwouldloseyourreputationso?Whatyoulostatthespile,youwouldgainatthebung。
Iftheydonotmeanallthis,thentheydonotspeakthetruth,andsaywhattheymean。Theyaresimplyattheiroldtricksstill。
\"Itwasalwaysconcededtohim,\"saysonewhocallshimcrazy,\"thathewasaconscientiousman,verymodestinhisdemeanor,apparentlyinoffensive,untilthesubjectofSlaverywasintroduced,whenhewouldexhibitafeelingofindignationunparalleled。\"
Theslave—shipisonherway,crowdedwithitsdyingvictims;newcargoesarebeingaddedinmid—oceanasmallcrewofslaveholders,countenancedbyalargebodyofpassengers,issmotheringfourmillionsunderthehatches,andyetthepoliticianassertsthattheonlyproperwaybywhichdeliveranceistobeobtained,isby\"thequietdiffusionofthesentimentsofhumanity,\"withoutany\"outbreak。\"
Asifthesentimentsofhumanitywereeverfoundunaccompaniedbyitsdeeds,andyoucoulddispersethem,allfinishedtoorder,thepurearticle,aseasilyaswaterwithawatering—pot,andsolaythedust。WhatisthatthatIhearcastoverboard?Thebodiesofthedeadthathavefounddeliverance。Thatisthewayweare\"diffusing\"humanity,anditssentimentswithit。
Prominentandinfluentialeditors,accustomedtodealwithpoliticians,menofaninfinitelylowergrade,say,intheirignorance,thatheacted\"ontheprincipleofrevenge。\"Theydonotknowtheman。
Theymustenlargethemselvestoconceiveofhim。Ihavenodoubtthatthetimewillcomewhentheywillbegintoseehimashewas。Theyhavegottoconceiveofamanoffaithandofreligiousprinciple,andnotapoliticianoranIndian;ofamanwhodidnotwaittillhewaspersonallyinterferedwithorthwartedinsomeharmlessbusinessbeforehegavehislifetothecauseoftheoppressed。
IfWalkermaybeconsideredtherepresentativeoftheSouth,IwishIcouldsaythatBrownwastherepresentativeoftheNorth。Hewasasuperiorman。Hedidnotvaluehisbodilylifeincomparisonwithidealthings。Hedidnotrecognizeunjusthumanlaws,butresistedthemashewasbid。Foronceweareliftedoutofthetrivialnessanddustofpoliticsintotheregionoftruthandmanhood。NomaninAmericahaseverstoodupsopersistentlyandeffectivelyforthedignityofhumannature,knowinghimselfforaman,andtheequalofanyandallgovernments。InthatsensehewasthemostAmericanofusall。Heneedednobabblinglawyer,makingfalseissues,todefendhim。HewasmorethanamatchforallthejudgesthatAmericanvoters,oroffice—holdersofwhatevergrade,cancreate。Hecouldnothavebeentriedbyajuryofhispeers,becausehispeersdidnotexist。Whenamanstandsupserenelyagainstthecondemnationandvengeanceofmankind,risingabovethemliterallybyawholebody,——eventhoughhewereoflatethevilestmurderer,whohassettledthatmatterwithhimself,——thespectacleisasublimeone,——didn’tyeknowit,yeLiberators,yeTribunes,yeRepublicans?——andwebecomecriminalincomparison。
Doyourselvesthehonortorecognizehim。Heneedsnoneofyourrespect。
AsfortheDemocraticjournals,theyarenothumanenoughtoaffectmeatall。Idonotfeelindignationatanythingtheymaysay。
IamawarethatIanticipatealittle,——thathewasstill,atthelastaccounts,aliveinthehandsofhisfoes;butthatbeingthecase,Ihaveallalongfoundmyselfthinkingandspeakingofhimasphysicallydead。
Idonotbelieveinerectingstatuestothosewhostillliveinourhearts,whoseboneshavenotyetcrumbledintheeartharoundus,butIwouldratherseethestatueofCaptainBrownintheMassachusettsState—Houseyard,thanthatofanyothermanwhomI
know。IrejoicethatIliveinthisage,thatIamhiscontemporary。
Whatacontrast,whenweturntothatpoliticalpartywhichissoanxiouslyshufflinghimandhisplotoutofitsway,andlookingaroundforsomeavailableslaveholder,perhaps,tobeitscandidate,atleastforonewhowillexecutetheFugitiveSlaveLaw,andallthoseotherunjustlawswhichhetookuparmstoannul!
Insane!Afatherandsixsons,andoneson—in—law,andseveralmoremenbesides,——asmanyatleastastwelvedisciples,——allstruckwithinsanityatonce;whilethesametyrantholdswithafirmergripethaneverhisfourmillionsofslaves,andathousandsaneeditors,hisabettors,aresavingtheircountryandtheirbacon!
JustasinsanewerehiseffortsinKansas。Askthetyrantwhoishismostdangerousfoe,thesanemanortheinsane?Dothethousandswhoknowhimbest,whohaverejoicedathisdeedsinKansas,andhaveaffordedhimmaterialaidthere,thinkhiminsane?Suchauseofthiswordisameretropewithmostwhopersistinusingit,andIhavenodoubtthatmanyoftheresthavealreadyinsilenceretractedtheirwords。
ReadhisadmirableanswerstoMasonandothers。Howtheyaredwarfedanddefeatedbythecontrast!Ontheoneside,half—brutish,half—timidquestioning;ontheother,truth,clearaslightning,crashingintotheirobscenetemples。TheyaremadetostandwithPilate,andGesler,andtheInquisition。Howineffectualtheirspeechandaction!andwhatavoidtheirsilence!Theyarebuthelplesstoolsinthisgreatwork。Itwasnohumanpowerthatgatheredthemaboutthispreacher。
WhathaveMassachusettsandtheNorthsentafewsanerepresentativestoCongressfor,oflateyears?——todeclarewitheffectwhatkindofsentiments?Alltheirspeechesputtogetherandboileddown,——andprobablytheythemselveswillconfessit,——donotmatchformanlydirectnessandforce,andforsimpletruth,thefewcasualremarksofcrazyJohnBrown,ontheflooroftheHarper’sFerryengine—house,——thatmanwhomyouareabouttohang,tosendtotheotherworld,thoughnottorepresentyouthere。No,hewasnotourrepresentativeinanysense。Hewastoofairaspecimenofamantorepresentthelikeofus。Who,then,werehisconstituents?
Ifyoureadhiswordsunderstandinglyyouwillfindout。Inhiscasethereisnoidleeloquence,nomade,normaidenspeech,nocomplimentstotheoppressor。Truthishisinspirer,andearnestnessthepolisherofhissentences。HecouldaffordtolosehisSharpe’srifles,whileheretainedhisfacultyofspeech,——aSharpe’srifleofinfinitelysurerandlongerrange。
AndtheNewYorkHeraldreportstheconversationverbatim!Itdoesnotknowofwhatundyingwordsitismadethevehicle。
Ihavenorespectforthepenetrationofanymanwhocanreadthereportofthatconversation,andstillcalltheprincipalinitinsane。
Ithastheringofasanersanitythananordinarydisciplineandhabitsoflife,thananordinaryorganization,secure。Takeanysentenceofit,——\"AnyquestionsthatIcanhonorablyanswer,I
will;nototherwise。SofarasIammyselfconcerned,Ihavetoldeverythingtruthfully。Ivaluemyword,sir。\"Thefewwhotalkabouthisvindictivespirit,whiletheyreallyadmirehisheroism,havenotestbywhichtodetectanobleman,noamalgamtocombinewithhispuregold。Theymixtheirowndrosswithit。
Itisarelieftoturnfromtheseslanderstothetestimonyofhismoretruthful,butfrightenedjailersandhangmen。GovernorWisespeaksfarmorejustlyandappreciatinglyofhimthananyNortherneditor,orpolitician,orpublicpersonage,thatIchancetohaveheardfrom。Iknowthatyoucanaffordtohearhimagainonthissubject。Hesays:\"Theyarethemselvesmistakenwhotakehimtobemadman……Heiscool,collected,andindomitable,anditisbutjusttohimtosay,thathewashumanetohisprisoners……
Andheinspiredmewithgreattrustinhisintegrityasamanoftruth。Heisafanatic,vainandgarrulous,\"(IleavethatparttoMr。Wise,)\"butfirm,truthful,andintelligent。Hismen,too,whosurvive,arelikehim……ColonelWashingtonsaysthathewasthecoolestandfirmestmanheeversawindefyingdangeranddeath。Withonesondeadbyhisside,andanothershotthrough,hefeltthepulseofhisdyingsonwithonehand,andheldhisriflewiththeother,andcommandedhismenwiththeutmostcomposure,encouragingthemtobefirm,andtoselltheirlivesasdearastheycould。Ofthethreewhiteprisoners,Brown,Stephens,andCoppic,itwashardtosaywhichwasmostfirm。\"
AlmostthefirstNorthernmenwhomtheslaveholderhaslearnedtorespect!
ThetestimonyofMr。Vallandigham,thoughlessvaluable,isofthesamepurport,that\"itisvaintounderrateeitherthemanorhisconspiracy……Heisthefarthestpossibleremovedfromtheordinaryruffian,fanatic,ormadman。\"
\"AllisquietatHarper’sFerry,\"saythejournals。Whatisthecharacterofthatcalmwhichfollowswhenthelawandtheslaveholderprevail?Iregardthiseventasatouchstonedesignedtobringout,withglaringdistinctness,thecharacterofthisgovernment。
Weneededtobethusassistedtoseeitbythelightofhistory。
Itneededtoseeitself。Whenagovernmentputsforthitsstrengthonthesideofinjustice,asourstomaintainslaveryandkilltheliberatorsoftheslave,itrevealsitselfamerelybruteforce,orworse,ademoniacalforce。ItistheheadofthePlug—Uglies。Itismoremanifestthaneverthattyrannyrules。IseethisgovernmenttobeeffectuallyalliedwithFranceandAustriainoppressingmankind。Theresitsatyrantholdingfetteredfourmillionsofslaves;herecomestheirheroicliberator。Thismosthypocriticalanddiabolicalgovernmentlooksupfromitsseatonthegaspingfourmillions,andinquireswithanassumptionofinnocence:\"Whatdoyouassaultmefor?AmInotanhonestman?Ceaseagitationonthissubject,orIwillmakeaslaveofyou,too,orelsehangyou。\"
Wetalkaboutarepresentativegovernment;butwhatamonsterofagovernmentisthatwherethenoblestfacultiesofthemind,andthewholeheart,arenotrepresented。Asemi—humantigerorox,stalkingovertheearth,withitshearttakenoutandthetopofitsbrainshotaway。Heroeshavefoughtwellontheirstumpswhentheirlegswereshotoff,butIneverheardofanygooddonebysuchagovernmentasthat。
TheonlygovernmentthatIrecognize,——anditmattersnothowfewareattheheadofit,orhowsmallitsarmy,——isthatpowerthatestablishesjusticeintheland,neverthatwhichestablishesinjustice。Whatshallwethinkofagovernmenttowhichallthetrulybraveandjustmeninthelandareenemies,standingbetweenitandthosewhomitoppresses?AgovernmentthatpretendstobeChristianandcrucifiesamillionChristseveryday!
Treason!Wheredoessuchtreasontakeitsrise?Icannothelpthinkingofyouasyoudeserve,yegovernments。Canyoudryupthefountainsofthought?Hightreason,whenitisresistancetotyrannyherebelow,hasitsoriginin,andisfirstcommittedby,thepowerthatmakesandforeverrecreatesman。Whenyouhavecaughtandhungallthesehumanrebels,youhaveaccomplishednothingbutyourownguilt,foryouhavenotstruckatthefountain—head。YoupresumetocontendwithafoeagainstwhomWestPointcadetsandrifledcannonpointnot。Canalltheartofthecannon—foundertemptmattertoturnagainstitsmaker?Istheforminwhichthefounderthinkshecastsitmoreessentialthantheconstitutionofitandofhimself?
TheUnitedStateshaveacoffleoffourmillionsofslaves。Theyaredeterminedtokeeptheminthiscondition;andMassachusettsisoneoftheconfederatedoverseerstopreventtheirescape。SucharenotalltheinhabitantsofMassachusetts,butsucharetheywhoruleandareobeyedhere。ItwasMassachusetts,aswellasVirginia,thatputdownthisinsurrectionatHarper’sFerry。Shesentthemarinesthere,andshewillhavetopaythepenaltyofhersin。
SupposethatthereisasocietyinthisStatethatoutofitsownpurseandmagnanimitysavesallthefugitiveslavesthatruntous,andprotectsourcoloredfellow—citizens,andleavestheotherworktothegovernment,so—called。Isnotthatgovernmentfastlosingitsoccupation,andbecomingcontemptibletomankind?Ifprivatemenareobligedtoperformtheofficesofgovernment,toprotecttheweakanddispensejustice,thenthegovernmentbecomesonlyahiredman,orclerk,toperformmenialorindifferentservices。Ofcourse,thatisbuttheshadowofagovernmentwhoexistencenecessitatesaVigilantCommittee。WhatshouldwethinkoftheOrientalCadieven,behindwhomworkedinsecretavigilantcommittee?ButsuchisthecharacterofourNorthernStatesgenerally;
eachhasitsVigilantCommittee。And,toacertainextent,thesecrazygovernmentsrecognizeandacceptthisrelation。Theysay,virtually,\"We’llbegladtoworkforyouontheseterms,onlydon’tmakeanoiseaboutit。\"Andthusthegovernment,itssalarybeinginsured,withdrawsintothebackshop,takingtheConstitutionwithit,andbestowsmostofitslaboronrepairingthat。WhenI
hearitatworksometimes,asIgoby,itremindsme,atbest,ofthosefarmerswhoinwintercontrivetoturnapennybyfollowingthecooperingbusiness。Andwhatkindofspiritistheirbarrelmadetohold?Theyspeculateinstocks,andboreholesinmountains,buttheyarenotcompetenttolayoutevenadecenthighway。Theonlyfreeroad,theUndergroundRailroad,isownedandmanagedbytheVigilantCommittee。Theyhavetunnelledunderthewholebreadthoftheland。Suchagovernmentislosingitspowerandrespectabilityassurelyaswaterrunsoutofaleakyvessel,andisheldbyonethatcancontainit。
Ihearmanycondemnthesemenbecausetheyweresofew。Whenwerethegoodandthebraveeverinamajority?Wouldyouhavehadhimwaittillthattimecame?——tillyouandIcameovertohim?Theveryfactthathehadnorabbleortroopofhirelingsabouthimwouldalonedistinguishhimfromordinaryheroes。Hiscompanywassmallindeed,becausefewcouldbefoundworthytopassmuster。
Eachonewhotherelaiddownhislifeforthepoorandoppressedwasapickedman,culledoutofmanythousands,ifnotmillions;
apparentlyamanofprinciple,ofrarecourage,anddevotedhumanity;
readytosacrificehislifeatanymomentforsomuchbylaymenasbyministersoftheGospel,notsomuchbythefightingsectsasbytheQuakers,andnotsomuchbyQuakermenasbyQuakerwomen?
Thiseventadvertisesmethatthereissuchafactasdeath,——thepossibilityofaman’sdying。ItseemsasifnomanhadeverdiedinAmericabefore;forinordertodieyoumustfirsthavelived。
Idon’tbelieveinthehearses,andpalls,andfuneralsthattheyhavehad。Therewasnodeathinthecase,becausetherehadbeennolife;theymerelyrottedorsloughedoff,prettymuchastheyhadrottedorsloughedalong。Notemple’sveilwasrent,onlyaholedugsomewhere。Letthedeadburytheirdead。Thebestofthemfairlyrandownlikeaclock。Franklin,——Washington,——theywereletoffwithoutdying;theyweremerelymissingoneday。Ihearagoodmanypretendthattheyaregoingtodie;orthattheyhavedied,foraughtthatIknow。Nonsense!I’lldefythemtodoit。
Theyhaven’tgotlifeenoughinthem。They’lldeliquescelikefungi,andkeepahundredeulogistsmoppingthespotwheretheyleftoff。Onlyhalfadozenorsohavediedsincetheworldbegan。
Doyouthinkthatyouaregoingtodie,sir?No!there’snohopeofyou。Youhaven’tgotyourlessonyet。You’vegottostayafterschool。Wemakeaneedlessadoaboutcapitalpunishment,——takinglives,whenthereisnolifetotake。Mementomori!Wedon’tunderstandthatsublimesentencewhichsomeworthygotsculpturedonhisgravestoneonce。We’veinterpreteditinagrovellingandsnivellingsense;we’vewhollyforgottenhowtodie。
Butbesureyoudodienevertheless。Doyourwork,andfinishit。
Ifyouknowhowtobegin,youwillknowwhentoend。
Thesemen,inteachingushowtodie,haveatthesametimetaughtushowtolive。Ifthisman’sactsandwordsdonotcreatearevival,itwillbetheseverestpossiblesatireontheactsandwordsthatdo。ItisthebestnewsthatAmericahaseverheard。
IthasalreadyquickenedthefeeblepulseoftheNorth,andinfusedmoreandmoregenerousbloodintoherveinsandheart,thananynumberofyearsofwhatiscalledcommercialandpoliticalprosperitycould。Howmanyamanwhowaslatelycontemplatingsuicidehasnowsomethingtolivefor!
OnewritersaysthatBrown’speculiarmonomaniamadehimtobe\"dreadedbytheMissouriansasasupernaturalbeing。\"Sureenough,aherointhemidstofuscowardsisalwayssodreaded。Heisjustthatthing。Heshowshimselfsuperiortonature。Hehasasparkofdivinityinhim。
\"UnlessabovehimselfhecanErecthimself,howpoorathingisman!\"
Newspapereditorsarguealsothatitisaproofofhisinsanitythathethoughthewasappointedtodothisworkwhichhedid,——thathedidnotsuspecthimselfforamoment!Theytalkasifitwereimpossiblethatamancouldbe\"divinelyappointed\"inthesedaystodoanyworkwhatever;asifvowsandreligionwereoutofdateasconnectedwithanyman’sdailywork;asiftheagenttoabolishslaverycouldonlybesomebodyappointedbythePresident,orbysomepoliticalparty。Theytalkasifaman’sdeathwereafailure,andhiscontinuedlife,beitofwhatevercharacter,wereasuccess。
WhenIreflecttowhatacausethismandevotedhimself,andhowreligiously,andthenreflecttowhatcausehisjudgesandallwhocondemnhimsoangrilyandfluentlydevotethemselves,Iseethattheyareasfarapartastheheavensandearthareasunder。
Theamountofitis,our\"leadingmen\"areaharmlesskindoffolk,andtheyknowwellenoughthattheywerenotdivinelyappointed,butelectedbythevotesoftheirparty。
WhoisitwhosesafetyrequiresthatCaptainBrownbehung?IsitindispensabletoanyNorthernman?IstherenoresourcebuttocastthismanalsototheMinotaur?Ifyoudonotwishit,saysodistinctly。Whilethesethingsarebeingdone,beautystandsveiledandmusicisascreechinglie。Thinkofhim,——ofhisrarequalities!——suchamanasittakesagestomake,andagestounderstand;nomockhero,northerepresentativeofanyparty。A
mansuchasthesunmaynotriseuponagaininthisbenightedland。
Towhosemakingwentthecostliestmaterial,thefinestadamant;
senttobetheredeemerofthoseincaptivity;andtheonlyusetowhichyoucanputhimistohanghimattheendofarope!YouwhopretendtocareforChristcrucified,considerwhatyouareabouttodotohimwhoofferedhimselftobethesavioroffourmillionsofmen。
Anymanknowswhenheisjustified,andallthewitsintheworldcannotenlightenhimonthatpoint。Themurdereralwaysknowsthatheisjustlypunished;butwhenagovernmenttakesthelifeofamanwithouttheconsentofhisconscience,itisanaudaciousgovernment,andistakingasteptowardsitsowndissolution。Isitnotpossiblethatanindividualmayberightandagovernmentwrong?Arelawstobeenforcedsimplybecausetheyweremade?ordeclaredbyanynumberofmentobegood,iftheyarenotgood?
Isthereanynecessityforaman’sbeingatooltoperformadeedofwhichhisbetternaturedisapproves?Isittheintentionoflaw—makersthatgoodmenshallbehungever?Arejudgestointerpretthelawaccordingtotheletter,andnotthespirit?Whatrighthaveyoutoenterintoacompactwithyourselfthatyouwilldothusorso,againstthelightwithinyou?Isitforyoutomakeupyourmind,——toformanyresolutionwhatever,——andnotaccepttheconvictionsthatareforceduponyou,andwhicheverpassyourunderstanding?Idonotbelieveinlawyers,inthatmodeofattackingordefendingaman,becauseyoudescendtomeetthejudgeonhisownground,and,incasesofthehighestimportance,itisofnoconsequencewhetheramanbreaksahumanlawornot。Letlawyersdecidetrivialcases。Businessmenmayarrangethatamongthemselves。Iftheyweretheinterpretersoftheeverlastinglawswhichrightfullybindman,thatwouldbeanotherthing。A
counterfeitinglaw—factory,standinghalfinaslavelandandhalfinfree!Whatkindoflawsforfreemencanyouexpectfromthat?
Iamheretopleadhiscausewithyou。Ipleadnotforhislife,butforhischaracter,——hisimmortallife;andsoitbecomesyourcausewholly,andisnothisintheleast。SomeeighteenhundredyearsagoChristwascrucified;thismorning,perchance,CaptainBrownwashung。Thesearethetwoendsofachainwhichisnotwithoutitslinks。HeisnotOldBrownanylonger;heisanangeloflight。
Iseenowthatitwasnecessarythatthebravestandhumanestmaninallthecountryshouldbehung。Perhapshesawithimself。I
almostfearthatImayyethearofhisdeliverance,doubtingifaprolongedlife,ifanylife,candoasmuchgoodashisdeath。
\"Misguided\"!\"Garrulous\"!\"Insane\"!\"Vindictive\"!Soyewriteinyoureasy—chairs,andthushewoundedrespondsfromtheflooroftheArmory,clearasacloudlesssky,trueasthevoiceofnatureis:\"Nomansentmehere;itwasmyownpromptingandthatofmyMaker。Iacknowledgenomasterinhumanform。\"
Andinwhatasweetandnoblestrainheproceeds,addressinghiscaptors,whostandoverhim:\"Ithink,myfriends,youareguiltyofagreatwrongagainstGodandhumanity,anditwouldbeperfectlyrightforanyonetointerferewithyousofarastofreethoseyouwillfullyandwickedlyholdinbondage。\"
And,referringtohismovement:\"Itis,inmyopinion,thegreatestserviceamancanrendertoGod。\"
\"Ipitythepoorinbondagethathavenonetohelpthem;thatiswhyIamhere;nottogratifyanypersonalanimosity,revenge,orvindictivespirit。Itismysympathywiththeoppressedandthewronged,thatareasgoodasyou,andaspreciousinthesightofGod。\"
Youdon’tknowyourtestamentwhenyouseeit。
\"IwantyoutounderstandthatIrespecttherightsofthepoorestandweakestofcoloredpeople,oppressedbytheslavepower,justasmuchasIdothoseofthemostwealthyandpowerful。\"
\"Iwishtosay,furthermore,thatyouhadbetter,allyoupeopleattheSouth,prepareyourselvesforasettlementofthatquestion,thatmustcomeupforsettlementsoonerthanyourarepreparedforit。Thesooneryouarepreparedthebetter。Youmaydisposeofmeveryeasily。Iamnearlydisposedofnow;butthisquestionisstilltobesettled,——thisnegroquestion,Imean;theendofthatisnotyet。\"
Iforeseethetimewhenthepainterwillpaintthatscene,nolongergoingtoRomeforasubject;thepoetwillsingit;thehistorianrecordit;and,withtheLandingofthePilgrimsandtheDeclarationofIndependence,itwillbetheornamentofsomefuturenationalgallery,whenatleastthepresentformofslaveryshallbenomorehere。WeshallthenbeatlibertytoweepforCaptainBrown。
Then,andnottillthen,wewilltakeourrevenge。