or World, Council;
Council of Three
In his early years he became convinced that the slavery of the Negro was wrong. Later he became thoroughly converted to this cause by his acquaintance with George Lippard and his writings.
In 1855 he moved to Kansas and several years later met Randolph, of whom he had heard much through General Hitchcock.
John Brown was a member of the Great or World Council and Council of Three, and was Immortalized, first, by giving his life that others might be free, and secondly, by Randolph in his work, After Death.
In 1859 Brown organized the Lovers of Liberty for the purpose of liberating the slaves of Virginia. On October 18 he and his followers were taken into custody and on December 2, 1859, he forfeited his life.
His spirit and Soul were with the slaves; his method might be questioned by those who hold liberty cheaply. It is certain that as a result of his efforts and death, he, like Garrison, made Lincoln’s efforts easier.
While our view of John Brown has been influenced by Hollywood, we do have some actual statements in his own words to show his true intentions. The following are his last words to the court as he stood trial for treason:
I have, may it please the court, a few words to say.
In the first place, I deny everything but, that I have all along admitted, of a design on my part to free the slaves. I intended, certainly, to have made a clean thing of that matter, as I did last winter when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, moved them through the country, and finally leaving them in Canada. I designed to have done the same thing again, on a larger scale. That was all I intended to do. I never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite the slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.
I have another objection, and that is that it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved—for I admire the truthfulness and candor of the greatest portion of the witnesses who have testified in this case—had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment.
This court acknowledges, too, as I suppose, the validity of the law of God. I see a book kissed here which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New Testament, which teaches me that all things whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I should do even so to them. It teaches me, further, to remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. I endeavored to act up to that instruction. I say I am yet too young to understand that God is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done—as I have always freely admitted I have done—in behalf of His despised poor is no wrong but right.
Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends of justice and mingle my blood further with the blood of my children and with the blood of millions in this slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments—I say, let it be done!
Let me say one word further. I feel entirely satisfied with the treatment I have received on my trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been more generous than I expected. But I feel no consciousness of guilt. I have stated from the first what was my intention and what was not. I never had any design against the liberty of any person, nor any disposition to commit treason, or excite slaves to rebel, or make any general insurrection. I never encouraged any man to do so but always discouraged any idea of that kind.
Let me say, also, in regard to the statements made by some of those who were connected with me. I fear it has been stated by some of them that I have induced them to join me. But the contrary is true. I do not say this to injure them but as regretting their weakness. Not one but joined me of his own accord, and the greater part at their own expense. A number of them I never saw and never had a word of conversation with till the day they came to me; and that was for the purpose I have stated.
Now, I am done.
Once the Civil War started the Union soldiers took the cause of John Brown to heart and sang a song devoted to his memory:
“John Brown’s Body”
John Brown’s execution brought together three of the most extraordinary figures in America’s history. The colonel of marines who was in charge of the affair was Robert E. Lee, later to lead the Confederate armies against the Union. One of the militiamen was John Wilkes Booth, who would commit the last tragic act in the tragedy that was the Civil War. And, of course, there was John Brown himself who “never again,” in Lloyd Lewis’ words, “after that day’s work, was. . . to be clearly a man any more in anybody’s memory; thereafter be was to the South a gathering thunderhead on the Northern sky, promise of the hurricane to come. Thereafter be was to the North a song.” And what a song! The Union soldiers sang this “greatest of the world’s war songs,” as it has been called, throughout the war. They sang it quickly, lightly, as they marched into battle, and slowly, mournfully, after the many defeats. The words are simplicity itself, and yet we sing them still.
JOHN BROWN’S BODY
John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave,
John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave,
John Brown’s body lies a-moldering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on.
Chorus:
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
Glory, glory, hallelujah!
His soul goes marching on!
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
John Brown died that the slaves might be free,
But his soul goes marching on.
He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord,
He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord,
He’s gone to be a soldier in the army of the Lord,
And his soul is marching on.
The stars of heaven are looking kindly down,
The stars of heaven are looking kindly down,
The stars of heaven are looking kindly down,
On the grave of old John Brown.