1 859.] HANGING OF JOHN BROWN 231 



him for the next world. He just told them that he worshipped 

 a different God from what they did, and that they had not yet 

 learnt the first principles of the Christian religion. He was a 

 typical Puritan, and far nearer the kingdom of God ; for they 

 killed the Indians as game, and persecuted the Quakers : he 

 simply intended to protect the slaves in their escape to freedom. 

 He acknowledges himself in error ; evidently expecting that 

 the slaves would flock to him, which they did not. Probably 

 they were afraid and distrustful : how could they tell what he 

 intended to do ? As the American world does not yet believe 

 enough Christianity to be non-resistant, I suppose it was neces- 

 sary to teach them by a man of the old stamp ; and it is curious 

 to see conservative men and clergymen, who generally would 

 not touch Abolitionists with their fingers, coming out, of their 

 own accord, to speak in favour of Brown, and openly applauding 

 his act. ... 



" It has made the Republicans more completely anti- 

 slavery, and the Southern faction more completely pro-slavery. 

 I like what will hasten on the final conflict. . . . Then 

 again, the spectacle which Virginia has set before the whole 

 world has proved how hollow the slave-system is. . . . 

 The tremendous military array to guard the prisoner; the 

 patrols throughout the country; the shooting of the cow, 

 because, poor beast, she could not give the watchword, and 

 did not think of lowing ! and, above all, this hanging business, 

 intercepting mails, forbidding all travellers except with passes, 

 shutting out all persons from the execution, lest Brown should 

 say something and some one should hear him, keeping even 

 the children at a respectful distance ! Really, taking the very 

 lowest view of it, to see the Old Dominion, which boasts of the 

 blood of Washington, etc., the largest and most respectable 

 State of the Union, absolutely white with terror, and quivering 

 like an aspen leaf; and the infection spreading to the other 

 States, so that the whole South has shaken. . . . And then to 

 see the Democrats and many Republicans eating all the dirt ; 

 standing, hat in hand, before the enraged South, humbly be- 

 seeching them not to take away their Northern trade, etc. ! 



