Newport, R. I., Tenth Month, 27th, ’59.
Captain John Brown.
Dear Friend, —
Since thy arrest I have often thought of thee, and have wished that, like
Elizabeth Fry toward her prison friends, so I might console thee in thy
confinement. But that can never be; and so I can only write thee a few lines
which, if they contain any comfort, may come to thee like some little ray of
light.
You can never know how very many dear Friends love thee with
all their hearts for thy brave efforts in behalf of the poor oppressed; and
though we, who are non-resistants, and religiously believe it better to reform
by moral and not by carnal weapons, could not approve of bloodshed, yet we know
thee was animated by the most generous and philanthropic motives. Very many
thousands openly approve thy intentions, though most Friends would not think it
right to take up arms. Thousands pray for thee every day; and oh, I do pray
that God will be with thy soul. Posterity will do thee justice. If Moses led
out the thousands of Jewish slaves from their bondage, and God destroyed the
Egyptians in the sea because they went after the Israelites to bring them back
to slavery, then surely, by the same reasoning, we may judge thee a deliverer
who wished to release millions from a more cruel oppression. If the American
people honor Washington for resisting with bloodshed for seven years an unjust
tax, how much more ought thou to be honored for seeking to free the poor
slaves.
Oh, I wish I could plead for thee as some of the other sex
can plead, how I would seek to defend thee! If I had now the eloquence of
Portia, how I would turn the scale in thy favor! But I can only pray "God
bless thee!" God pardon thee, and through our Redeemer give thee safety
and happiness now and always!
From thy friend,
E. B.
SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters
of John Brown, p. 581-2
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