Thoreau, Henry David / 2008-08-01 00:00:00
1853
A PLEA FOR CAPTAIN JOHN BROWN
by Henry David Thoreau
I TRUST that you will pardon me for being here. I do not wish to
force my thoughts upon you, but I feel forced myself. Little as I know
of Captain Brown, I would fain do my part to correct the tone and
the statements of the newspapers, and of my countrymen generally,
respecting his character and actions. It costs us nothing to be
just. We can at least express our sympathy with, and admiration of,
him and his companions, and that is what I now propose to do.
First, as to his history. I will endeavor to omit, as much as
possible, what you have already read. I need not describe his person
to you, for probably most of you have seen and will not soon forget
him. I am told that his grandfather, John Brown, was an officer in the
Revolution; that he himself was born in Connecticut about the
beginning of this century, but early went with his father to Ohio. I
heard him say that his father was a contractor who furnished beef to
the army there, in the War of 1812; that he accompanied him to the
camp, and assisted him in that employment, seeing a good deal of
military life- more, perhaps, than if he had been a soldier; for he
was often present at the councils of the officers.
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