Page:The Natick resolution, or, resistance to slaveholders.djvu/8

6 attribute of the Almighty that can take sides with the oppressor." Your execution is but the beginning of that death struggle with slaveholders, which must end in striking the last fetter from the last slave. On the scaffold, thou wilt hear thy God, and the slave's God, saying unto thee, "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I have chosen thee; thou art my servant; I will strengthen thee; I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. All they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded; they shall be as nothing; they that strive with thee shall perish; the [anti-slavery] whirlwind shall scatter them." My spirit is with thy spirit, in the dungeon and on the scaffold.

Thine, for the slave, and against the slaveholder, unto death,

HENRY C. WRIGHT.

above letter to John Brown, with the resolution passed at Natick, November 20th, 1859, was forwarded to Gov. Wise, of Virginia, accompanied with the following note, requesting him to deliver it to Capt. Brown, then in prison, awaiting his execution:—

, Mass., Nov. 21st, 1859.

, Governor of Virginia:

,—Enclosed is a resolution adopted by the people of Natick, Mass., the residence of the Hon. Henry Wilson. At their request, I forward it to John Brown, with a letter to him. The resolution and letter may give peace and satisfaction to him in his last hours. However repulsive the sentiments may be to you, and to the people over whom you preside, they may sustain him on the scaffold. The appeal is to your magnanimity and justice to put them into his hands.

You think he has done foolishly and wickedly. We think his object has been noble, and his motives disinterested,