John Brown the abolitionists deserves a Presidential Pardon

Off-topic
1

John Brown the abolitionists deserves a Presidential Pardon.

He was hung 150 years ago December 2.

Here are two versions of “John Brown’s Body”

Old John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
While weep the sons of bondage whom he ventured all to save;
But though he lost his life in struggling for the slave,
His truth is marching on.

Chorus:
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!

John Brown was a hero, undaunted, true and brave;
Kansas knew his valor when he fought her rights to save;
And now though the grass grows green above his grave,
His truth is marching on.
Chorus

He captured Harpers Ferry with his nineteen men so few,
And he frightened “Old Virginny” till she trembled through and through,
They hung him for a traitor, themselves a traitor crew,
But his truth is marching on.
Chorus

John Brown was John the Baptist for the Christ we are to see,
Christ who of the bondsman shall the Liberator be;
And soon throughout the sunny South the slaves shall all be free.
For his truth is marching on.
Chorus

The conflict that he heralded, he looks from heaven to view,
On the army of the Union with its flag, red, white, and blue,
And heaven shall ring with anthems o’er the deeds they mean to do,
For his truth is marching on.
Chorus

Oh, soldiers of freedom, then strike while strike you may
The deathblow of oppression in a better time and way;
For the dawn of old John Brown was brightened into day,
And his truth is marching on.
Chorus

John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
John Brown’s body lies a-mouldering in the grave,
But his soul goes marching on.

Chorus:
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!
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
His soul goes marching on.
Chorus

John Brown’s knapsack is strapped upon his back
John Brown’s knapsack is strapped upon his back
John Brown’s knapsack is strapped upon his back
His soul goes marching on.
Chorus

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.
Chorus

The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down
The stars above in Heaven now are looking kindly down
On the grave of old John Brown.
Chorus

Sources

“Story of John Brown’s Song,” an article writen by Edwin Cotter, published in Lake Placid News.

2

John Brown’s passion for and contribution to the cause of abolition deserves to be remembered and honored. He does not, however, deserve a presidential pardon for murder.

Some things may, indeed, require violence as a remedy. Still, I personally believe those who choose violence as a means must live with the consequences in their own times and for posterity.

3

Perhaps granting pardons to living people who are innocent should take precedence. Why is John Brown the abolitionists pluralized, by the way?

Oh, by the way, my friend, Ray Spencer, will be in your town in a week or so to do his interview for 20-20. He was an innocent man who spent 20 years in prison. His is a remarkable story. He got his master’s in psychology and started his Ph.D. while in prison. He received his doctorate a couple of years after his release. His sentence was commuted over 5 years ago but was not eradicated until a couple of weeks ago. Sorry, he’s not a rider. I told him to check you guys out at Grant’s Tomb, though.

4

I’m with Jjuggle. Despite his abolitionist work in the earlier part of his life, it is my understanding that later in his life, he and some of his sons were involved in murderous rampages in which innocent people were wantonly slaughtered.

5

we need John Brown more as a national irritant than as domesticated hero.

Evan Carton, author of Patriotic Treason: John Brown and the Soul of America, wrote a letter to the NYTimes printed today. Carton says: Brown reasonably described chattel slavery as a barbarous, unprovoked and unjustifiable war of one portion of its citizens upon another portion… His own militant efforts to end it scrupulously observed the principle of no gratuitous bloodshed, even of prominent slaveholders like his captive Lewis Washington, and no targeting of noncombatants. Along with David Reynolds, (who called for a presidential pardon of Brown), the author seeks “to rescue Brown’s public memory from the invidious stereotypes (madman, sociopath, religious fanatic) that most white Americans including Raphael Lasar and trickcyclist have been sold, but that blacks never bought.”

Carton is against the pardon at this time because "Until we fully confront our nation’s historical willingness – before, and long after, 1865 – to devalue the lives and shed the blood of people’s of color in pursuit of our economic and geopolitical interests, we need John Brown more as a national irritant than as domesticated hero.

6

My understanding may be the conventional stereotype, but that doesn’t make it wrong (or right). I certainly agree with the sentiments expressed by Brown, even though I might have concerns about his actions in his latter years.

We might disagree on Brown, but we agree on Turing. I think his work tipped the balance in WWII. My bro-in-law’s mom (still alive, but frail) was a cryptographer at Bletchley Park.