"HIS SOUL GOES MARCHING ON"

JOHN BROWN HANGED IN VIRGINIA

Charlestown, Virginia (JFK+50) On December 2, 1859,  John Brown, the abolitionist and militia captain of Bleeding Kansas, was hanged here in Charlestown* after having been found guilty of treason, murder and inciting a slave insurrection.

John Brown had been captured after a failed attempt to take over the United States Armory at Harper's Ferry and supply weapons to slaves.  The raid resulted in seven deaths and ten or more injuries.

At 11 a.m., riding in the back of a wagon sitting on his own coffin, John Brown arrived at the field of execution where a scaffold had been built.  After ascending the steps, a white muslin hood was put over his head. 

"The Sheriff struck the rope a sharp blow with a hatchet, the platform fell---a few convulsive struggles and a human soul had gone to judgment."

Those who believed in John Brown's cause to end slavery would sing...

"John Brown's body lies a mouldrin' in the grave, but his soul goes marching on." 

*Charlestown, renamed Charleston, was founded in 1788, located in Kanawha County, is today the largest populated city of West Virginia.  In Dec 1859, Charlestown was in the state of Virginia.  On June 20, 1863, the city became part of the new state of  WVA.

SOURCE

"An Eyewitness Describes The Hanging of John Brown," by Boyd B. Stutler, American Heritage, Vol. 6, Issue 2, 1955, www.americanheritage.com/

 

 

John Brown Rides To His Execution

Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper

December 17 1859

Library of Congress Image

 
 

"NOT ONLY MOUNTAINEERS, BUT ALSO AMERICANS, ARE ALWAYS FREE"

JFK SPEAKS AT WEST VIRGINIA'S CENTENNIAL 

Charleston, West Virginia (JFK+50) On June 20, 1963, President John F. Kennedy returned to the state of West Virginia to deliver remarks in honor of the State Centennial Celebration here at the Capitol in Charleston.*  Also in attendance were Dr. Paul A. Miller, president of West Virginia University, Governor William W. Barron and Senators Jennings Randolph and Robert C. Byrd.  

The President reminded his audience that their state was born in a year marked by two other "extraordinary events--the Emancipation Proclamation and the Battle of Gettysburg." 

The President said that when he came to West Virginia to campaign in 1960 the state ranked "50th in percentage of attention it received from the National Government," but added that in 1963 the State had moved up to 30th.

President Kennedy acknowledged that he would not have the powers of the presidency had it not been for the people of West Virginia who gave him the victory in its Democratic Primary of 1960.**

President Kennedy concluded his remarks with these words...

"I salute West Virginia and I join you, and I will carry on Saturday when I go to Europe the proud realization that not only mountaineers, but also Americans, are always free."***

*West Virginia, the only state formed by secession from the Confederate States of America, was admitted to the Union on June 20, 1863 after President Lincoln approved an enabling act with the provision that WVA provide for gradual emancipation in its state constitution.

**JFK won the 1960 West Virginia Democratic Primary by defeating Hubert H. Humphrey 61% to 39%.  The result led Senator Humphrey to withdraw from the 1960 campaign.  The primary victory was crucial for JFK because it proved a Catholic could win a state with a 95% Protestant population.

***West Virginia is located entirely within the Appalachian region and most of the state is made up of mountains.  The state motto is "Montani semper liberi" or "Mountaineers are always free."

SOURCE

"Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: John F. Kennedy," United States Government Printing Office, Washington, 1964.