At this juncture of the meeting, an intelligent contraband broke out in the following strain:—
“The first of January next, eighteen sixty-three,—
So says the Proclamation,—the slaves will all be free!
To every kindly heart ‘twill be the day of jubilee;
For the bond shall all go free!
John Brown, the dauntless hero, with joy is looking on;
From his home among the angels he sees the coming dawn;
Then up with Freedom’s banners, and hail the glorious mom
When the slaves shall all go free!
We’ve made a strike for liberty; the Lord is on our side;