House Approves Capito Measure Honoring Historic Harpers Ferry

Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., made the following remarks today on the floor of the House of Representatives as the chamber took up the congresswoman's resolution honoring the history and heritage of Harpers Ferry, W.Va.

The congresswoman's bipartisan legislation - H. Res. 568 - was approved by voice vote.

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***Remarks as prepared for delivery***
*** Video of the congresswoman's remarks will also be made available on her YouTube page.***

Mister Speaker,

In my home state of West Virginia, we're quite proud of our rich history and heritage. We proudly boast that ours is the only state formed as a result of the Civil War when we seceded from Virginia and joined the Union to become the 35th state.

Yet, as any good history student will tell you, the abolitionist movement in our state had roots deeper than the Civil War itself. This month we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of John Brown's historic raid on Harpers Ferry - which helped ignite the abolitionist movement and led to the War Between the States.

Our state motto is "Mountaineers are always free," and it was those principles that guided John Brown in his controversial raid. I rise today to note this year's anniversary and also celebrate the full heritage and history of this West Virginia town located beneath the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Long before its first settlement, Harpers Ferry's natural beauty caught the attention of Thomas Jefferson who stood above the confluence of Shenandoah and Potomac Rivers and noted that the region's beauty was "worth a voyage across the Atlantic." And I must say its splendor is equally captivating today as it was more than 220 years ago, particularly at this time of year when visitors flock to Harpers Ferry National Park to take in the beautiful autumn colors.

Jefferson's fellow statesmen, George Washington was similarly impressed with the community's strategic location and in 1794 recommended that Congress designate Harpers Ferry as a site for a Federal armory and arsenal.

With the establishment of the armory, the community grew into a bustling factory town, where John Hall created the first interchangeable parts for firearms. His invention led to the mass production of thousands of muskets and rifles, many of which would supply Lewis and Clark on their journey of westward expansion.

But as we all know, it was John Brown's 1859 raid which truly established Harpers Ferry's place in history. That summer, John Brown settled into a nearby farm in Maryland under the alias of Isaac Smith and laid plans to seize the armory and lead a revolt to spread across the South with hopes of forever ending slavery.

On the night of October 16, 1859, he gathered with his provisional army of 21 men and seized the town, taking the town's bridges, Halls Rifle Works, the Federal armory and arsenal, and two hostages. As the fighting continued for two days, news of the revolt spread across the region until Lt. Col. Robert E. Lee and Lt. J.E.B. Stuart ordered 90 Marines to storm the engine house where John Brown and his men had taken refuge.

Upon his capture, John Brown was tried and convicted of murder, conspiring with slaves to rebel, and treason. He was sentenced to death by hanging in present-day Charles Town where on the day of his death he wrote, "I am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."

Unfortunately, we now know that his words held true, as it took the bloody and divisive struggle of the Civil War to finally bring freedom to a people long enslaved. John Brown's Raid will forever be known as one of the seminal events which led to the Civil War. His death brought the slavery debate to the forefront of a nation divided. In the North, Brown was a "martyr" and in the South, he was a "terrorist." Yet, regardless of how he may be revered in history, his bold actions helped lead the fight for freedom and the end of slavery.

After once again proving its geographic importance during the Civil War, Harpers Ferry became an epicenter the fight for equality and civil rights movement. It was home to Storer College, an integrated institution to educate newly freed slaves, with the campus later serving as the site of the nation's first Niagara Movement meeting. It was at that meeting when scholar W.E.B. Du Bois delivered his address which led to the creation of the NAACP, an organization which this year celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Mister Speaker, as you can see Harpers Ferry is a town rich in history, and it is only fitting that during this 150th Anniversary of John Brown's Raid, the Harpers Ferry National Park has held numerous commemorative events to recognize and remember the contributions made by those who have come before us.

I simply call on the rest of my colleagues to support passage of H.Res. 568, recognizing the 150th anniversary of John Brown's Raid and the important role that Harpers Ferry has played in our nation's history.

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