Which "Walker" is Thoreau referring to in "A Plea for Captain John Brown"?

Question

“If Walker may be considered the representative of the South, I wish I could say that Brown was the representative of the North. He was a superior man." Who was Walker?

Answer 1

David Walker, a black man who fled the South, to live in Massachusetts. HIs father a slave, but his mother a free woman.

Thoreau personally knew John Brown and praised him as the best of the abolitionists, protesting his execution. Thoreau wasn't putting down Walker, but using him to show how super courageous Brown was.

Walker didn't kill any slaveowners. Brown did. Nat Turner did. Thoreau commended the latter practice. But Thoreau didn't kill anyone either. Thoreau compared Brown's execution to Jesus Christ crucified. Compared to Jesus, the other christians couldn't come close. Thoreau's connection to Brown is virtually unknown. They assign Thoreau in schools and most know him. No one knows of Brown, much less Walker.

Union troops in the Civil War would sing "John Brown's Body"

"John Brown's Body lies a-mouldering in the grave, but his soul marches on..."

"He's gone to be a soldier in the Army of the Lord. His soul marches on..."

refrain: "Glory Glory Halleluia"

with David Thoreau leading the chorus, spiritually.

Read Janet Beck, on David Thoreau.