New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1859-11-02
Brown and Forbes.

, Inc Now 10rks1efaiu d StfleS VI IeG
tiers from Col. Forbes, the author Of the Instruc-
ton books for Guerrilla Warfare, found at Browns
house, to various Republicans but principally to
F. B. Sanborn, Secretary of the Massachusetts
Emigrant Society, and DR.. S. G. Howe, of Boston.
Besides this there was one letter addressed to the
latter dated May, 1858, and prefacedb by the follow
ing memorandum; Please show to Messrs. San
born, Lawrence s. Co., Copies will be sent to
Gov. Chase, who found money, Gov. Fletcher, who
contributed arms, and to others interested, as
quickly as possible.
The letter gives the plan of Forbes and Brown
for an Instruction. FE.
Forbes plan was with carefully selected colored
and white persons to organize along the northern
slave frontier of Virginia and Maryland especially,
series Of stampedes of slaves, each one OF which
operations would carry off in one night, and from
the same place, some twenty to fifty slaves. This
is to be effected once twice month, and event
ually once or twice week. along the non-contigu-
Gus parts of the line if possible, without conflict,
only resortng to force if attacked. Slave women,
accustomed to laboring in the field, would be al
most as useful as men. Everything being in readi-
ness to pass on the fugitives they could be sent
with such speed to Canada that pursuit would be
hopeless. In Canada preparations were to be
made for their instruction and employment. Any
disaster which might happen to a stampede would,
at the utmost, compromise those only who might
be engaged in that single one, therefore we were
not bound IN 60OQ lalIll TO Llle DIS WI
did not eopardize their interests to the extent OF
more than those engaged in the very project.
Against the chance of loss by occasional acct
dents should be weighed the advantages Of series
become untenable near the frontier; that frontier
would be pushed more and more Southwark, and
it nigh reasonably be expected that the excite
ment and irritation would at last mpel the pro-
slavery party to commit some stupid blunders.
The Missouri frontier being far from the habit
able part of Canada, and the political parties, anti
slavery and pro-slayery, being in that State so
nearly balanced, suggested peculiar action in
that quarter which would depend, III great mea-
sure, on affairs in Kansas
Brown has a different scheme. He proposed,
with some % or SO colored and white mixed, well
armed, and bringing quantity of spare arms, to
beat up slave quarter in Virginia. To this it
was objected that no preparatory notice having
been given to the slaves no notice could with pru
dence be given to them. The invitation to rise
might, unless they were already in state OF agi-
tation meet with no response, or feeble one.
To this he replied that he was sure of response.
He calculated that he could get on the first night
200 $50; one-half or Whereabouts OF this first lot
he proposed to keep with him, mounting one hun
bred or SO of them and make dash at Harper's
! Ferry mandatory, destroying what he could not
| carry off. The other men not of this party We're
! to be subdiyided into three, four or five distinct
i parties, each under two or three OF the original
4 band, and would beat up their slave quarters
| whence more men would be sent to join them.
The burden Of Forbes letters are grieyous CON-
plants for not receiving the aid promised for his
services, which was to be sent to Paris to the sup
port OF Forbes family. In one of his letters he
says: "on the first day of May in the year 1885,
4 had an interview with Senator VIM. II. Seward,
4 OF New York; went fully into the whole matter in
all its bearings. He expressed regret that he had
been told and said that he, in his position ought
not to have been informed of the circumstance.
| In part agree with him, and in part I differ. I
regret that the misconduct of the New Englanders
| should have forced me to address myself to him.
l IN hn sulIn ht. n
not well let this business continue in its present
| crooked condition.
A cotton speculation was devised by Brown but
objected to by Forbes Brown told him that Amos
Lawrence, OF Boston, had promised him 81 900
when hostities had actually commenced. All
these letters We're written in 1858.