The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-22
THE DAY BOOK.
An Interesting Statement-John
Browns "Secretary of State" in
Texas

Richard Realt, the "Secretary of State"
to the Provisional Government of the lats
John Brown, has at length turned up in
Austin, Texas, in which city he arrived
some two months ago, and delivered lee
ture since which he has been studying for
the ministry, intending to enter the Metho-
dist Itineracy. These facts, we learn from
the Austin lntelligencer Of the 9th Instant.
The editor Of that paper, upon seeing arti-
cles of the Mobile and New Orleans press re-
lative to Realf, sent tor him, and the follow
ing is the substance of the interview, prom
Using by ackno wledging his connection with
Brown in Kansas and Caaada. TIE article
thus proceeds:
He also entered into the history of Brown,
himself Cook, Stevens, Tidd and Kagi, go
ing to Chatham, in Canada; says they were
straitened for money; that the Provisional
Constitution was read there by Brown and
agreed to, and the officers elected, as stated.
Mr.. r. says tn at Brown then informed him
that Forbes was in New York and in pos
session of certain correspondence between
him,elf and Forbes, and that lie feared Forbes
would use the confidential correspondence
x
New York and get the correspondence. Mr..
Kealf says that finding himself thus impli-
Gated. he went to New York, but did not
fad Forbes through Greeley, as he had been
advised; but revealed the matter to Orlando
ieaton, managing book-keeper OF Higgins
& Brothers, carpet manufacturers, Murray
street, N. York; MIR. Butler Lawyer, Thad-
deus Wyatt, W. +. McAnsey, of Kansas,
then on visit to New York, and the daugh-
pu, l.;, H, Ioft
for England, and often spoke of the matter
in Eng land and France, telling it, among
others, to Mr.. Vezey, American Consul at
Havre. Having renowned aboitionism,
he sailed from France to New Orleans, and
from thence to Mobile in April last.
He says that as 5000 as he learned Browns
purposes, he renowned all notions of par
ticipation, and only actrd with them be-
cause OF his conviction that, having learned
their plans, be could not have escaped,
though the pledge of secrecy only extended
to the forfeiture of the protection which the
society afforded. Mr.. Realf assures US that
his remuneration OF aboitionism is sincere,
and that he has told his acquaiHtances here
that should he remain out Of the pulpit, he
intended to make speeches, giving his no.
tions of the horrors of abolitionism in the
North, during the next Presidential election;
and if not, then to publish letters. He as
sures US that he does not know that Gerris
Smith sent money to Brown, the latter
saying that Smith was cognizant OF all his
plans; that DR.. Howe and Theodore Parker,
of Bnston; Thomas Wentworth Higgenson,
of Worcester, and Sanborn, OF Concord,
were cognizant of his plans, and would sus'
tain him with money. He says that Brown
was a very secretlve man and an able leader.
MIR. lsealf mentions stopping at Cedar couu
ty, midway between loawa City and Upton,
where he lectured on education and other
subjects. He tells US that after leaving
Gle 7eland for New York he never had turth-
or correspondence with any OF the parties
this was was in June, 1869. And when he
returned to the U. States he supposed the
whole expedite had been broken up. He
offers no defence or apology for the mon
strous wickedness of the purposes o: the as
ISOLATION, bat PROCESSES sincere conviction
of the great moral wrong.
We will add, that we yesterday, suggested
to the friends OF Mr.. Reat the propriety OF
his placing himself Internationally at the
disposition of the President OF the United
States.-We are glad to say that he has done
SO, and has also offered to surrender himself
to GOV. W Use, and has notified these author
tiles that he shall remain here until their
wishes are known.
The New Orleans Bulletin, in copying the
auuFC3 says
We have convessed with several gentle
men, who knew Reaf well while here, and
they all believe him to be, now that his
character is unveiled, the basest conspirator
of Old Browns gang. He is extraordinarily
gifted, both as writer and speaker, and as
consummate hypocrite of the villainous
lago stamp. When we recall the role which
he played here-his fanatic adherence of
some of those tlivi al indulgencies incident to
youth, the never-ceasing iteration of his
filial love, his pious cant about little children,
and the innumerable other traits that mark
the snake like sickness of his disposition
we cannot but regard him as one of the most
subtle Toes the South could have in her
midst. Brown and the others, true to their
compact, made the desperate venture, but
Realf, after having kept the oath of secresy
even while among the very people whose
lives and property were threatened, now
preclaims his completely with effrontery Of
bawd. In tact, as we learn from letter
from Austrin, he is proud OF his notoriety,
and regrets that his history was not known
in that place before he lectured there, as
then he would have had a much larger au-
dience To show the true character OF the
man, we may remark that within the short
space OF few months he has renounced Pro-
testantism and embraced Catholicity, and
again returned to his first faith.