New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-11-28
THE BROWN PLOT.

The confession 81 JOnn L. COOKE, as prlhttV ia oui
Saturdays paper, takenin connection with theetter'
found in John Browns carpet-bag and those Of
Mr. Forbes, bought up by the Fifth Avenue Demo
Gratis and published with such flourish OF trum-
pets, afford the means of forming pretty distinct
idea Of the origin, progress, nature and extent Of
the plot which has thrown Virginia into such q
commotOn.
Brown appears to have begun about two years
ago with enlisting, among the young men who had
taken an active part in the late civil warm Kansas,
recruits for the purpose, as he expressed H. OF
putting stop to the aggressions of the Pro-Sayery
men, Cooke who had served under Brown the
wear before, was one of his earliest recruits, but
though he understood that be and his associates
were to spend the Winter in receiving mill
tary instruction, for which purpose they were
10 betake themselves to Ashtabula County Ohio, In
which vicinity Brown had one or two sons, Cooke
supposed at this time that Missouri was TO be the
scene Of the enterprise. The first muster OF the
adyenturers, ten in number, including Brown and
one of bis sons took place soon after at Tabor IN
Iowa, where Brown first disclosed his intention OF
operating against Virginia. At Tabor were stored
the two hundred Sbarp's rifles and the two hun
bred reyolyers, Of which We have heard so much
and which formed the magazine, or the principal
part Of it, for the invasion as finally carried out
TWAS by the route of Tabor, after the State OF
Missouri had been closed against the Free-LabOr
emigrants, that several large parties of Northern
and Western men had the year before,
made their way into Missouri, and 1t
was for the purpose of this emigration that
these arms had been deposited at Tabor, and
that John Brown, of the most active partisans
on the Free-Soi side had at that time obtained an
order for their delivery to him. This fully explains
how he came into possession OF those arms, and
that they were intrusted to him for totally differ
ent purpose from that to which he ultimately put
them. The arms were sent on to ONO; Dut, as
Brown could not raise the means to send on his re
cruits, it was arranged that they should remain
during the Winter in Iowa, where they were drilled
and instructed by Stephens, one of the party, who
took the place of the redoubtabe Col. Forbes who
it seems, was originally intended to be the drill
master. but who quarreled with Brown as TO the
leadership and management of the enterprise, and
returned back to New-York. There can be little
doubt. that the first intimation that anybody at the
East had that Brown entertained any project OF In
vadng Virginia, was from the letters and state
ments of Forbes, begging compensation for his SER
vices in going out to Kansas; and it appears from
Forbes's own account of the matter, that although
he begged pertinaciously of almost everybody he
could meet who took any interest in the freedom Of
Kansas, it was only to three four persons that he
made any disclosing of Browns Virginia scheme.
That scheme was so absurd aud extravsgant in it.
self, that those to whom this communication was
made might well regard il a chimera unworthy
of serious attention 1t would, appear, however,
from Cookies narrative, that the most efectual
means were taken to put a stop TO Browns
further proceedings, by giving him 10 understand
that Forbes had betrayed his scheme to the United
States authorities. Meanwhile, however, at the
opening of the Spring the party proceeded to Cleve-
land, Ohio, by the way of Chatham Canada West.
1t was at Chatham, in the vicinity of the settle
ments of runaway negroes, where the party stopped
for some time, that the famous Provisional Govern
ment was instituted, which has been made the
foundation of the charge of treason against Brown
and his confederates. Some twenty-five or thirty
circulars were sent TO persons to attend TINS Con-
veutiOn. Cooke does not know to whOmi but no.
body attended except Browns own party, and
number of the negro refugees of Canada Just,
however, as this Convention had concluded ITS
labors, the information above alluded TO reached
Brown, that Forbes had betrayed his plot to the
Government. This, together with the failure OF
pecuniary means, and Browns want Of success IN
journey which be made East for the purpose oil
raising funds, put an end for time TO the whole
enterprise and led TO the disarmament OF the
party.
This expedition having been broken up, Brown
went back again to Kansas and there entered upon
the enterprise of retortng the forays and plumber
ing parties of the Mssourians during the late civil
war, and by which Southern Kansas still occasion
ally suffered, by running of body of Slaves from
that State which he succeeded in conveying
through Iowa 10 Canada. His success in this seems
o have led him to revive his Harper's Ferry
cheme, and Of the small sums Of money which he
was enabled to obtain from few radical Abolition
ats it is probable that the larger part was contrib
uted under the idea that he was about to undertake
second edition of his late Missouri adventure.
1t appears from Cookies statement that SIX or
even of the party did not know anything OF
Browns intention of seizing the arsenal till the
morning of the attack; and if Brown was 50 re-
served with those who were TO risk their lives In
the enterprise, II is not likely that he was more
communicative with those Of whom he asked
money. Il Is not likely that half dozen persons