The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-11-12

things; but when speaking for the terror
stricken shareholders at Harpers Ferry it
has been made the swiftest of liars. I'm
der their nimble and trembling fingers it
magnihed seventeen men into seven hum
dred-and has since filled the columns of
the New York Herald for DAYS with in
terninable contradictions. But assuming
that it has told the truth as to the savings
OF MIR. Cook in this instance, have this
answer to make to my accuser: Mr.. Cook
may be perfectly right in denouncing me
as coward. | have not one word to say
IN defense or vindication of my character
for courage. | have always been more
distinguished for running than fighting
and tried by the Harpers Ferry insurrec-
ton test, | am most miserably deficient in
courage-even more so than Cook, when
he deserted his brave old Captain and fled
tothe mountains. To this extent Mr.. Cook
is entirely right, and will meet no contra
diction from me or from anybody else.
But wholly, grievously and most unac-
countably wrong is Mr.. Cook, when he as
serts that l promised to be present in per-
son at the Harper's Ferry instruction
Of whatever other imprudence and indis-
erection | may have been guilty, 1 have
never made promise so rash and wild as
this. The taking of Harpers Ferry was
measure never encouraged by my word or
by my vote, at any time or place. My wis
dom, or my cowardice, has not only kept
me from Harper's Ferry, but has equally
kept me from making any promise to go
there. desire to be quite emphatic here
for of all guilty men he is the guiltiest
who lures his fellow men to an undertaking
of this sort, under promise of assistance,
which he afterwards fails to render. l
therefore declare that there is no man liv-
ing, and no man dead, who, if living, could
truthfully say that | ever promised him or
anybody else, either conditionally or other
wise, that | would be present in person at
the Harpers Ferry instruction. Myfeld
OF labor for the abolition of Slavery has
not extended to an attack upon the United
States Arsenal. In the teeth of the doc
uments already published, and of those
which may hereafter be published, l affirm
that no man connected with that insurrec-
ton, from its noble and heroic leader down,
can connectmy name with single broken
promise OF any sort whatever. So much
l may deem it proper to say negatively.
The time for q full statement of qOhat I
k'o'0, and Of all I k''ow, Of this desperate
but subllmaely disanaterested effort to eman-
clpate the sLaUes Of Maryland and Ty-
gtnia from their cruel taSk-maSteys has not
get come, and mag never come. In the de- |
NAL which | have now made my motive is
more a respectful consideration for the |
opinions of the slaves friends than from |
my fear of being made an accomplice in
the general conspiracy against Slavery. l
am ever ready to write, speak, publish, Or
ganize, combine, and even 10 conspire |
against Slavery, when there is reasonable |
hope of success. Men who live by rob |
bling their fellow-men of their labor and |
liberty, have forfeited their right to know
anything of the thoughts, feelings, or pur-
poses of those whom they rob and plumber
They have, by the single act of slave-hold-
ing, voluntarily placed themselves beyond
the laws of justice and honor, and have be-
come only fitted for companionship with
thieves and pirates common enemies
of God and of all mankind While it
shall be considered right to protect ones
self against thieves, burglars, robbers, and
assassins, and to slay a wild beast in the
act of devouring his human prey, it can
never be wrong for the imbruted and whip
SCARED slaves, or their friends, to hunt,
harrass, and even strike down the trafick-
ers in human flesh. If anybody is disposed
to think less of me on account of this SEN
- Ioo I h. h. Il
edge of what was about to occur, and did
not assume the base and detestable charac-
ter of an informer, he is man whose good
or bad opinion of me may be equally re-
pugnant and despicable. Entertaining
this sentiment, may be asked why | did
not Join John Brown-the noble old hero
whose one right hand has shaken the foun-
dation of the American Union, and whose
ghost will haunt the bed-chambers of all
the born and unborn shareholders of Vir-
ginia through all their generations, filling
them with alarm and CONSERVATION My
answer to this has already been given, at
least implicitly given "The tools to those
who can use them Let every man work
for the abolition of Slavery in his own way.
l would help all and hinder none. My
position in regard to the Harper's Ferry
instruction may be easily inferred from
these remarks, and I shall be glad if those
papers which have spoken of me in con-
nection with it, would find room for this
statement.
have..no apology for keeping out 0
the way of those gentlemanly United
States Marshals, who are said to have paid
Rochester a somewhat protracted visit late
ly with view of an interview with me.
A Government recognizing the validity of
the bred Scott decision, at such a time as
this, is not likely to have any very CHART
able feelings towards me, and if l am to
meet its representatives l prefer to do SO
at least upon equal terms If l have CON-
mitted any offense against society have
done so on the soil of the State of New
York, and l should be perfectly will
ling there to be arraigned before an i'm
partial jury; but I have quite insuperable
1