Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-10
From ne Her York Obserrer, vors
JOHN BROWN, AS A FARMER.

JOHN BROWN, AS A FARMER.
The late strange and thrilling events at Har-
| per's Ferry, which have startled the public mind
aud revealed such hidden dangers to the country,
excite n natural curiosity in respcct to the pron
nent actor in the scene. have no knowledge Of
the origin or early career of Brown. 1t
bout ten years ago that he made his appearance as
n farmer or cattle breeder in North Elba, one of
+ tho interior and most secluded towrs OF Essex
county, and vergng on the vast wilderness OF Nor
/ thorn New York. Tie humble farm of Brown is
situated on elevated and broad plateau, cmbo-
/ s.ined IL the giant arms ct the Adirondacs Nd
district Of the State is more impressive by the
grandeur Of its physical features or its natural
/ hcauiics. The town is separated from the outer
world by u barrier of dark AMI lofty mountains
Although embracing territory equnl tn that OF
/ Of the counties. its population does not ex
| coed fur hundred souls.
| North Eliza the scene Of Gerrit Smiths alb
/ nrtive attempt Mt negro colonization. The scheme
/ may have been suggested by honest ana sincere
| philanthropy, but It, issue was utter failure,
/ ,ntaing upon the author disappointment, and
sorrow aud suffering on the recipients of his boun
: ~. Scarcely vcstiSe now remains Of this colo
| ny, although at one tune So numerous that 1t see
med probable that the anomalous political aspect
! would be exhibited Of town in New York con
trolled by negro suffrnges, and represented in the
/ county board by II colorei supervisor. Only two
or three of the coionists remain. They have either
abandoned their farms, or the lands have been sold
| for taxes. Nothing remains of this vaunted city
/ OF refuge.
| Brown made his appearance in North r.lba near
! tho advent of the negro immigration. | do not
| know, however, ,hat he had any connection with
1 the NOV mcnt, or any agency in promoting the
| eccentric yagnres Of Mr.. Smith. Recent occur
rences seem to warrant the conclusion that even
ut this period an association Of sentiment and ac
t;on existed between infatuated enthusiasts. Ina
POLITICAL speech in Essex county last autumn
Smith referred to Brown with high eulog q n, and
while he denounced all parties for their in
Kansas, he asserted that John Brown has alrea-
dy done more for Kansas than all other men com
bned"
At the Agricultural Fair of Essex county, for
1850 great sensation created by the unlock
ell for appearance on the grounds of II beautiful
herd of Devon cattle. They the first that
had been exhibited Mt the county festival and ey.
cry one Vas surprised and delighted Mt the Incl
Il ent. The inquiry was universal, Whose
! those cattle, and from whence do they come? The
! surprise and excitement was not diminished when
/ IL was understood that certain John Brown WAS
! tho owner, and THAI he resided IN the town OF
/ North tp. Tho report OF the society for that
year contains the following reference to this event
I Tho appearance upon the grounds of u number
Of very choice and beautiful Dcyons, from the herd
# Mr. John Brown residing ia one of most
remote and secluded fowls, attracted great atten-
! ton, and added much to the interest of tho fair.
| The interest and admiration they excited have Mt
/ iracted public attention 10 the subject, and has
already resulted in the introduction Of several
choice animals into this region We have no
doubt but that this influence upon the character
Of the stock of our county will DO permanent and
decisive. - Trans. 1850, page 229.
Tho writer of this article soon after opened n
correspondence with Brown in relation to these
cattle. His reply is now before me- The latter
| is written ina strong and lSorous hand and by
it, orthogrnphy, accurate punctuation and careful
arrangement OF paragraphs, cvinces far more than
ordinary tnsle aud scholarship. | consider it re.
mnrkable, not only for tho force and precision of
| the language. for business letter, and FOR the
ds,inctness of its statements, but equally for its
| sound sense and honesty of representation,
think am not wrong in the impression that an
extract will interest your readers, all illustrating
the former habits and pursuits of u man who has
impressed an lll-omed episode upon our national
history:
Your favor Of the 3Oth Of September came on
scaSonably; bat it was during my absence in Ohio
50 that l could not rcply sooner. In the first
place. none of my cattle nre pure Devons, but IRE
mixture of that and particular favorite stock
from Connecticut, n cross &C which | much prefer
10 any pure English cattle. after many years ex-
pcricnco Of different breeds of imported stock y
| was several mouths in England
last season, and no one stock on any farm that
would average better than my own, and would
like TO have you them together
Such were tho habits and the tastes of the man
while engaged in the pursuits of husbandry -
What II contrast is presented, by the intelligence
and zeal here displayed in worthy and useful
occupation, which was leading him along the pleas
ant paths of peace, contentment and prosperity,
to the career o. vioel ito which he has since been
mpellcd, less perhaps by his own insane fanati-
cism than by stimulants applied by the proflisae
signs of others to his ardent and fearless temper.
ament. The natural impulse of Brown, those who
knew him well affirm, were honorable and lust.
and his education and abilities # superior order
but his mind has been distorted his passions in
20 ned by q mad deusion. The evil influence of
other+. who shrunk from the perils on which they
precptated him, has betrayed him into d ee,.s Of
blood aud treason and consigned band of gallant
sons to bloody shrou Is. and himself to an irno-
minious death. While every we'll constituted
mind must dcuounce his course he boli and he
role bearing of the man. his inlcxibe zeal and dc
voton, and the appalling ends of his schemes as.
scrt a claim that scarcely can resist to our p-
ty and commiseration.
Brown was at North Elba during large part
: of the last summer. engaged every where in dis
| semina,ing his fanatical opinions The small
l remnant of his family which have escaped his ia.
tai schemes still remain the farm ut that place
t clustering around the hearth that has become so
fearfully bereaved and desolated
-
CAPT. JoHN BRowN's WIrE.-Mrs Mary A,
Brown, wife of Captain Brown. now under sem
u, tence Of death in Charesown Va arrived in this
city yesterday morning, from Philadelphia inten-
ding to start fur Harpers Ferry in the train this
morning. In the course Of the afterno Dn however
she received A disuatch frr tho Nortb raru NJ.