Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-11-03
From the Boston Atlas.
Old John Brown.
BIZ JAMES REDPArH.

BIZ JAMES kKDPATH.
Old Brown-John Brown--the chief
and originator of the Insurrectious was a
man ef sixty-6ve years of age. He was
born believe, in Connecticut; resided, for
considerable period of his life, in Spring
field, Massachusetts,; but for some time
perhaps for several years-had lived in the
State of New York, somewhere in the vi
cinity Of Utica. When the Kansas trou-
bles broke out he had wife, seren sons
and daughter living. What is left of
his family still live on his farm at Utica.
At Springfield, believe he was engaged
In the wool trade. Wherever he lived, he
soon acquired the reputation of man of
the sternest integrity OF character. In
Kansas he was the great living test of
principle in our politicians. The more cor
rupt the man, the more he denounced Old
Brown. II was true compliment to be
praised or to be recognized by him as a
friend; for, even ia his social dealings, he
would have no connection with any man of
unprincpled or unworthy character.
In his camp he permitted no profanity
40 maa of loose morals was suffered to
stay there unless, indeed, as prisoners Of
war. ~ would rather have the small pox,
yellow fever and cholera all together 10 my
camp, than a man without principle" =
This he said to the present writer, when
speaking of some ufianly recruits whom
well known leader had recently intro
duced. at is a mistake, sir" be contin-
ued, shat our people make, when they
think that bullies are the best fighters, or
that they are the fit men to oppose these
Soulherners. Give me men of good prin-
ciples-God fearing men-men who re-
spect themselves, aud with dozen of them
l viii oppose any hundred such men as
these Buford rufans." His whole charac-
ter is portrayed 10 these words. He was
puritan in the Cromwellian sense of the
word. He trusted in God and kept his
powder dry. Prayers were offered up, in
his camp every morning and evening; no
food was eaten unless grace was first asked
on it.
For thirty years he secretly cherished
the idea Of being the leader of servile
insurrection: the American Moses, predes-
tined by Omnipoteuce, to lead the servile
nation in tn Southern States to freedom;
if necessary, through the Red Sea of a
civil war, or fiercer war of races. 1t was
no "mad idea" sconcocted at a fair in Ohio
but a mighty purpose, born Of religious
convictions, which he nourished in his heart
for half lifetime.
When the horizon of freedom looked
gloomy in Kansas, he took leave of his
wife and younger children, and, with sew
eral of his sons-four or five of them
went out to Kansas. He thought that
the hour was approaching for his work to
begin. The ballot box had already been
been desecrated; the rufians of Missouri
had overwhelmed by violence the rights of
the North. He went to put stop TO the
insolence and the violence of the South, and
to him, more than to any other living man
we owe it that Kansas is free State to-
day. To man of very different char
acter,-Gen. Lane,-although personal
and malignant enemy of mine, would &C.
cord the second place in this honorrble
rank.
Brown was not sent by any one, unless
by God, (as he himself believed to vindi-
cate the rights of the North and Of free
dom in Kansas. He was no politician
He despised the class with all the energy
of his easnest and determined nature. His
first appearance in the Territory was at
Ossawatomie, at public meeting at which
accommodating politicians were carefully
pruning set Of resolutions 10 suit every
shade of free State men. The motion
that called him out was to pass resolu-
tion in favor of excluding all negroes from
Kansas. Old Brown rose, and scattered
concentration among the politicians by as
serting the manhood of the negro race,
and expressed his earnest anti-slavery con-
victions with force and vehemence little
likely to please the hybrids then known as
Free State Democrats.
There were number of Indiana Demo
Gratis present, whom his speech SO shocked
that they subsequently, became and re-
manned, / believe, in the class Of "law-en-
order abidin" pro-slavery men. 1t was
his first and last appearance in a public
meeting. Like most men Of action, he un-
derrated discussion. He secretly despised
even the ablest anti-slavery orators. He
could "see no use in this talking" he said
"Talk is a national institution; but il
does no good for the slave" He thought
il an excuse very well adapted for weak
men with tender consciences. Most men,
who were afraid to fight, and too honest
to be silent, deceived themselves that they
discharged their duties to the slave by de-
nouncing in fsry words the oppressor.-l
His ideas of duty were far different; the
slaves, in bis eyes, were prisoners of war;
their tyrants, be held, had taken up the
sword, and must perish BY it.
The next time he appeared among men
assembled in numbers was when Lawrence
surrounded by Sheriff Jones' posse comit-
atis, from Missouri J during the Governor.
ship Of Shannon, in December, 1855. His
eldest son, John, had command of large
company of men, and be himself had
charge Of a dozen. He was satisfied with
the conduct of Robinson and Lane, and
predicted that their celebrated treaty, with
its diplomatic phraseology, would only