, 1859-11-30

EVENTS PRECEDING TIE HARPER'S
FERRY VAR.


NO1s E0EOeK MOI u iUTk0A
We find in the New York Tribune Of Monday
the confession Of John E. Cook, one Of the par.
ty Of john Brown. After relating his first ns-
sociationship with Brown in Kansas, and the
agreement to put stop to the aggressions of
the pro.slayeEy men, be tells Of his departure
from Kansas, with others, thus:
stuid one day in Leavenwortb, and then left
for Weston, where We took stage for st. Joseph,
Lecman at Tabor. Our purity now consisted Of
Capt. John Brown, Owen Brown, A. D. Ste.
pAeua, Chas: Moffeit, G. T. Tfdd, Richard Rob
ertsou, Col Richard Realf, l.. F. Parsons. VIM,
Leeman and myself We stopped some days at
Tabor, making preparations to start. Here see
found that Capt. Broun's ultimate desfiaation
t0as ths STATE ef Virginia. Some warm words
the plan, which had supposed was to be con-
fined entirely to Kansas md Missouri Reaf
and Parsons we're Of the same opinion with me-
Aler good deal Of wrangling, We consented to
60 On, as we had not the means to return, and
the rest Of the party were 50 anxious that We
should 50 on With them. At Tabor We pro-
cured teams for the transportation of about 200
sharpe's rites, which had been taken On as iar
rs Tabor, ona year before, at which place they
had been left, awaiting the order Of Captain
Brown. There were, also, other stores, consist
ING Of blankets, clothing. boots, ammunition,
and about 200 reyolverS Of tho Massachusetts
Arms patent, all Of which We transported across
the State OF Iowa to Springdale, aud from there
to Hoerty, at which place they were shipped
mained till brought to Chambe1sburgh, Pa,
and were from there transported to u house ID
Washington County, Md, which Capt. Brown
had rented for SIX months, and which was situ-
ated aboat five miles from Hasper's Ferry. 1t
was the intention Of Capt Brown to sell his
teams in Spr1ngdale, and with the proceeds to
60 on with the rest Of the company to some
place in Ashtabula County, Ohio, where We were
to have good military Instructor during the
wlnter; but be WAS disappointed in the sale. As
be could not get cash for the teams, it was de-
clded we should remain in the neighborhood Of
SpFingdale, aud that our instructor, Col. II,
Forbes, should be sent on. We stopped in Pc.
zee. Iowa, over winter, at Mr. Aaxson's, where
ne pursued course Of military studies. Col.
u. Forbes and Capt. Brown had some words,
and he (Col F. did not come on; consequently
A. u. Stephens was our drill MASTER The peo-
pie Of the neighborhood did not know Of our
purpose. We remained at Pedee till about the
middle Of April, when we left for Chatham,
Canada. ria Chicago and Detroit. We
staid about two weeks in Chatham-aome
Of fhe party staid six or seyen weeks. We
left Chatham for Cleveland, and remained there
until lnte in June. In the meantime Captain
brown went East on business, but previous 10
DIS departure lie had learned that Col, Forbes
had betrayed his plans to some extent. This,
together with the scantiness of his funds, in
duced him to delay tic commencement Of his
Work, and Was the meane for the time being, of
dasbandlng the party. He had also received
some information which called for his immediate
attention IN Kansas. wished to 20 with him
but he said that I was too we'll known there,
and requested me and some others to 70 to
Harper's Ferry, Va, to see how thiuga were
there. and to gain Information. While We we're
in Chatham be called Convention, the pur-
thorough organization. He issued written
circular, which he sent to various persons in
the United States and Canada. The circular,
as near as can recollect, read rs foilows:
"CHATnAx, May-,1sss.
"Ma. ;-DEAR SIR We hare issued
call for i very quiet Convention at this place.
to which We shall be happy to see any true
friends OF freedom, and to which you are most
earnes::5 invited to 6ive your attendance. :.
Yours, respectfully, "JoHS Bnows.''
As the names were left blank, do not know
to whom they we're sent, though, l wrote several
OF them. learned, however, that one was sent
to Frederick Douglass. md think Gcrrit Smith
also received one. Who the others were seatto
do not know Neither Douglass nor Smith at
tended the Convention. suppose some o5 or
~ ol these ctrculaFs were sent, but rs they were
directed 5y Capt. Brown or ]. II. kagi, l do not
Know the names Of the parties to whom they
were addressed. lido know, however, that they
were sent to none save those whom Capt. Brown
knew to be radical Abolitiouists. l think it
WIS about ten days from the time the circulars
were sent that the Convention met. The nlace
OF meeting was in one Of the negro churches in
Chatham. The Conv vention, think, was called
to order By J. II. kagi. Its object was then
stated.Which was to complete thorough or
The FIRST business was TO elect President and
Secretary. Elder Monroe, culored minister,
was elected President, and J. II. Kagi, Secre-
tary. Tie next business WIS to form Con-
stitution. Capt. brown had already drawn
up one, which, on motion, was read By the Sec
retarr. On motion, it was ordered TINT each
article OF the Constitution be taken up and sen.
arately amended ard passed, which was done,
Tn motion, the CoAstitution was thcu adopted
Is whole The next business was to nominate
Com1nauder-in Chief, Secretary Of War, and
Secretary Of State. Capt. John Brown was
unanimously elected Commauder-iu. Chief; J,
y. kagi, Secretary Of War, and Richard Rea!f,
President until another WAS chosen A. Ii.
Chapman, think, WAS to act rs yirc President.
Doctor II. X Delaney Was orc oi the Core
spending Secretaries Of the organization. There
were some others from the United States, whose
names do not now remember. Most of the
delegates to The Convention were from Canada
After the Constitution WIS tadopted the mem,
bers took their oath to support it. It was then
signed oy all present. During the interval be-
tween the call for the Convention and its as
sembllng, regular meetings were held at Bar
bours uaal. where VIC we're stopping, by those
who were known to be true to the cause, at
which meetings plans were laid aud discussed,
There were no white men at the Convention,
sare tue members Of our company. Men and
money had both been promised from Chatham
and other parts of Canada When the Con-
Tentlon broke mp, news WAS received that Col
u. Forbes, who had joiued in the movement,
had g!yen Information to the Govern.
ment. This, Of course, delayed the time Of a.
tack 1 day Or two afterward most Of our
partE took the boat to Cleyeland-John
L. .hagl. Richard Rcalf, Vim. Il. Ieemau,
Richard Robertson and Capt. Brown remaining.
Capt: L., hoFever, started in day or two for
tbs East kagi, think, went to some other
town in Canada, to set up the type and to get
the Constitution printed, which be completed
before he returned to Cleveland. We remained
II cievelsna for some weeks At Ehiehplaee for
Brown bad had the plan Of the insur7ectiou in
contemplation for several years-in fact. told
me that it had been the chief aim of bis life TO
carry cut and accomplish the abolition Of
Slavery.
In his trip East he did not realize the amount
OF money that he expected. The money had
been promised bona 6d@, but owing to the ticbt-
ness Of the money market, they faiied to comuIy
with his demands. The funds were necessary
to the eaccomplishmeuto of his plans 1atterward
learned that there was lack Of confidence IN The
success Of his scheme. twas necessary that a
movement should be made in another direction.
to T., demonstrate the practicabiiity Of his plan.
Ihls be Hade About year ago by his iuyasiou
Of Missouri, and the taking Of about dozen
Slaves, together with horses, cattle, &C., into
Kansas, in defiance Of the Unitt d States Mar-
shal aud lis posse. From Kansas be touk them
to Canada, vim Iowa City and Cleveland. At
the latter place he remained some days, and,
think, disposed Of his horscs there. II seems
that the United States Marshal was afraid to ar
rest him, and this was all that was wanting to
girc confidence to the w8rering in the prnet-
cability Of his plan and its ultimate success.
he came to Harper's Ferry about the. last Of
June, though did not see him till late in July,
Or the early part Of August, when NC met on
Shenandoah street, uazper's Ferry, opposite
Tearncys store
The remainder of the confession, running
through two columns, relates 10 eyeuts ut the
Ferry, heretofore described, with which our
readers arc already acquainted.
Illinois Railroad Items,
IFsoIa tho state Journal .sth.1
Il is inimated that the management Of the
Chicago, Alton St. Louis Road is to change
hands on the 1st Of December, in pursuance Of
Court, By agreement Of the various parties in
interest 19mek Rnhh Exn of Nn,~- t,.1,...