The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1859-12-15

VI ~oi has Oeen pup
lished. 1t does not disclose any new
fact OF Importance, nor implicate any
persons whose names have not already
been mentioned in connection with the
Harper's Ferry affair. In regard to the
moreprominent citizens of the North, he
disclaims all knowledge which could
duplicate them. He has apparently no
documents or notes relating to the
scheme, except a few brief business
billets from John Brown or anonymous,
stating from time to time, very indefi-
nitely. that the work was going on, &c.
The confession begins as follows:
l became acquainted with Capt. John
Brown in his Camp at Middle Creek,
Kansas Territory, Just after the battle
OF Black Jack, and was with him in
said camp, until it was broken up and
his company disbanded by Col. Sum-
ner OF the lst cavalry, U. S. A. i next
saw him at the convention at Topeka,
which was on the 4th of July, 1856.
next met him some days afterwards in
Lawrence. Did not see him again un-
til the fall of 1857, when / met him at
the house of E. B. Whitman, about
four miles from Lawrence. X. T., which
L think, was about the 1st of Novem-
Der following. / was told that he in
tended to organize a company for the
purpose of putting stop to the ag-
gression of the pro-slavery men. I
agreed to join him and was asked if /
knew of any other young mer, who
were perfectly reliable, who 1 thought
would join also. l recommended Rich
ard Realf, l.. f. Parsons, and r. J.
Hinton, | received note on the next
Sunday morning, while at breakfast in
the Whitney House, from Capt. Brown
requesting me to come up that day and
to bring Realf, Parsons and Hinton
with me. Realf and Hinton were not
in town, and therefore l could not ex-
tend to them the invitation. Parsons
and myself went and had long talk
with Capt. Brown.
A few days after Brown took Cook
and his friends on an expedition east
ward.
"Our party" Cook says snow con-
sisted of Capt. John Brown, Owen
Brown, A. d. Stephens, Charles Mof-
felt, G. r. Tidd, Richard Robertson,
Richard Realf, J.. F. Parsons, VIM.
Leeman, and myself. We stopped
some days at Tabor, making prcpara-
tons to start. Here we found that
Capt. Browns ultimate destination was
the State of Virginia Some warm
words passed between him and myself
in regard to the plan, which had sup
posed was to be confined entirely to
Kansas and Missouri. Realf and Par
sons were of the same opinion with
me. After good deal of wrangling
we consented to 90 on, as we had not
the means to return, and the rest of the
party were SO anxious that we should
go with them"
The story of their journey across the
country, with a supply of Sharpe's
rifles and ammunition, hating here and
there, and finally settling at Harper's
Ferry, is related, but developes nothing
new of Importance. The outsiders who
had any knowledge of Browns opera
tons were radical abolitionists, such
as Fred. Douglas, and, as Cook thinks
Gerrit Smith. All that Cook says ap-
parently duplicating them is as follows:
"He Brown came to Harper's Fer
ry about the last of June, though l did
not see him till late in July of the ear
ly part of August, when we met on
Shenandoah street, Harper's Ferry, op-
posite Tearney's store. / do not know
who are his aiders or abettors, but have
heard him mention in connection with
it the names of Gcrrit Smith of New
York, Howe, of Boston, and Sanborn
and Thaddeus Hyatt, of New York
city. What connection, and how far
connected with his plan, do not know
but | know he wrote a letter few
weeks previous to his attack to some
gentlemen in Boston, which read, as
near as / can reccollect, as follows:
"'Date
"'Gentlemen: have got got nearly all my
chimes on and shall be ready to state them in few
days, unless prevented by. special Providence
Everything is working well. 1 shall want all the
funds you promised me in a few days.
Yours, truly,
CALM & STILL.
"In the meantime the men who had
engaged to go with him had most of
them arrived at Chambersburg, Pa,
and been sent to the place which he
had rented in Washington county Md,
about FIVE miles frem Harper's Ferry.
The greater part of the men kept out
of sight during the day, for fear of at
tracing attention. The arms, NUM-
tons, &C.. were carted from Chambers
burgh to his rendezvous. The spear
heads and guards came in strong boxes
and the shafts passed for fork handles.
They were put together by our own
men, at the house where most of them
were found. Letters of Importance
came to the Chambersburgh Postoffice
and were sent by some of our party to
headquarters. The letters of minor
importance came to the Ferry to J.
Smith & Sons. All illusions to our
business were made in such a blind
way that they would not have been un-
derstood by any outside parties, even
should they have been miscarried.
Tho attach woc made sooner than If