Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-12-02

FroW INC IIeVoTUnu IcNIof.
Cook,s ProbnbIY no E,ardol


The Tribune of Saturday publishes the
confession of Capt. John E. Cook, as it was
read to the Court by Prosecutor Huuter-
The only persons mentioned by Cook as
cognizaDt of Browns plan arc Gerrit Smith,
Frederick Douglass, DIR. Howe, of Boston,
Thaddeus Hyatt and Mr.. Sanborn of New
York. Cook expressly states in his confess
sion that be did not know who were Browns
aiders and abettors, but had heard him
mention in connection with it the names of
Gerrrt Smith, DR.. Howe, Mr., Hyatt and
Mr. Sanborn, and adds, "whatconnection, and
how far connected with his plan | do not
know"
Cook gives an account of the Conyen-
ton in Canada at which the Provisional
Government was organized. Brown and
his party soon after came to Cleveland,
Cook with them, where he says he remained
some weeks, sat which place, for the time
being, the company disbandcd." About a
year afterwards, Brown and his party made
foray into Missouri and brought off a doz-
en- slaves and several horses, and after eav-
ing the slaves in Canada, came with the
horses to this city. He was here publicly
with bis men and horses for some time, and
Cooks confession says:
sccms that the United States Marshal was afraid to
rest him, and this all that wanting TO give conf
dence to the wayeng in the pctcability Of his plan
and its ultimate success.
Itwoull appear from this statement of
Cook, that Brown and his company derived
said and comfort from the fears of the
United States Marshai!-- his neglect
to arrest Brown "was all that was wanting
to give confidence to the wavcring, in the
practicability Of his plan and its ultimate
success" So says Capt. Cook-what says
Marshal Johnson2
Capt. Cook states that six or seven of
Browns party did not know anything of the
Provisional Constitution, and were ignorant
of the plan of operations until the Sunday
morning previous to tho attack. Among
this number were Edwin Coppie, Barclay
Coppie, Francis j. Merriam, Shields Green,
John Copeland and Leary Cooks confess
sion says;
The Constitution read to them by A. D. Stephens
and the oath afterward administered by Capt. Brown.
Sunday evening previous TO departure, Capt Brown
made his final arrangements for the capture Of Ilarpers
said, sand now gentlemen letme press this one thing on
your minds you all know how dear life is you and how
dear your lives TO your friends; and in remembering
that consider that the lives Of others dear to them
yours TO yOu do not therefore, take the life Of any
one you possibly avoid IT, but il it is necessary to
take life in order to your own, then make work
Of It,"
The Richmond Enquirer of the 22d de-
clares that strange as it may appear, there
is on foot greater effort, if possible, for the
pardon of John E. Cook than was made for
Old Brown. The Enquirer however asserts
that tho pardon of Cook is out of the ques-
tion-that he is the most guilty cf all the
Charestown prisoners and so far from being
the dupe of old Brown Ossawatomie is the
victim OF John E. Cook. The Enquirer adds :
Cook msIed Brown deceived him. and imposed upon all
Of the prisoners he gave descriptions Of the persons Of
those who fed. Had Cook who lived two years In Yir
gnla while engaged in planning this very crime made
known to Old Brown the actual state Of TIE negroes had
heinormed old Brown that he had able induce
slave join and that aid to be expected from
the non-sayehoders, John Brown had too much shrewd
not 10 have the folly upon which he
agod and he would have abandoned the undertaking
Cook married in Virginia for the purpose Of better
cealiug his designs, and not arOusng suspcion he Is
douby criminal for be sought the Destruction OF those
and dear TO his wife Cook had visited and been hos
ptaby entertained by the very gentlemen he afterwards
robbed he knew from actual experiment that slaves
would oin hin he knew that without large reinforcemens
from the North the attempt must fail; and hence he
the hrs to & aud he planned flight beforehand leay-
Ing his deded comrades 10 meet the fate his decepuons
had brought upon them Does such a criminal deserve
pardoni We DO not believe any unbiased mind can IN the
inee Of such facts, desire the pardon Of this msn.
The fact OF his connection with Gov Willard while 1t
viii, doubtless increase the regret which Executive al
ways feels In Withholding pardon will have influence In
the present case.