The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-10-27


dates and such Ike is somewhat confused.
Dr. Biggs. We're you in the party at DR..
Kennedy's house?
Brown. l was the head of that party. oc-
cupied the house to mature my plans. would
state here that have not been in Baltimore to
purchase percussion caps.
DIR. Biggs. What was the number of men at
Kennedy's2
Brown. / decline to answer that.
DIR. B. Who lanced that womans neck on
the hill?
Brown. ] did. have sometimes practiced
in surgery, when l thought it a matter of hui
mainly or of necessity-when there was no one
else to do it; but have not studied surgery.
DR.. B. ito the persons around.) 1t was done
very well and scientifically. These men have
been very clever TO the neighbors, / have been
told, and we had no reason to suspect them,
except that we could not understand their
movements. They were represented as eight
or nine persons on Friday.
Brown. There were more than thirteen.
Questions were now put in by almost every
one in the room, as follows:
Q. Where did you get arms?
Brown. bought them.
Q. In what State?
Brown. That would not tell
Q. How many guns7
Brown. Two hundred Shapes rifles, and
two hundred revolvers-what 10 called the
Massachusetts Arms Company's revolvers-a
little under the navy size.
Q. Why did you not take that swivel you
left in the house2
Brown. l had no occasion for it. 1t was
given to me year or two ago.
q. In Kansas?
Brown. Mol had nothing given to me in
Kansas.
Q. By whom and in what State2
Brown. / decline to answer that It is not
properly swivel; it is a very large rife on
pivot. The ball is larger than a musket ball |,
it is intended for slug.
SPEECH TO TIE REPORTERS.
Mr.. Brown here made q statement intended
for the reporters of the Baltimore american,
Cincinnati Gazette, and NJ T. Herald, who
were present, as follows:
II you do not want to converse any more,
will remark to these reporting gentlemen that
/ claim to be here in carrying out q measure
believe to be perfectly justi6able, and not to act
the part Of an incendiary or ruf6an but, on the
contrary, to aid those suffering under great
wrong. / wish to say, further, that you had bet
ter, all you people of the South, prepare your
selves for settlement Of this question. 1t
must come up for settlement sooner than you
are prepared for it, and the sooner you com.
mence that preparation the better for you. You
may dispose of me very easily ! am nearly dis
posed of now; but this question is still to be
settled-this negro question, mean The end
is not yet. These wounds were inflicted upon
me, both the sabre cut on my head and the
bayonet stabs in the different parts of my body,
some minutes after had ceased fighting, and
had consented to surrender for the benefit Of
Others and not for my own benefit.
Several persons present denied this state
ment.
Brown reumsed. / believe the Major here,
(pointing to Lieut.. Stuart, would not have been
alive but for me. / might have killed him Just
as easy as could kill a mosquito, when he came
in, but / supposed that he came in only to re-
ceive our surrender. There had been long and
loud calls Of surrender from us-as loud as men
could yell--but in the confusion and excite
ment suppose We were not heard. do not
believe the Major, or any one else, wanted to
butcher us after we had surrendered.
An officer present here stated that special
orders had been given to the marines not to
shoot anybody, but when they were fred upon
by Browns men, and one of them had been
killed and another wounded, they were obliged
to return the compliment
Brown insisted, with some warmth, that the
marines fred first.
An officer. Why did you not surrender be-
fore the attack?
Brown. 1 did not think it was my duty or
interest to do so. We assured our prisoners
that we did not wish to hurt them, and that
they should be set at liberty. exercised nv
best judgment, not believing the people would
wantonly sacrifice their own fellow citizens
When we offered to let them 60 upon condition
of being allowed to change our position about
a RIO of 10 ho h.,
vote among themselves to pass across the
bridge with US. We wanted them only as sort
of guaranty for our own safety; that we should
not be fired into. We took them, in the first
place, as hostages, and to keep them from do
ing any harm. We did kill some when defend
ing ourselves, but saw no one fire except di.
rectly in selfdefence. Our orders were strict
not to harm any one not in arms against us.
Q. Well, Brown, suppose you had all the ne
groes in the United States, what would you do
with them?
Brown lin loud tone, and with emphasis
Set them free, sir
Q. Your intention was to carry them of and
free them?
Brown. Not at all.
By-stander. To set them free would sacrifice
the life of every man in this community.
Brown. do not think 20.
By-stander. / know that I think you are
fanatical.
Brown. And I think you are fanstical.
"Whom the gods would destroy, they FIRST make
mad"
Q. Was your only object to free the negro?
Brown. Absolutely our only object.
By.stander. But You went and took Col.
Washington's silver and watch.
Brown. Oh! yes; we intended freely to have
appropriated the property of shareholders, to
carry out oar object. 1t was for that, only
that; We had no design to enrich ourselves
with any plumber whatever.
Q. Did you know Sherrod in Kansas? /
understand you killed him.
Brown. l killed no man except in fair fight.
/ fought at Black Jack, and at Ossawatomie
and if killed anybody it was at one of those
places.
The surgeon having at this time arrived to
look after bis charge, and the dinner bell hav-
ing rung, the vsiters left him and his COM
panions to that genleman's care.
Items Telegraphed from Washington.
Washington, Oct. 24-Mr. Greenwood, Com.
missioner of Indian Affairs, has returned to
this city after six weeks absence, during which
time he made arrangements for treaties with
the Sacs and Foxes of the Mississippi, and
with the Kaw Indians of Kansas. he also
visited nearly all the Indian tribes in Kansas
and Nebraska. He expresses qualification with
the result of the numerous interviews he held
with them, and says they are anxious to adopt
the pursuits of civilized life, as they can no
longer depend upon the chase for subsistence.
The sloop of war Vincepnes, having been
absent on the African coast for two years, has
been ordered home.
Our commercial agent at Monrovis has again
addressed our Government, urging Executive
.~x;., cndar the lou If 1904 80 .hot:.h d;a-