The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-16
Republican Testimony against
RrOWn

The following article from the Kansas
Herald of Freedom, apsPer that has the name
Of Salmon P. Chase at the head of IFS col
umns as its candidate for the Presidency, is
il calculated to stake the wind out of the
sails" of those Republicans who seek to pal
late John Browns acts, because, as they
claim, of the bad treatment given him and
his sons by the pro.sluvery men in Kansas ;
The first thing the people Of Kansas heard
of old John Brown was in the summer OF '65.
A meeting of ultra abolitionists was held at
Cazenovis, N. Y, II we recollect rightly.-
While in session Brown, who is native oI
Essex county, N. Y, appeared in that con.
vention, and made very fiery speech, dur
ing which he said he had four sons in Kan.
sas, and he had three others who were de.
sirous Of going there, to aid in fighting the
battles Of freedom. He could not consent
to go unless be could 90 armed, and he would
like to arm all his sons, but was not able to
DO SO. Funds were contributed on the spot,
principally by Gerrit Smith.
The four sons had located on Pottawata.
mie creek, in Lykins county, and in the fall
brothers. When the Wakarusa war was
pending the old man and four sons arrived in
Lawrence the balance he reported as sick.
AS they drove up in front of the Free State
Hotel, they were all standing in small
lumber wagon. To each OF their persons
was strapped short heavy broadsword.-
Each was supplied with a goodly number OF
firearms and navy revolvers, and poles were
standing endwise around the wagon box with
fixed bnyonets pointing upwards. They
looked really formidable, and were received
with great ecldt. A small military company
was organized at once, and the command
was given TO Old Brown. From that mo-.
ment he commenced fomenting difficulties
in camp, disregardng the commands Of su-
perior officers and trying to induce the men
to 20 down to Franklin and make an attack
upon the pro.slavery forces encamped there.
The Committee of Public Safety were call.
ed upon several times TO head off his wild
adventure, as the people of Lawrence had
planted themselves on the law, claiming that
they had not been guilty OF its iniraclion,
ond that no armed body Of men should enter
the town for sny purpose whatever, and that
they would not 60 out Of town to attack any
such body. Peace was established and old
Brown retired in disgust.
When the news oil the threatened siege OF
Lawrence reached John Brown, Jr.. who was
member OF the Topeka Legislature, he Or
ganized company of about sixty men and
marched towards Lawrence. Arriving at
Palmyra, he learned of the sacking of the
town and the position the people. He re-.
Oif for in, tbo ;nit hut 6
nally marched back towards Ossawatomie.
The night before reaching that place, when
only few miles away, they comped for the
night. Old Jrhn Brown, who, we believe.
was with the party, singled out, with himself,
seven men. These he marched to point
eghtmies shove the mouth of Pottawatomie
creek, and cBlIed from their beds at their
several residences, at the hour Of midnight
on the 24th OF May, 1856, Allen Wilkinson,
William Sherman, William p. Doyle, " m.
Doyle and Drury Doyle. All were found
the next morning by the roadside or in the
highway, some with cash in their heads
and sltes nnd their throats cut, others with
their skulls split open in two places, with
holes in their breasts and hands cut off ; ard
others had holes through their breasts, with
'heH myers cut uH. NO man IN Kansas mas
pretended TO Odeny that old John Broaon led that
murderouS foray, which massacred Mose men.
Up to that pertcd not a hair Of old John
Bro,cn' S head. or that Of arg Of his sons, had
been injured BY the pro s'urery party.
1t was not until the 30th vi August, three
months alter the Pottawatomie massacre,
that the attack was made on Ossuwatomie
by the pro-sIavery forces, and Frederick
Brown, son OF old John, was killed.
The truth of history requires this state
ment. II Brown was monom aniac, 1t dates
buck to his fist visit 10 Kansas.