The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-11-09
Letter from Gerret Smith to Capt. Brown.

| BALTIMORE, thursday, Oct' 2o.
| The most important and significant oil the
letters from Gerret Smith, found among the
papers of Brown, is the following:
PETERBOROUGH, June a, 1859.
Capt. JOHN BRowN-My Dear Friend: |
wrote you week ago, directing my letter
to the care of Mr.. Kearney. He replied in
forming me that he had forwarded it TO
Washington. But as Mr.. Morton received
last evening letter from MIR. Sanborn say
ing your address would be your sons home,
viz West Andover, |, therefore, write you
without delay, and direct your letter to my
son. have done what could thus far for
Kansas, and what cou1e9s-kssp yeh az
your Kansas work. ~ "A
Losses by indorsement and Otherwise
have brought me under heavy embarrass-
ment the last two years. Bat must, never
theless, continue 10 do in order 10 keep yon
at your Kansas work. send you herewith
my draft for 5000. Let me hear from you
on the receipt of this letter. You live in
our hearts, and our prayer 10 God is that you
may have strength to continue in your Kan
sas work.
My wife joins me in af1ectionate regard
10 you, dear John, whom we both hold in
very high esteem. suppose you put the
Whitman note into Mr.. Kearneys hands
1t will be great shame if MIR. Whitman
does not pay it. What noble man is MIR.
Kearney. How literally he has contributed
10 keep you in your Kansas work
Your friend, GERRET SMITH
WHAT is KANSAS Work ?--One Of the let
ters from Gerret Smith TO Brown, found
among the papers of the latter at Harper's
Ferry, speaks of having given him consid-
cradle sums of money to aid in the prose.
cution of his "Kansas work" This phrase,
little peculiar and enigmatical in itself,
occurs no less than four times in letter Of
about 25 lines. AS the letter is dated June 4,
1859, and addressed to man who had not
been in Kansas for year, and so far as ap-
pears never intended to go there again, the
suspicion naturally arises that the words
Will now Mr.. Smith explain them? What
did he mean by MIR. Browns Kansas work :?
Times.
If the date, 1859, OF the letter is correctly
reported, the presumption, we think, is de-
cidedly in favor of MIR. Smiths completely
in Browns atrocious scheme. The term
"Ransas work" bscoms1ssaas s.ssezrt tczm
10 disguise the horrible crime which Brown
had in contemplation, and makes Mr.. Smith
an accomplice to all intents and purposes.
But if the letter was addressed TO Brown
while the Kansas troublesn were still exist.
ing, the term "Kansas workn is Ineligible
enough. Is the date of the letter correctly
given? If so, it is 10 be hoped that Mr..
Smith will not escape the punishment due
10 man who could i'll any degree be parti-
ceps eriminnis in such horri BILE tragedy
Has Brown son now, or SO recently as
1857, residing at West Andover. (New
Hampshire, Vermont or Ohio p II we have
read the accounts correctly, Brown and his
only two remaining sons were, in June
living on the farm in Virginia, which they
still occupied when their crime was consu.
mated. If Mr.. Smith was in their secrets,
he must have known this, and would scarce
ly address 10 West Andover. Who certifies
the date of the letter An. 7. Commercial.