The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-05
vsndladng Kansa. History.

'ehuAaubB AdASd1 1lsloIy.
A gentleman remarked the other day, that
the time had come when the history of Kan
sas should be thoroughly ventilated. Dur
ing the disturbances of 1886, it was not
to be expected that politicians on either
side would expose the wickedness of their
own party. They could not do it, had they
desired, from the fact that it was impossi-
bic, with the then state Of the country, to
understand the real facts transpiring around
them. Their stand point took in but a
small portion of the then political horizon.
Now, with good lens, they can look out
upon the whole field, on each side, and can
understand not only the action, but the MO-
TIvEs which led to such action.
The Eastern presses at this time are at
tempting TO recapitulate some of the Incl
dents of 1856, and are offering them in nit
igation of Old John Browns recent out
RACES in Virginia but, instead of giving
the facts as they transpired, they are only
giving exaggerated and partisan state
ments, made in self-exculpation at the time
those "excesses'-as Mr.. Buchanan had
the modesty to call them-were committed.
The N. Y. Tribune and Herald each give
sketch Of Old John Brown. From care
ful examination of them, we venture the as
sertion that no articles Of similar length
could have been published which would
have embodied more statements at variance
with the truth.
The HerGid's article was either written,
or the substance was furnished, by G. P.
LOWRY, who was private secretary to Gov.
REEDER, or some person who derived his
information from him. The statement is
only partially correct, as far as it relates
to Browns connection with the Wakarusa
war, but the moment it enters into an ac-
count Of the difficulties of 1856, it is false
in dets il and in fact, and the ideas are prin-
ciPally copied from the partisan article Of
the same week in the Tribune. Mr.. Low
~ left Kansas the last of March or first OF
April, 1856, hence his information was Sec
ond-hand at best, and probably much
worse.
Our article Of last week, on Old John
Brown, is sufficient refutation of SO much
OF the HerGlEs and Tri6une's statements as
pertain to that individual, but they make
additional statements, which, in the Ian
guage of our friend, need "ventilatine.,
The N. Y. Herald makes the following
statement
"One Of his Brown's1 sons, who was
elected to the Legislature in February
1856, was seized ard taken from Osawato.
mle to Lecompton in chains, a distance oI
thirty miles. His feet and hands wer,
chained together with large heavy chain
the size OF that used upon OK teams. Hi
was compelled to walk the whole distanc,
beneath burning sun. The irons wore IN,
flesh from his ankles; he icGs attacked tpitI
the brain ferer, tcGs neglected, and died in ttct
or three days."
The Tribune's statement is about verba
tim. We copy from that journal:
"Under that 1.-THE Topeka] Constitution
one OF his sons was elected to the Legisla
ture, and, about the same time that Gov
hooInscn and others were indicted for higl
treason, this son of Brown was arrested q
d Charge, III
feet and hands were chained together,
heavy ox-chain being employed for tina
purpose, and he was compelled to walk tn
whole way to LeSQmpton under a burning
sun, the iron weaving the flesh from his an
kles. Fatigue, excitement, and bad treat
men', brought on brain ferer, and, as n
proper attention was paid to him, he died
teT days atter. The sacking of Lawrenc
followed"
Our acquaintance with JoHN Brown, Jr
commenced in the autumn of 1855, and wa
continued, without intermission, until tn
middle or latter part of September, 1856
For three and half months he was
hourly companion, prisoner with us nea
Lecompton, and since that period we hav
been in occasional correspondence wit
him. Unless recently removed or decease,
his present residence is Lindenville, Ashts
bula county, Ohio.
As we stated last week, he raised a con
pany of his neighbors and friends, and al
rived at Palmyra on the 2ed'of May, 1856,
the day aftT the destruction of Lawrenc,
After looking about that vicinity for da
or so, on the 2SA of May he marche
towards Osawatomie, and arrived near ii
town, where they encamped for the nigh
Old John Brown, the father, stepped out
front of the company, and said: "If thel
are any brape msA here, let them folio
me-" JOHN Brown, Jr., replied: "I ha,
the honor of commanding this compan,
UhnavaH = l,aa AZ HE
But Old Brown succeeded in getting sew,
men to join his company, one of whom W;
Frederick Brown, a son of the old man, wi
was subsequently, shot while on his way
osawatomie, on the morning of Aug. 5
'56, and not after he was taken prisoner,
has been alleged. Some of the snrvivii
seven of Old John Browns party still +
side in Kansas. The curse Of Almighl
God rests on them, and we have no displ
sitiOn to expose them at present to the pul
lie. a.
On the morning of May 2ttA, one of 4
heavy broad-swords, alluded to by US "a
week, which Old John Brown brought
Kansas, was found leaning against a ten
wet with blood and covered with hair.
was pronounced dogs hair, but soon aft
intelligence was received in camp of Il
massacre OF the Wilkensons and Doyle
on Pottawattanie creek. John Brown, il
Immediately mounted his horse, in the grea
est possible excitement, ordered his con