The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
CONFESSION OF COOK.

agreement to put stop to the aggressiors of
the Pro-Slavery men, he tells Of his departure
from Kansas, with others, thus:
"Staid one day in Leavenworth, aud then
left for Weston, where we took stage for ST.
Joseph, and thence to Tabor. I foupd c. P.
Tidd and Leeman at Tabor. Our party now
consisted of Capt. John Brown, Owen Brown,
A. d. Stevens, Charles Mofett, G. P. Tidd,
Richard Robertson, Col. Richard Realf, L. F.
Parsons, William Leeman, and myself We
stopped some days at Tabor making Sprepara-
tons to start. Here ace found that Captain
Broon's ultimate destination ,cas the STATE Of
Virginia. Some warm words passed between
him and myself in regard to the plan, which
had supposed was to be confined entirely to
Kansas and Missouri. Realf and Parsons were
of the same opinion with me. After a good
deal of wrangling, we consented to go on, as
we had not the means to return, and the rest
OF the party we're so anxious that ~e should
go on with them. AT Tabor, We procured teams
for. the transportation of about, 200 Sharpe's
rifles, which had been taken on far ~ Tabor,
one year before, at which place they had been
left, awaiting the order of Captain Brown.
There were also other stores, consisting of
blankets, clothing, boots, ammunition, and
about 200 revolvers of the Massachusetts Arms
patent-all of which we transported across The
State of Iowa to Springdale, and from there
to Liberty, at which place they were shipped
for Ashtabula county, Ohio, where they re-
manned till brought to Chambersburgh, Pa,
and were from there transported to a house in
Washington county, Nd, which Capt. Brown
had rented for six months, and which was stu
ated about five miles from Harper's Ferry. Ii
was the intention of Captain Brown TO sell his
teams in Springdale and with the proceeds to
go on with the rest of the company to some
place in Ashtabula county, Ohio where we
were to have good military instructor during
the winter, but lie was disappointed in the sale.
AS he could not get cash for the teams, it was
decided we should remain IN the nelghborhood
of Springdale, and that our instructor, Col. II.
Forbes, should be sent on. We stopped in Pc
dee, Iowa, over winter, at Mr.. Maxsons, where
we pursued a course of military studies. Col.
II. Forbes and Capt. Brown had some words,
and be (Col. F.. did not come on; consequent
ly, A. ID. Stevens was our drill master The
people Of the neighborhood did not know of our
purpose. We remained at Pedee till about the
middle of April, when we left for Chatham,
Canada, vie Chicago and Detroit. We staid
about two weeks in Chatham some of the party
staid six or seven weeks. We left Chatham for
Cleveland, aud remained there until late ia
June.
In the mean time, Capt Brown went East
had learned that Col. Forbes had BETRAYED his
plans to some extent. This together with the
scantiness OF his funds, induced him 10 delay
the commencement Of his work, and was the
means for the time being of disbauding the
party. lie had also received some information
which called for his immediate attention In
Kansas. / wished to 90 with him, but he said
that was too well known there. and requested
me and some others to go to Harper's Ferry,
Va, 10 see how thugs were there, and TO gain
information. While we were in Chatham no
called Convention, the purpose of which was
to make complete aud thorough organization.
He issued s. written circular, which he sent to
various persons in the United States and Cana
ia. The, circular, as near as l can recollect,
read as follows:
"'CHArHAM, Msy -, 1853.
MA. -: DEAR Sm; We have issued q
call for very quiet Convention ct this place,
to which we shall be happy to see any true
friends Of Freedom, and 10 which you are most
earnestly invited to give your attendance.
Yours, respectfully, john BRowN.
AS the names were left blank, do not
know to whom they were sent though l wrote
several of them. | learned, however, that one
was sent to Frederick Douglas, and [ think
Gerrt Smith also received one. Who the
others were sent to / do not know. Neither
Douglas nor Smith attended the Convention.
suppose some twenty-five or thirty of these
circulars were sent, but as they were directed
by Capt. Brown or j. III. Kagi, do not know
the names of the parties 10 whom they we're ad-
dressed. | do know, however, that they were
sent to none save those whom Capt Brown
knew TO be radical Abolitionists. / think it
was about ten days from the time the circulars
were sent that the Convention met. The place
of meeting was in one OF the negro churches in
Chatham. The Convention, think, was called
to order by j, II. kagi. Its object was then
stated--which was to complete Thorough or
ganization and the formation of a Constitution.
The first business was to elect President and
Secretary. Elder Monroe, colored minister,
was elected President, and j. Fl. Kagi Secre-
tary. The next business was to form a Con-
stitution. Capt. Brown had already drawn up
one, which, on motion, was read by the Score
tary. On melton, it was ordered that each arti-
Gle of the Constitution be taken up and sepa-
rately amended and passed, which was done.
On motion, the Constitution was then adopted
as whole. The next business was to nominate
a Commander-in-chief Secretary Of War, aud
Secretary of State. Capt. John Brown was
unanimously elected Commander-in-chief; j.
II. Kagi, Secretary of War; and Richard Realf,
Secretary of State. Elder Monroe was to act as
President until another was chosen. A. II.
Chapman, think, was to act rs Vice President.
DIR. M. X. Delaney was one of the Correspond.
ing Secretaries of The organization. There
were some others fro u the United States, whose
names j do not now remember. Most of the
delegates to the Convention were from Canada.
After the Constitution was adopted, the mem.
bers took their oath to support it. 1t was then
signed by all present.
During the interval between the call for the
Convention and its assembling regular meet
hal ot Re- III Ill
were stopping, By those who were known to be
true TO the cause, at which meetings plans
were laid and discussed. There were no white
men at the Convention, save the members OF
our company. Men and money had both been
promised from Chatham and other parts Of
Canada, When the Convention broke up, news
was received that Col. II. Forbes, who had
joined in the movement, had given information>
10 the Government This, OF course, delayed
The time of attack. A day OF two aAerwari,
most of our party took the boat TO Cleveland
John H. Kagi, Richard Realf William FL. Leo
man, Richard Robertson, and Capt Brown, re-
naming. Capt. B., however, started In DIV
,r two for the East. Kagi, I think, we>nt 10
some other town in Canada, to set up Joe typo
and to get the Constitution printed, which he
before he returned to Cleveland We
remained in Cleveland for sone weeks, at
which place. for the time being the company
isbanded. Capt. Brown had had the plan Of
The Instruction in Contemplation for several
years--in fact, told me that it had been the
chief aim of his life TO carry out and accomplish
he abolition of Slavery.
In his trip East he did not realize the
AMOUNT of money that he expected, The
money had been promised bona fds. but, owing
o the tghtness of the money market, they
allied to comply with his demands. The funds