Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-12-14
THE BROWN PLOT.


idea OF the origin, progress, nature and extent
of the plot which has thrown Virginia into
such commotion. Brown appears to have
begun about two years ago with enllstlng, "a
mong the young men who had taken an active
part in the late civil war in Kansas, recruits
for the purpose, as he expressed 1T, OF putting
a stop to the aggressons of the Pro-Slavery
men. Cooke, who had served under Brown
the year before, was one of his earliest re-
cruits, but though he understood that he and
his associates were to spend the Winter in re-
ceiving military instruction, for which pur-
pose they were 10 betake themselves to Asta-
bula county, Ohio, in which vicinity Brown
had one or two sons, Cooke supposed at this
time that Missouri was to be the scene OF the
enterprise. The first muster of the adventu-
rers, ten in number, including Brown and one
of his sons, took place soon after at Tabor, In
Iowa, where Brown first disclosed his inten-
ton of operating against Virginia. AT Tabor
were stored the two hundred Sharp's rifles, and
the two hundred reyolvers, OF which we have
heard so much and which formed the maga-
zine, or the principal part of it, for the lnva-
sion finally carried out.
1t was by the route of Tabor, after the State
of Missouri had been closed against the Free
Labor emigraDts, that several large parties OF
Northern and Western men had, the year be-
fore, made their way into Missouri, and 1t was
for the purpose of this emigration that these
arms had been deposited at Tabor, and that
John Brown, one of the most active partiSans
on the Free-Soil side, had at that time obtain
ed order for their delivery to him. This
fully explains how he came into possession of
those arms, and that they were intrusted to
him for totally different purpose from that
to which he ultimately put them. The arms
were sent to Ohio but as Brown could not
raise the means to send on his recruits, it was
arranged that they should remain during the
Winter in Iowa, where they were drilled and
instructed by Stephens, one of the party, who
took the place of the redoubtable COL orbes,
who, it seems, originally intended to be
the drill-master, but who quarrelled with
Brown as to the leadership and management
of the enterprise, and returned back to New
York. There can be little doubt, that the first
intimatlon that anybody at the East had that
Brown entertained any project of invading
Virginia, was from the letters and statements
of Forbes, begging compensation Tor his ser
vices in going out to Kansas; and it appears
from ForbeSs own account OF the matter. that
although he begged pertinaciously OF almost
everybody he could meet who took any inter-
est in the freedom of Kansas, it was only to
three or four persons that he made any dIsclo-
sure of Brown sYirginia scheme. That scheme
was so absurd and extrayagant in Itself, that
those to whom this communication was made
might we'll regard it as a chimera unworthy OF
serious attention. 1t would appear, however,
from Cookies narrative, that the most effectual
means were taken to put stop to Browns fur
ther proceedings, by giving him to understand
that Forbes had betrayed his scheme to the u
nited States authorities Meanwhile, howey-
er, at the opening of the Spring the party pro-
ceeded to Cleveland, Ohio, by the way OF Chat
ham, Canada West. 1t was at Chatham, in the
vicinity of the settlements of runaway negroes,
where the party stopped for some time, that
the famous Provisional Government was insti-
tuted, which has been made the foundation OF
the charge of treason agasnst Brown and his
confederates. Some twenty-five or thirty cir
culars were sent to persons to attend this Con-
vention. Cooke does not know to whom but
nobody attended except Browns own party,
and number of the negro refugees OF Cana
da. Just, however, as this Convention had
concluded its labors, the information above al
luded to reached Brown, that Forbes had be-
trayed his plot to the Government. This, to-
gether with the failure of pecuniary means,
and Browns want of success in journey which
he made East, for the purpose of raising funds,
put an end for time to the whole enterprise,
and led to the disbandment of the party.
This expedition having been broken up,
Brown went back again to Kansas and there
entered upon the enterprise of retorting the
forays and plundering parties of the Mlssou-
rians during the late civil war, and by which
Southern Kansas still occasionally suffered, by
running off body of slaves from that State,
which he succeeded in conveying through To-
wa to Canada. His success in this seems to
have led him to revive his Harper's Ferry
scheme, and of the small sums of money
which he was enabled to obtain from a few
radical Abolitionists it is probable that the lar
ger part was contributed under the idea that
he was about to undertake a secound edition
of his late Missouri adventure.
1t appears from Cookies statement that six
or seven of the party did not know anything
of Browns intention of seizing the arsenal till
the morning of the attack; and if Brown was
so reserved with those who were to risk their
lives in the enterprise, it is not likely that he
was more communicative with those OF whom
he asked money. 1t is not likely that half a
dozen persons knew anything of Browns
schemes beyond the general idea that he was
engaged in an operation for running off slaves.
Nor even of those who knew this much, did
the number amount to anything considerable.
Neither is it to be supposed that more than a
few of those who admire the courage and self
devotedneSs of Brown, in risking his life on
so desperate enterprise for the benefit, not
of himself, but of others, would beforeh'
have encouraged him or any one els
gage in so toolhardy undertakisfon mn. :
--~~-7sir, | know | !
ssFirst class in natural phS to her lover.'' :
What's attraction 9'' what inertia is ?'' I
The look that bluo5 to remain where YOU
s'Right, sir. now piece of calico experien- t
'sInertia, sir,g against colored velvet.''
are feel
ceS whnense pigeon roost is now establish
Chenango swamp, Crawford county, Pa. J
-.e pigeons are numbered by millions The d
lnters are Staying them by thousands.
--
s'My wife, said critic, sis the most even
mpered person in the world--she's always d