Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1860-03-03

the State Kansas OOmtHttee Ol hh"SsaChusettsf
who took the place Of the Boston Committee,
and continued the work throughout the State.
In FIVE months, including Augast and Decem-
Der of that year, he raised $4,000; and in the
same time, his wife commenced the formation Of
societies for contributing clothing, which result
ed in sending from $4,000 to 10000 more u
supplies of various kinds In January. 1857
the work was stopped by advices from Kansas,
that no more contributions were needed except
for defense.
Soon after the State Committee commenced
work, in August, l85s a messenger from Kan
sas, who came through Iowa, for the Missouri
river was closed to all Free State travellers, ask
ed earnestly for arms and ammunition for the
defense Of the Free State party, The Com
mittee met the next day, and voted to send two
hundred Sharp's rifles, carbibes and ammuni-
ton, which were sent to the National Kansas
Committeeat Chicago, to be by them forwarded
through Iowa, to Kansas. From some uncx.
planned cause these arms were delayed in Iowa
In November or December, they sent an agent
to Iowa, at our charge, to take them as our
property.
Early in January, 1857 j ohm Brown, of whom
he had heard, but had not seen, came to Boston
and was introduced TO him. After repeated
conferences with him, being strongly impressed
with his sagacity and courage, and strong integ.
rity, the witness, through a vote Of the Com
mittee, made him agent to receive and hold these
arms and the ammunition for the defense Of
Kansas, appropriatng $500 to pay his expen-
ses subsequently, in April 1851 they author
ised Brown to sell one hundred rifles, if exped
ent, and voted $500 more to enable him to 60
to Kansas with bis armament. About this
time, on his representing that the force to be or
gansed in Kansas, ought to be provided with
revolvers, witness authorized him to purchase
two hundred from the Massachusetts Arms Co.
When they we're delivered in Iowa, witness paid
for them from his own funds - 81 300 At
the same time he gave Brown by letter or cred
il. authority TO draw on him, at sight, for $1,000
in sums as might be wanted for the subsistence
of one hundred men, provided it should be ne
cessary at any time, to call them into the field
for active service, 10 defense of Kansas in 1857.
As the exigency contemplated did not occur
no money was drawn for under it. and the let
ter was returned.
10 the Summer of 1857, witness contributed
with others, $1,000 to purchase an addition to
the farm then and now occupied by Browns
family, at North Elba. w Witness's subscription
to that sum was about $3.50.
Besides these transactions, which we're for
specific purposes, witness gave Brown money
from time to time how much he did not know.
Should think it might amount to $500 or
$4,000.
About May, '5S, witness saw letter from Sen.
Wilson to Dr. Howe, also one or two from Col.
Forbes. Never heard Of Forbes till he saw
his letters which were so coarse and insulting
in language and incorrect in ascribing to Others
what witness had done, that witness concluded
he wanted to extort money. But, at Dr. Howe's
request, witness wrote to Brown, dated May IA,
1858. of which the Committee have copy
In addition witness raised money, and sent an
agent to Kansas to assist the Free State party
in the Lecompton election of 1858 Did not
know of the Harper's Ferry affair; if he had
be should not have approved of it. lie knew
Of Browns purpose TO free slaves, and supposed
he would do so at every chance, from the course
be pursed in Missouri
Witness did not take an active interest In
Kansas affairs until the attack on Lawrence,
aDd the destruction of the hotel and other pr
rate property there. The Importance of active
'xerlion in behalf Of that portion of his fellow
,itizens, who were thus assailed, decided him to
lctive exertion. The assault upon Senator
sumner, in the Senate Chamber, which followed
closely on the attack on Lawrence, determined !
him to devote all his energies to making Kan
las Free State He Immediately went to the
Boston Committee for the relief of sufferers
N Kansas, and offered his services
Witness did not know of any plans of Brown
10 invade any State, but did know it was Brewn's
plan to free slaves, and use force if necessary
Saw Brown in Boston several times in May. |
1859, and gave Brown several hundred dollars.
Browns object in coming to Boston was to raise
'uDds.