Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-02-27
! FL EG X A PHO
The Senate Investigating Committee /,
Session.

WASHINGTON Feb "a
Geo l. Stearnes of Boston vs. b-for- ,hs
SEN. Investigating Com mtiea to d.v IL
said he Was made Chairman Of the State Kan
sas Con nittse oil Massachusetts, who took the
place OF the Boston Committee and continued
The work throughou, that State; including An.
gust and December OF that year Ia rai.4a
So 600; in the same year his wife commenced
the formation of soc cites for contributing
clothing. DC. the work was stopped by adj.
vices from Kansas that no more contributions
were needed except for defence, il it had not
been thus storped the arrangements would
nave enabled the collection OF 800 900 in the
next Elk mo- ths soon after the Ststs Commit
Tee commenced the work in August, 1856 .
messenger from Kansas who came through
Iowa. for the Missouri river was closed 10 al
Free state travellers, " no asked earnestly for
arms and ammunition for the defence Of the
free State party the Committee met next
day and voted 10 send 200 >hsrp's rifles and
ammunition. which were sent to the National
Kansas committee at Chicago, 10 be ty them
forwarded through Iowa TO Kansas. tut the
arms were delayed 10 Iowa; in November or
December they sent an agent to Iowa at our
charge, TO take then ss our property early
In January, 1857, John Brown. Of whom We
mad heard bet had lot seen him, came TO Bos.
ton ard was introduced to him after repeat
I'd conferences with him being strongly i'm
pressed with his sagacity and courage. and
stro integrity the witness, through a yot.
o. the Committee made him an agent 10 rec.iv.
aud hold these arms and ammunition for the
defense OF Kansas, appropriating $500 to paw
his expenses; subsequently, in 1857 they au,
thoriz-i Brown TO sell loo rifles if expedi4n,
ana 'ot q 5000 more to euahis him - 90 10
kansas with his armament about this time,
Oh his reire-entlng that the force % be organ.
lid IN kansss ough. to be provided with re-
volvers, witness authorized him to purchase
200 from the Massachusetts Arm Company
they We're delivered in Iowa; witness paid ier
them In his own funls, $500, at the same
tule he gave Brown n letter Of credit author.
izng him TO draw on him at sight for 81 600:
IN such sums as might be wanted for the sub
sistance oi 100 men, provided it should be
necessary at any time To call them into the
field for active servic. in defence of Kansas
In 1857, as the exgency contemplated did / OF
offer, no money was drawn for il. and the let.
ter was Withdrawn III the summer Of 1857
Witness contributed, with Others, $1,000 to
purchase al addition TO the farm then and now
occupied by Browns family at North Elba
the money was forwarded by his agent for tha,
purpose, and satisfactory evid. ce given Of .
proper conveyance Of the land TO the family Of
~" " .N'Soc S"osSt FtioH W tihl IuUu
vas $500, re appears 10y the subscription
paper. b sides these transactions. which were
for specific purposes, with. Sc gave Brown mon.
81 from time to time how much. he did not
know, never kept any account OF personal ex
p-nses or money gwen TO Others, it is all
charged to his private account should think /
1t Uni ght amount 10 81 300 or e. 900 Abcu. |
Nav, ls5s, witness saw letter from Senator
Wilson 10 DR.. Howe aiso one or two from
Col. Forbes, never heard Of Forbes till he
cav his letter, which was Coarse aud insult.
ing In language and go Incorrect in ascribiny
to others Whist witness BAD dare that witness
concluded tha, he wanted to extort money, bu,
at Or. Howes request witness wrote TO brown.
dated May lith, lS5o.-of which the Com
ni,tee have copy. s.nt 10y DR. Howe In
addition. wtnes. raised money and sent
an agent to Kansas, to assist tie Ere.
Stits arty, in the Lecorupton election.
aud agaln 10 the election of 1858 didn't
know o! the Harpsrs F-rry raid; { be had,
should not haye approved of il, he knew OF
Browns purpose to free slaves. and supposed
be would DO SO at every cfsnc-. from the
course he pnrsued in Missouri witness did moi
take an active interest in Kansas aGiirs till the
attack on Lawrence, and the destruction of the
hotel and other private property there, the at
tack on senator Sumner in the Senate cham
ger WDlcH lOiiOWsI closely the attack Oh Law
renee. determined him 10 exert al! his energies
TO make Kansas a free state. He INN edlateiy
went 10 the Boston committee for the relirl OF
sufferers in kansas, and offered his seryices-
He worked with them Till June, ls56. and then
teHg willing to devote all his tue to the
cause. Here he was stopped by the iuvestiga
ting committee, aud after some debate the
foregoing was ruled out, bis motive not being
in question. Witness did rot know Of any plan
of Browns TO invade any ets,e, bat did know
that it Was Browns plan to free slaves, and
use force II Necessary; saw Brown in Boston
several times in 1852 and gave Brown several
hundred dollars. Browns object in calling il
i;os,on va. to raise funds he met him al tn.
[ nlted States Hotel, st DR. Howc's office, and
once At club dinner at the Parker House; did
not know # Brown d ned there; Brown went n
sf er dinner was over and remained there
about twenty minutes; seenF W Bird an
DR.. Howe AID others he did no. know them,
aud cant now rscolec. the club , had no par
ticular name, but went under the name OF
Birds Dinner; the Parker House is the b.s,
house in town for dinners; in answer to Sena-
tor Davis witness said he had not corresponied
with him since May. 1859. and had not Sc y
him.
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