The Placer herald., 1860-02-04
A Voice from Kansas.
The Herald of Freedom on the Harpers Fer
rg Riot

Leavenworth, has ever been the leading or
gan of the Kansas Screechers. The editor
of that paper hearing of the Harper's Ferry
affair, let out the following secret:
"The business men of Leavenworth will
remember the insane movements of James
II. Lane, and these anti peace men who pro-
jected the idea of numbering the delegates
to the Lecompton Constitutional Convention,
while on their way to resume their labors in
October, and the ordering of the whole coun-
try to assemble at Lecompton with arms and
four days provisions, to take that town and
hang the members Of the Convention. They
will call to mind the meeting in Duncans
building, followed by he one in front of
the Morrow House, in Lawrence, when he
was headed off in that demon work, and the
contemplated sanguinary visit to Lecompton
was changed into peaceful one to protest
against the Convento: then being framed.
The Lecompton Constitution itself was
next made the pretext for bringing on war.
Whoever is able to call up the incidents of
the 22d and 23d of December Convention,
held in Lawrence, will be able to comprehend
that to which we alude. Browns Cellar
Kitchen Convention" as Thatcher and his
associates branded the affair, foed them in
their plans; but then came on the difficulties
at Fort Scott, inaugurated by the leaders
in all these revolutionary movements, and
backed up by jim Lane, Old John Brown,
Redpath, Phillips, and all that class of per-
sons. Then was organized the secret oath
bound league, the object of which was to
murder, in cold blood, every officer elected
under the Lecompton Constitution, be he a
Free State man or otherwise. The pass
word to that secret organization was LANE
The whole plan of assassination, of relays of
horses for the escape of, or carrying on of
the work. Of the assassins and the parties
engaged in the business, are well known TO
the good men in Lawrence and have been
for long period.
But there was a peaceful adjustment of
all these matters, because Congress did not
give legal sanction to the Lecompton Swim
die. The south eastern border however,
was made the pretext for keeping alive this
war movement There gathered the "buz
zards' again, and into active service was
called all their machinery for again involving
the country in strife. "Randolph," alias
VIM. Hutchinson, Philips, Kagi, Hinton,
and all that class of men were active in try
ing to keep Eastern public opinion with
them. While at home, their organ, the
Lawrence Republican, and several lesser
sheets, were doing ali in their power to in
fuence the public mind. Faseboods, as in
the former cases, were their principal stock
in trade and all who did not Join them in
their revolutionary schemes were branded as
renegades from the Free State party.
Old John Brown, with his minions, who
opened the bloody issue in Kansas, by mur-
dering the five heads of families on Potta-
wattame Greek, at midnight, on tie 25th Of
May, 1856, appeared and took charge of the
marauding forces They attempted to make
the whole population of Missouri responsible
for the horrd murder near Chattaues Trad
ing Post. Brown was in constant inter
course with men in the East, who declared
on the stump, and in all their published cor
respondence, that their "only hope of abol
shng slavery in the United States lay thro
revolution;" and from them he received funds
from time to time in prosecution of his war
schemes When Montgomery discovered
Brown q Co.'S plans Of revolution, to his
credit be it said, he protested, and in conse-
quence of their quarrel, probably more than
anything else, the latter made a brilliant
coup'd etat into Missouri, killed Crew, took
his slaves and made forced march to Cana
da, receiving any amount Of "aid and com
fort" from his cohorts aong the route.
At this time boy was arrested in viola
ton of law and removed outside of Kansas.
Then the excited lightnngs flashed again.
Lane harangued crowds nightly in Lawrence.
He was ready to march into Missouri and
release him by violence, and all the indorsers
of "bloody issue" cried amen. But their
schemes all faied and the principal public
actor, who had courage and desperation
sufficient to carry into execution his plan
without regard to cost; and who, in the in
term had returned to Kansas, took his leave
and determined upon Immediately consum-
mating plans long since laid for operation
elsewhere should he fail in again cmbroi-
ing the people Of the Kansas border. We
allude to old John Brown.
THE HARPERs FERRY PLOT
The whole plan of the organization, mode
Of operation, &c, it seems, has been known
in Kansas for long time. We were told
by parties who were in the secret, that the
plan of Old Brown & Co., was to strike such
bold and vigorous blow as to intimidate
the entire population of Virginia and the
South, who are known to be exceedingly
timorous over their slave population. With
his few immediate supporters, he was to take
possession of the armory, while others, with
teams, weie to carry the arms and military
supplies to the mountains. In those fast
nesses he was to erect his independent stand
ard, around which the negroes were to as
semble. A secret organization, permeating
all sections Of the North, with powerful back
ing in Kansas, was to furnish recruits. Thus