The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-23
THE JOHN BROWN RAID.
Its Origin and Secret History.

From the Detroit Post, February l..
Brown and five Of his men arrived in Detroit
with fourteen slaves from Missouri, in the sum-
male child on the way. The boy was named
John Brown, and now lives in Windsor. BY a
strange coincidence, Fred Douglass happened to
be lecturing In this city the same evening that
Brown arrived. After the lecture the leaders
of the insurrcctionary movement got together
in the house of VIM. Webb, on Congress street,
near Antoine street, and arranged the plan for
the raid on the South, which broke out prema-
turely at HarpeTs Ferry. Mr. Webb was for
years manager of the plug tobacco factory on
Jefferson avenue, and was highly respected
man. He Is now dead. The leading colored
people of Detroit and Chatham were also pres
rnt ut the meeting. Douglass objected to
raids on single plantations until he had collect
ed force Of about 1000 slaves, and then swoop
down on the large towns and cities, collecting
force and material rs he progressed Brown
grew wrathy, and asked Douglass if he was q
coward, and referred to his successes in Kansas
as an augury of the Virginia campaign. Doug
lass replied that he was not coward. and
would give material aid to the plan if he did not
approve of 1t, or did not 20 himself. George De
Baptistc also disapproyed of the plan, but pro-
posed a gunpowder plot, by which some fifteen
of the largest churches in the South would be
blown up on fixed Sunday. Brown objected
to that plan on the score of humanity, assert
ing that by his plan not q hundred lives wonld
be lost, his intention being not to shed blood
unless 1t became absolutely necessary. Dc
Baptiste still urged radical measures, declar-
ing that Browns plan would fail, and, perhaps
cause the loss Of million of lives before the
troubles likely 10 ensue would be ended. He
cited in support OF his position the fact that
the Nat Turner insurrection In 1881, by which
ffty-thrce white lives were lost, had had the
to consider Il bin for the gradual emancipation
of the slaves, which bill was lost by only two
votes.
Ossawatomie's counsel finally prevailed, and
the only favor besides money and advice that
he asked of his Detroit friends, was to furnish
him ono map, which they did-a ChathamitG.
frhe news of the disturbance at Harpers Ferry,
Which took the nation with so much surprise,
was perfectly well understood by the colored
people Of this city. They were anticipating the
event, since one Foster had divulged in
Washington the plans Jf- Brown, who, in con-
sequence, was obliged either to abandon his
fearful Odds He chose the latter alternative.
The sequel Is sufficiently we'll known. These
facts. however, have been kept with sworn
secrecy until lately by the colored men of De-
troit. Tie particulars have never been pub
lshcd. II may only be necessary to add that
subsequent to the zee ting at Wcbb's house, on
Congress street, m cetinS was held in Chath-
am, ul,ioh t..o Soap rh"nfr wns r->t .a ting
plan Now that the negroes are equal poti-
cay before the law, they have no fear i'll let
ting their connection with this affair be