The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1879-07-24
guns on the mountain cliffs, which overlook
the Ferry on all sides.

October, 1889, stood IA rude log cabin, sur-
rounded by a few half-tilled acres. dotted
with stumps, and glrdled trees: all thinps
wearing the aspect of loneliness and diIa ii
dation appertaining to the deserted forest
clearing. There were no neighbors, else
they might have discovered that the premi-
ses which looked SO silent and desoIate bv
day, fairly swarmed with inmates each night.
-stalwart men. of different nationalities
who appeared to have no other ~occupation
than the moulding OF bullets, SHARPENING
huge knives, and making lanceS, or pixies.
by adding iron points to long poles. What
could it mean?
The place had been rented several months
previous by one John Smith a tall hard.
featured stranger, supposed TO be a North
Carollnlan, though no one knew much of
him. Report says he had travelled through
the border counties Of Carolina. He came
to Weldon. and passed up the valley Of the
Roanoke, and Dan, representing himself to
be a Presbyterian colporteur named DR.
Mclean, and manltestlng great interest in
the blacks, among whom he distributed large
numbers of tracts, etc. He had not a pre-
possessing look or manner bat seemed in
earnest, and was invited to preach on several
occasions. No one dreamed that he was a
wolf IN clerical clothing, spying out the
NedhncSStS Vi Tue ldtIu. ana scattering nre-
brands in the mid st thereof. Or. Mclean
the same person John Smith" i'm reality.
was John Brown, or 'Ossawattomie
Brown, already famed for bloody deeds as a
Kansas Jay-hawker, and now plotting whole
sale massacre OF the people whose hospital
tiles he had enjoyed. For the credit OF
human nature, | should like to consider the
old man a |lunatic but, however convenient
this theory may have been for the Republi-
can leaders in 1860, it is no longer held by
any person capable OF judging from plain
facts. There was too much method in his
madness to allow of such p~aliation for his
crimes. At farthest it can only be said,
he was a rabid fanatic, naturally narrow
minded, and vindictive in his prejudices,
and fevered to furious hatred of the South
erners by the fruits of his 0 II folly and rash
rage. 1t is probable he lacked from birth
the balance of mind necessary to weigh ques-
tons involving the control Of his ownlikeso or
dislikes, ard there was nothing In his early
education, amid the bigotry- breeding atmos-
phere of a backwoods abolition village, to
broaden his views, or restore his mental
equipoisc. Men of his turn are easily self
deluded into believing themselves special
agents commissioned by Providence for "a
glorious work" the glory to accrue to the
missionary, and having once set out upon
this idea are apt. like a ship with twisted
rudder, to go wider and wider from the
direct course as they advance until eventually
ship wrecked. Such men enlisted III a bad
cause, become dangerous tools for more
crafty, but less courageous and self sacrificing
schelners. 1t was so with John Brown. His
early vehemence Of prejudice against the
Shareholders, commended him to the Abolition
~wire-pullers as a fit man to lead IN capturing
Kansas by the means Of 'Emmigrant Aid
Societies, > "Prospeetlng parties. ana free
State Leagues" He appeared on the scene
at the head Of a gang Of desperate men, col
lected in the Northern cities, and escortlng
acargo of Sharp's Rifles for the use OF others,
Ere long he was heard from III connection
with many a free-booting raid and murder
his desperation being fomcnted by the kill
ing Of one of his six sons during a midnight
excursion. The chapter OF devlltry known
as the"kansas Border War would be too
long for even a summary here. Sutflce IT.,
after the Federal army was sent to keep the
peace, "Old Ossawattomle, having had a
taste of the blood of Southerners, apparently
dedicated the remainder Of his life to war
fare upon them. Making q tour throughout
New England to consult with Abolition
leaders, he found, as he supposed, the time
ripe for action.
lie therefore issued secret calls ior a cor
@vention in West Canada to organize . syste-
matte plan Of onslaught upon the South.
But the real leaders Of the Abolition Cru
SADIE, having more confidence in his energy
and courage as a layhawkcr than his ability
and discretion as a plotter, took care to have
excuses and only 50 delegates attended, OF
whom % were negroes. Brown, however
well knowing that if once he should seem to
be succeeding the whole faction would rush to 9
his camp, proceeded calmly TO pun down al
and supercede them by his provisional
Constitution which the Conventl on
formally adopted as the law OF the land. BY
this novel instrument all State lines were
erased, and all distinctions of race, color,
sex, and previous condition were ob!ite-
rated. Everybody was to have everything man[ z;
who were to he s~.disfranchised, " and pun
ished promptly and effectually;:, Then
property was to be ''confiscated' at once;
Here it is curious to note how the so-cailed
-- - .lyntah rho 1dpnf1C2l