Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-24
John Browns Plans.

| A Letter From a Friend Describing the Organization i'm Chatham, Canada
 Writing to the Cleveland Herald, Mr. J. Monroe Jones says: Noncompliance with re- | quest made to me, I transmit few recolleo- tions of John Browns organization in this town After my introduction to Mir. Brown, in course of time he had laid before me his | plans for the liberation of the slaves. would | remark right here that he called almost daily
 at my gun shop and spoke of the great sub- ject that lay uppermost in his mind, plans, | etc, and will also add that he brought his plans with him and presented them to the
 convention, and only asked for their apProv- 1 al. recollect one evening-for we always met at night-the question came up as to 1 what flag they would use. Our English col
 ored naturalized subjects said they would never think of fighting under the hated
 ''Stars and Stripes, :" far too many of them probably thinking that they carried the en- 1 blem on their backs. But here Brown, as 1 usual carried his point In the discussion he remarked that the old flag was good
 enough for him under it freedom had been ! won from the tyrants of the old world for white men. He declared emphatically that
 he would not give up the stars and stripes That settled the question. I did not attend all the meetings of the convention.
 | Again, during one of the sittings of the convention, we were discussing how the plans might fail. think had the floor at the | time, and was telling the members how soon l the slave power would surround them in their stronghoIds in the mountains. As has been stated, his general plan was to fortify some place in the mountains and call the slaves to \ his colors. I said to them and him that was
 afraid he would be disappointed in the slaves,
 because they did not sufficient to rally to his
 support. The American slaves, I contended, were different from the slaves in the French
 West India Island, San Domingo; the latter imblbed some of the impetuous characteristics of their masters. I have no doubt that Mr. Brown thought that was making an impress sion on some of the members if not on him,
 for he arose suddenly to his feet and re-
 marked 'Friend Jones, you will pleasesay no more on that side. There will be a plen-
 ty to defend that side of the question" A
 general laugh took place at this remark.
 said in the beginning of this letter that I did not attend all the sittings of the convention because had often expressed to Brown my
 distrust of some of the members, fearing that they might reveal the secrets of the as- sembly.
 I recolIect one day when we were discuss ing his plans in the shop, I told him how ut terly hopeless these plans would be if he per- sisted in making an attack with the few men at his command, and more than that, we could not afford to spare white men of his stamp, ready to sacrifice their lives for the salvation of black men,. While was speak ing he was walking to and fro, hands behind, as was his custom when thinking of this, his favorite subject. He stopped suddenly, and, bringing down his hand with great force, ex- claimed: stDid not my master. Jesus Christ come down from heaven and sacrifice himself upon the altar for-the salvation of the race? And should l, worm, not worthy to crawl under bis feet, refuse to sacrifice myself? ?s With g look of determination in his eyes, he resumed his walk; and let me remark that in all his conversation for nearly month dur l ing his stay in Chatham never once saw 2 smile light up his countenance He seemed always in deep, earnest study or thought.
 The next question that came before the convention was the time for the attack. It was advocated by a great many that it would | the abolition of the slaves while the United 1 States were at peace with foreign powers and l the North and South united, but they should I wait until mere favorable opportunity, such