The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-25
osAWATOMIE BROWN.
The Organization in Candida Statement
by One of His Confidential Friends.

| transmit a few recollecuons of John
Browns organization in this town. After
my introduction to Mr. Brown, in course of
time he laid before me his plans for the lib
Grafton OF the slaves. | would remark right
here that he called almost daily at my gun
shop and spoke of the great subject 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 approval. l recol-
lect one evening-for we always met at
nlght-the question came up as to what
nag they would use, Our English
colored naturalized subjects said they
would never think of lighting under
the hated stars and stripes" far TOO many
OF them probably thinking that they carried
the emblem on their backs But here Brown,
as usual, carried his point. In the discus
sion he remarked that the old flag was good
enough for him; under it freedom had ueen
won from the tyrants of The old world for
white men; now he intended it to do duty for
black men. He declared emphatically that
he would not give up the stars and stripes.
That settled the question. | did not attend
all the meetings OF the convention.
Again, during one OF the Sittings of the
convention, we were discussing how the plan
might fail. l think l had the floor at the
time, and was telling the members how
soon the slave power would surround them
in their strongholds 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. | SAID to them
and TO him thatI was afraid he would be dis
appointed in the slaves, because they did not
know sufficient to rally to his support. The
American slaves, l contended were different
from the slaves in the French West India
island, San Domingo The latter imbibed
some of the impetuous characteristics of
their masters. l have no doubt that Mr.
Brown thought that l was making an i'm
preston on some of the members if not on
him. for he arose suddenly to his feet and
remarked; Friend Jones, you will please
say no more on that side. There will be a
plenty to defend that side of the question"
a general laugh took place at this remark
| said in the beginning of this letter that l
did not attend 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 assem-
bly,.
lrecollect one day when we were discuss
ing his plans in the shop 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 10 sacrifice their lives for the
salvation os black men. While was speak
ing he was walking to and fro, hands be-
hind, as was his custom when speaking of
this his favorite subject. He stopped sud
denly, anu, bringing uOWn MS mana WIN
great force, exclaimed Did not my Master,
Jesus Christ, come down from Heaven and
sacrifice Himself upon the altar for the sal
walton of the race? And should l. a worm
not worthy to crawl under His feet refuse
to sacrifice MYSELF With a look of deter
mination in his eyes he resumed his walk;
and let me remark that in all his conversa-
ton for nearly month during his stay in
Chatham / never for once saw 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. 1t
was advocated by great many that it would
be next to madness to plunge into a war for
the abolition of the slaves while the United
States was at peace with foreign powers and
the North and South united, but they should
wait until more favorable opportunity,
such as when the United States became in
volved with some tirst-class power; then they
might stand better chance of succeeding.
After Mr.. Brown had listened to the argu-
ment for some time he rose slowly, and,
strengthening himself to his full height, he
said: Mr.. Chairman, 1 am no traitor,
would be the last man to take advantage of
my country in the face of a foreign
foe" He seemed to regard it as
great insult. This settled the
matter in my mind that John Brown was
not insane. must confess, in all his CON
verSatiOn during his stay here he appeared
intensely American; he never for moment
thought of fighting the United States as
such, but simply the defenders of human
slavery i'll the States, Only the ulcer slavery
he would cut from the body-politic.
The day before the last meeting he called
at my shop and prevailed upon me to attend,
as he remarked that would probably be the
last meeting, and he wished me to be pres
emit as the papers would be signed that
night. When the paper was presented to
M Mr. BROWN
friend Jones, give us John Hancock bold
and strong" | replied | thought it might
resemble Step. Hopkins. Those who are IA
miliar with the signatures on the Declare
ton of Independence paper will observe the
difference in the mechanical structure OF the
two names.
Before closing the letter | will venture my
individual opinion that John Brown never
communicated his whole plan. not even to
his immediate followers. | am led to the
conclusion because in all his conversations
with me he gave me to think he intended to
sacrifice himself and his few followers for
the purpose of arousing the people of the
North from the stupor they were under on
this subject. He seemed to think few
white men had to be sacrificed to awaken
the people from the deep sleep that had set
tied upon the minds OF the free whites of the
North. He knew well that the sacrifice Of
any number OF negroes would have no effect.
l know nothing about when or where the
attack was to be made. Some of the MEM
bers, with myself had left for Canada for the
Pacific coast late in August of the same year,
1858, and heard of the outbreak in the fol-
lowing autumn We were surprised, be-
cause we had no idea that the attack would
be made so soon, neither do l think the
members OF the convention had until within
Il few days of their departure for the South.
| think ii he had told them what his plans
were and what he intended the number
would have been far less.
What he intended to do, as far MS I could
gather from his conversation from time 10
time, was to emulate Winkelred, the Swiss
chieftqin, when he threw himself upon the
Austrian spearsmeH, crying make way for
liberty" If that was his real object, the
events that followed justified his plans