March 4.
Brown was at Tabor
on the 10th of February, with his stock in fine erudition, as he says in a
letter to G. Smith. He also says he is ready with some new men to set his mill
in operation, and seems to be coming East for that purpose. Mr. Smith proposes
to raise one thousand dollars for him, and to contribute one hundred dollars
himself. I think a larger sum ought to be raised; but can we raise so much as
this? Brown says he thinks any one of us who talked with him might raise the
sum if we should set about it; perhaps this is so, but I doubt. As a reward for
what he has done, perhaps money might be raised for him. At any rate, he means
to do the work, and I expect to hear of him in New York within a few weeks. Dr.
Howe thinks John Forbes and some others not of our party would help the project
if they knew of it.1
_______________
1 Dr. Howe gave me
the following letter at New York, Feb. 5, 1859 : —
JoHn M. FOrBES, ESQ.
Dear Sir, — If you would like to hear an honest, keen, and veteran backwoodsman
disclose some plans for delivering our land from the curse of slavery, the
bearer will do so. 1 think I know him well. He is of the Puritan militant
order. He is an enthusiast, yet cool, keen, and cautious. He has a martyr's
spirit. He will ask nothing of you but the pledge that you keep to yourself
what he may say.
Faithfully yours,
S.
G. Howe.
SOURCE: Franklin B.
Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 493
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