Trading Post, Kansas, January, 1859.
Gentlemen, —
You will greatly oblige a humble friend by allowing the use of your columns
while I briefly state two parallels, in my poor way.
Not one year ago eleven quiet citizens of this neighborhood,
— William Robertson, William Colpetzer, Amos Hall, Austin Hall, John Campbell,
Asa Snyder, Thomas Stilwell, William Hairgrove, Asa Hairgrove, Patrick Ross,
and B. L. Reed, — were gathered up from their work and their homes by an armed
force under one Hamilton, and without trial or opportunity to speak in their
own defence were formed into line, and all but one shot, — five killed and five
wounded. One fell unharmed, pretending to be dead. All were left for dead. The
only crime charged against them was that of being Free-State men. Now, I
inquire what action has ever, since the occurrence in May last, been taken by
either the President of the United States, the Governor of Missouri, the
Governor of Kansas, or any of their tools, or by any proslavery or
Administration man, to ferret out and punish the perpetrators of this crime?
Now for the other parallel.1 On Sunday, December
19, a negro man called Jim came over to the Osage settlement, from Missouri,
and stated that he, together with his wife, two children, and another negro
man, was to be sold within a day or two, and begged for help to get away. On
Monday (the following) night, two small companies were made up to go to
Missouri and forcibly liberate the live slaves, together with other slaves. One
of these companies I assumed to direct. We proceeded to the place, surrounded
the buildings, liberated the slaves, and also took certain property supposed to
belong to the estate. We however learned before leaving that a portion of the
articles we had taken belonged to a man living on the plantation as a tenant,
and who was supposed to have no interest in the estate. We promptly returned to
him all we had taken. We then went to another plantation, where we found five
more slaves, took some property and two white men. We moved all slowly away
into the Territory for some distance, and then sent the white men back, telling
them to follow us as soon as they chose to do so. The other company freed one
female slave, took some property, and, as I am informed, killed one white man
(the master), who fought against the liberation.
Now for a comparison. Eleven persons are forcibly restored
to their natural and inalienable rights, with but one man killed, and all “hell
is stirred from beneath.” It is currently reported that the Governor of
Missouri has made a requisition upon the Governor of Kansas for the delivery of
all such as were concerned in the last named “dreadful outrage.” The Marshal of
Kansas is said to be collecting a posse of Missouri (not Kansas) men at
West Point, in Missouri, a little town about ten miles distant, to “enforce the
laws.” All proslavery, conservative, Free-State, and dough-face men and
Administration tools are filled with holy horror.
Consider the two cases, and the action of the Administration
party.
Respectfully yours,
John Brown.
_______________
1 On the back of the original draft of “Old Brown’s
Parallels,” in Brown’s handwriting, is the following indorsement by him in
pencil of stations on the “Underground Railroad” through Kansas:—
Raynard, Holton, Nemaha
City.
Dr. Fuller, six
miles. On River Road,
Martin Stowell, Mount
Vernon
Smith, Walnut
Creek, fifteen.
Mills and Graham
(attorneys), Albany, twenty-five.
Dr. Whitenger and
Sibley, Nebraska City.
Mr. Vincent, Ira
Reed, Mr. Gardner.
Besides these entries appear the
following: —
Teamsters, Dr. To cash each, $1.00
|
$2.00
|
Linsley, Dr. at Smith's
|
1.00
|
On the other end of the same page, —
Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J. H.
Painter on note
|
$100.00
|
Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J H.
Painter for saddle
|
10.00
|
Cash received by J. Brown on his private account, of J. H.
Painter for wagon
|
38.10
|
“J. Brown paid for company: For G.
Gill, $5.70; to Penree, $39.00; to Painter, $8.00; to Townsend for shoes,
$1.65; to Pearce, $3.00; to Carpenter, $10.00; to Kagi, $8.00; to Carpenter for
making shirts, $2.00.”
These are part of the cost of the
journey, no doubt.
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 481-3
