John Brown to Congressman Joshua R. Giddings, February 20, 1856

Osawatomie, Kansas Territory,

20th February, 1856.

Hon. Joshua R. Giddings,

Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:

I write to say that a number of the United States soldiers are quartered in this vicinity, for the ostensible purpose of removing intruders from certain Indian lands. It is, however, believed that the administration has no thought of removing the Missourians from the Indian lands, but that the real object is to have the men in readiness to act in enforcement of the hellish enactments of the (so-called) Kansas Legislature; absolutely abominated by a great majority of the inhabitants of the territory and spurned by them up to this time. I confidently believe that the next movement on the part of the administration and its proslavery masters will be either to drive the people here to submit to those infernal enactments or to assume what will be termed treasonable grounds, by shooting down the poor soldiers of the country, with whom they have no quarrel whatever. I ask in the name of Almighty God; I ask in the name of our venerated forefathers; I ask in the name of all that good or true men ever held dear, will Congress suffer us to be driven to such “dire extremities”? Will anything be done? Please send me a few lines at this place. Long acquaintance with your public life and a slight personal acquaintance incline and embolden me to make this appeal to yourself. Everything is still on the surface just now. Circumstances are, however, of a most suspicious character.

Very Respectfully Yours,

John Brown.

SOURCE: Walter Buell, Joshua R. Giddings: A Sketch, p. 200-1

John Brown to Congressman Joshua R. Giddings, January 27, 1856

City Of Weston, Missouri, January 27, 1856.

Hon. J. R. Giddings,

Washington City.

Dear Sir:

I presume an apology is unnecessary, in addressing a letter to one so warmly interested as yourself on the great question of the day, viz: the freeing of this great country from the curse of slavery. Sir, six months ago I left my native State, York; for a home in Kansas. I settled, on my arrival in the territory, about four miles from Lawrence, and built me a good house, where I resided until the border ruffians invaded the territory. They, knowing my adherence to the cause of freedom, and my being a Northern man, took me a prisoner and kept me as such for four days, treating me worse than one of their slaves. After my release they told me I must leave the country. I did not do it, but went to Eaton, and remained there quietly until last Friday week, the day of election. They then sent their minions out to disturb our election, which they did. They killed two men for us. How long are we to be treated like dogs? General Pomeroy promised us men and means to carry on the war. Sir, are we to have them, or are we to be driven from the territory, after all the sacrifices of time and money we have made? Will you, sir, inform me if we are to have the means to drive the last B. R. from the country? I, for one, am ready to stay if we are. If we do not have them soon we will be driven from the land. Answer requested immediately. I must close for fear of interruption.

Respectfully yrs.,

John Brown.

SOURCE: Walter Buell, Joshua R. Giddings: A Sketch, p. 199-200

Congressman Joshua R. Giddings to John Brown, March 17, 1856

Hall Of Representatives, U. S.,

March 17, 1856.

My Dear Sir, — We shall do all we can, but we are in a minority, and are dependent on the "Know Nothings"¹ for aid to effect anything, and they are in a very doubtful position; we know not how they will act. All I can say is, we shall try to relieve you. In the mean time you need have no fear of the troops. The President never will dare employ the troops of the United States to shoot the citizens of Kansas. The death of the first man by the troops will involve every free State in your own fate. It will light up the fires of civil war throughout the North, and we shall stand or fall with you. Such an act will also bring the President so deep in infamy that the hand of political resurrection will never reach him. Your safety depends on the supply of men and arms and money which will move forward to your relief as soon as the spring opens. I am confident there will be as many people in Kansas next winter as can be supplied with provisions. I may be mistaken, but I feel confident there will be no war in Kansas.

Very respectfully,

J. R. Giddings.

John Brown, Esq.

_______________

¹ A political party (the “Native Americans”) so designated.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 224

Owen Brown Sr. to John Brown, March 27, 1856

HUDSON (OHIO), March 27, '56.

DEAR SON JOHN, — I received yours of 13th on the 25th, and was very glad to larn that all your Famelys were so well, and that you had not been distourbed by the enemy. Your letters come very regular, and we look carfuly after them. I have been faithfull to answer them, not out of ambishon, but to keep one or more on the road all the time. My health at present is not so good; for three weeks past I am somewhat put to it to breathe, mostly nights, and sometimes feel as though death was at the dore. 1 feel as though God was very mersofull to keep such a great sinner on probation so long. I ask all of you to pray more earnestly for the salvation of my soul than for the life of my body, and that I may give myself and all I have up to Christ, and honor him by a sacrafise of all we have.

I think that the moovments of Congress will prevent an invasion of your rights; they have voted to send to Kansas to investigate the situation [and] elections. I think of cliping from some papers some short Acts of Congress and inclose them in a private letters and send them to you. I think I shall have them very regular. I wrote Mr. Giddeons¹ ["Giddings" in John Brown's hand written over this name] about 3 weeks ago to send me the debats and Acts of Congress on the subjects of Kansas from time to time. He was at home then sick, but has now returned to Con [in John Brown's hand "Washington " is written in before "Con"] and the papers begin to come.

Friends are midling well as far as I know. I am now at Edward's; it is rather a cold, stormy day. We have had a remarkable cold, snowe winter, and the snow is mostly on the ground now. We have 3 only plesent dayes this week, but have had no rain through the winter. I consider all of my Children at Kansas as one Famely, and hope you will take turns in writeing. They are midling well at Edward's, and wish to be remembered.

Your unfaithful Parent,

OWEN BROWN.

N. B. 28th. After writing the above, Edward had a paper from which we dipt the within.²

O. B.

__________

¹ Owen Brown and most of his sons and grandsons when in Ohio were constituents of Joshua R. Giddings, the famous antislavery Congressman from the Western Reserve.

² This letter is addressed in the feeble handwriting of an old man to "John Brown, Osawatoniie, K. T.," and is indorsed in his son's handwriting, "Owen Brown's Letter, March 27, 1856." The original is among the Brown Papers in the library of the Kansas Historical Society at Topeka, from whose invaluable collections I have drawn much material for this work.

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 19-21