Chicago, April 1, 1857.
Captain John Brown, Springfield,
Mass.
At a meeting of the
National Kansas Committee, held this day, it was
Resolved, That as according to the present state of the
public feeling, evinced by the almost total cessation of contributions to the
funds of the committee, it appears that the means of carrying on our operations
will not be forthcoming from the usual sources; therefore, it is expedient to
take immediate measures to settle the liabilities, and close the accounts of
the committee, and to reduce the current expenses to the lowest possible point;
and that the secretary be instructed to take measures accordingly.
Resolved, further, That the secretary be instructed to
write to the members of the committee residing in other cities, — to Messrs.
Greeley & McElrath, Hon. Gerrit Smith, and other prominent donors and
friends, — setting forth the fact of the cessation of contributions as above
stated, and the necessity we are under of closing our operations, unless
immediately sustained by liberal contributions.
We are sorry to be
obliged to come to the above conclusion, but are compelled to do so. There are
several important undertakings now in hand, which we shall have to abandon,
unless further means are forthcoming. The committee are at present out of
money, and are compelled to decline sending you the five hundred dollars you
speak of. They are sorry this has become the case, but it was unavoidable. I
need not state to you all the reasons why. The country has stopped sending us
contributions, and we have no means of replenishing our treasury. We shall need
to have aid from some quarter to enable us to meet our present engagements.
I send you a copy of
the list of articles selected for you by Mr. Arny. Our opinion is that some
things have been selected that you do not need; such, for instance, as quilts,
unless it is intended to supply the families of the company, and mits, which I
suppose means ladies' mits. If he means mittens they would be useful.1
Yours, etc.,
H. B. Hurd.
Secretary National Kansas Committee.
_______________
1 Upon this is the following indorsement in the
handwriting of John Brown: “H. B. Hurd. Needs no comment.”
SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of
John Brown, p. 367
