Harvey B. Hurd to John Brown, April 1, 1857

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.

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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

William Frederick Milton Arny

WILLIAM FREDERICK MILTON ARNY was born at Georgetown, District of Columbia, May 9, 1813. He died at Topeka, September 18, 1881. He was educated in the public schools and at Bethany College, Virginia. He was for several years secretary of Bethany, when the celebrated preacher, Alexander Campbell, was its president. He came to Kansas from Illinois in 1855, and settled at Hyatt, now Garnett, where he lived until he moved to New Mexico in 1862, settling at Santa Fe. He was United States Indian agent for the Navajos for several years, when President Lincoln made him secretary of the territory, during much of which time he acted as governor. Upon the expiration of this service he was again appointed Indian agent. He represented New Mexico at the Centennial Exposition, at Philadelphia, in 1876.

Kansas suffered from a severe drought in the year 1860. On the 14th of November, 1860, a territorial relief convention was held at Lawrence. The convention was presided over by Robert B. Mitchell president, and R. G. Elliott and John A. Martin secretaries. A committee was appointed, of which Samuel C. Pomeroy was elected president; Rev. Charles Reynolds, D. D., vice president; James L. McDowell, secretary; George H. Fairchild, treasurer. January 9, 1861, W. F. M. Arny was appointed general shipping agent. A statement by Arny, from the beginning to June 6, 1861, which was probably the end of the business, shows that Arny contracted with railroads for the shipment of 12,722,810 pounds of food, including some seeds, medicines, boots and shoes, and that he received $47,437.96 in money. An auditing committee, composed of S. C. Pomeroy, Rev. Lewis Bodwell, F. P. Baker, and W. W. Guthrie, checked Arny’s accounts up as all right. Thaddeus Hyatt says Arny was “most faithful and unselfish.” The first acknowledgment of goods received was on January 5, 1861, before Arny's time, Pomeroy reporting that he had received 867,619 pounds of goods.

SOURCE: George W. Martin, Editor, Transactions of the Kansas State Historical Society, Volume 7, p. 203

Horace White to John Brown, March 21, 1857

Chicago, March 21, 1857.

Captain John Brown.

My Dear Friend, — I find it quite impossible to prepare a schedule of the property which belongs to you under the New York resolution. It can only be ascertained in the Territory. I am going there myself about the first of next month, and I need not say that yon may command my services at all times. Mr. Arny is there, and with the help of him and Mr. Whitman we shall probably be able to secure everything. At any rate we will work for it. Please let me hear how you are prospering. Write me a line directed to Chicago. If I am not here it will be forwarded to me. State when you expect to be in Kansas. If you should think it undesirable to have one of your letters sent through Missouri, you need not sign your name to it. I shall know the handwriting. I anticipate perilous times; and when the Philistines are upon us, I may possibly be found carrying a bayonet on the right side.

Very truly,

Horace White.

P. S. I suppose the Boston people will fix you out with a return ticket. Perhaps it may not be amiss to send you the enclosed note. If you have other means of procuring just as well a free ticket, I would prefer you would not use this, because the railroads have done very liberally by us, and I do not wish to seem to be bleeding them. I would rather no one but yourself should have the benefit of the enclosed, because our credit with the companies for the future depends somewhat upon the fairness which they experience this summer.¹

Again very truly,

H. W.

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¹ The note enclosed runs thus :—

Office National Kansas Committee, 11 Marine Bank Building,

Chicago, March 21,1857.

Dear Sir, — Allow me to Introduce Captain John Brown, of Osawatomie, Kansas Territory. If you could consistently give him a trip pass over your road it would be regarded a special favor by the committee, and a personal one to most of us. We shall not be in the habit of making such requests, but in the present instance it is peculiarly wanted, and will be rightly appreciated.

Very respectfully,

Horace White,

Assistant Secretary N. K. Committee.

To C. B. Greenouoh, Esq,, General Ticket Agent, New York & Erie Railroad, New York.

William R Barr, Esq., General Agent Lake Shore Railroad, Buffalo, N. Y.

Dudley P. Phelps, Esq., General Ticket Agent, Michigan Southern Railroad, Toledo, Ohio.

Upon which is the following indorsement in the handwriting of John Brown: “Horace White, March 21, 1857.”

SOURCE: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 361-2