John Brown, Soldier of Fortune: A CritiqueWilson, Hill Peebles
History
John Brown, Soldier of Fortune: A Critique
Wilson, Hill Peebles
Brown, John, 1800-1859
He concluded his remarks by denouncing the traitors to
freedom, who, when a question of this kind was raised,
cried out, "Save the people's money--the dear people's
Money." He had a detailed estimate of how much the National
Government had expended in endeavoring to fasten slavery on
Kansas; and asked why these politicians had never cried
out, "Save the people's money!" when it was expended to
trample under the foot of the "peculiar" crime of the
south, the rights, lives, and property of the Northern
squatters. They were silent then. (Applause.)
The Chairman then asked who commanded the free-state men at
Lawrence. His answer was characteristic of the man, whose
courage was only equalled by his modesty and worth.
He explained how bravely our boys acted--gave every one the
credit but himself. When again asked who commanded them, he
said,--no one; that he was asked to take the command, but
refused, and only acted as their ADVISER!
The Captain spoke in conclusion, about the emigrants needed
for Kansas.
"We want," he said, "good men, industrious men, men who
respect themselves; who act only from the dictates of
conscience; MEN WHO FEAR GOD TOO MUCH TO FEAR ANY THING
HUMAN."
When asked by the Chairman:--"What is your opinion as to
the probability of a renewal of hostilities in Kansas--of
another invasion; and what do you think would be the
effect, on the free state men, of an appropriation by
Massachusetts?"--replied:--"Whenever we heard, out in
Kansas that the North was doing any thing for us, we were
encouraged and strengthened to struggle on. As to the
probability of another invasion, I do not know. We ought to
be prepared for the worst. Things do not look one iota more
encouraging now, than they did last year at this time. You
ought to remember that, from the date of the Shannon treaty
till May last, there was perfect quiet in Kansas; no fear
of a renewal of hostilities; no violence offered to our
citizens in Missouri. I frequently went there myself; was
known there; yet treated with the greatest kindness."
The Massachusetts Kansas Committee, of which Mr. Sanborn was secretary,
was composed of the kind of men described in the resolution,
"responsible and conservative men." It seems, therefore, that the scheme
was to have the State appropriate this money, and place it with the
Massachusetts Committee, for disbursement among Kansas settlers who had
suffered, as the Browns and "four or five others" had suffered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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