THE WORK GOING BRAVELY ON--THOSE COMMISSIONS--JOHN H. KAGI--A LITTLE
CLOUD--“JUDAS” FORBES--ETC.
Many affect to despise the Chatham Convention, and the persons who
there abetted the “treason.” Governor Wise would like nothing better
than to engage the Canadas, with but ten men under his command. By that
it is clear that the men acquainted with Brown’s plans would not be a
“breakfast-spell” for the chivalrous Virginian. In one respect, they
were not formidable, and their Constitution would seem to be a harmless
paper. Some of them were outlaws against Buchanan Democratic rule
in the Territories; some were colored men who had felt severely the
proscriptive spirit of American caste; others were escaped slaves, who
had left dear kindred behind, writhing in the bloody grasp of the vile
man-stealer, never, never to be released, until some practical, daring,
determined step should be taken by their friends or their escaped
brethren. What use could such men make of a Constitution? Destitute
of political or social power, as respects the American States and
people, what ghost of an echo could they invoke, by declamation or
action, against the peculiar institution? In the light of slaveholding
logic and its conclusions, they were but renegade whites and insolent
blacks; but, aggregating their grievances, summing up their deep-seated
hostility to a system to which every precept of morality, every tie of
relationship, is a perpetual protest, the men in Convention, and the
many who could not conveniently attend at the time, were not a handful
to be despised. The braggadocio of the Virginia Governor might be eager
to engage them with ten slaveholders, but John Brown was satisfied with
them, and that is honor enough for a generation.
After the Convention adjourned, other business was despatched with
utmost speed, and every one seemed in good spirits. The “boys” of
the party of “Surveyors,” as they were called, were the admired of
those who knew them, and the subject of curious remark and inquiry
by strangers. So many intellectual looking men are seldom seen in
one party, and at the same time, such utter disregard of prevailing
custom, or style, in dress and other little conventionalities. Hour
after hour they would sit in council, thoughtful, ready; some of them
eloquent, all fearless, patient of the fatigues of business; anon, here
and there over the “track,” and again in the assembly; when the time
for relaxation came, sallying forth arm in arm, unshaven, unshorn, and
altogether indifferent about it; or one, it may be, impressed with the
coming responsibility, sauntering alone, in earnest thought, apparently
indifferent to all outward objects, but ready at a word or sign from
the chief to undertake any task.
During the sojourn at Chatham, the commissions to the men were
discussed, &c. It has been a matter of inquiry, even among friends, why
colored men were not commissioned by John Brown to act as captains,
lieutenants, &c. I reply, with the knowledge that men in the movement
now living will confirm it, that John Brown did offer the captaincy,
and other military positions, to colored men equally with others, but a
want of acquaintance with military tactics was the invariable excuse.
Holding a civil position, as we termed it, I declined a captain’s
commission tendered by the brave old man, as better suited to those
more experienced; and as I was willing to give my life to the cause,
trusting to experience and fidelity to make me more worthy, my excuse
was accepted. The same must be said of other colored men to be spoken
of hereafter, and who proved their worthiness by their able defence of
freedom at the Ferry.
JOHN H. KAGI.
Of the constellation of noble men who came to Chatham with Capt. Brown,
no one was greater in the essentials of true nobility of character and
executive skill than John H. Kagi, the confidential friend and adviser
of the old man, and second in position in the expedition; no one was
held in more deserved respect. Kagi was, singularly enough, a Virginian
by birth, and had relatives in the region of the Ferry. He left home
when a youth, an enemy to slavery, and brought as his gift offering to
freedom three slaves, whom he piloted to the North. His innate hatred
of the institution made him a willing exile from the State of his
birth, and his great abilities, natural and acquired, entitled him to
the position he held in Capt. Brown’s confidence.
Kagi was indifferent to personal appearance; he often went about
with slouched hat, one leg of his pantaloons properly adjusted, and
the other partly tucked into his high boot-top; unbrushed, unshaven,
and in utter disregard of “the latest style”; but to his companions
and acquaintances, a verification of Burns’ man in the clothes; for
John Henry Kagi had improved his time; he discoursed elegantly and
fluently, wrote ably, and could occupy the platform with greater
ability than many a man known to the American people as famous in these
respects. John Brown appreciated him, and to his men, his estimate of
John Henry was a familiar theme.
Kagi’s bravery, his devotion to the cause, his deference to the
commands of his leader, were most nobly illustrated in his conduct at
Harper’s Ferry.
* * * * *
Scarcely had the Convention and other meetings and business at Chatham
been concluded, and most necessary work been done, both at St.
Catherines and at this point, when the startling intelligence that the
plans were exposed came to hand, and that “Judas” Forbes, after having
disclosed some of our important arrangements in the Middle States,
was on his way to Washington on a similar errand. This news caused an
entire change in the programme for a time. The old gentleman went one
way, the young men another, but ultimately to meet in Kansas, in part,
where the summer was spent. In the winter of that year, Capt. Brown, J.
H. Kagi, A. D. Stevens, C. P. Tidd and Owen Brown, went into Missouri,
and released a company of slaves, whom they eventually escorted to
Canada, where they are now living and taking care of themselves. An
incident of that slave rescue may serve to illustrate more fully the
spirit pervading the old man and his “boys.” After leaving Missouri
with the fugitives, and while yet pursuing the perilous hegira, birth
was given to a male child by one of the slave mothers. Dr. Doy, of
Kansas, aided in the accouchement, and walked five miles afterwards to
get new milk for the boy, while the old Captain named him John Brown,
after himself, which name he now bears. At that time, a reward from the
United States government was upon the head of Brown; United States
Marshals were whisking about, pretendedly eager to arrest them; the
weather was very cold, and dangers were upon every hand; but not one
jot of comfort or attention for the tender babe and its invalid mother
was abated. No thought for their valuable selves, but only how best
might the poor and despised charge in their keeping be prudently but
really nursed and guarded in their trial journey for liberty. Noble
leader of a noble company of men! Yes, reader, whether at Harper’s
Ferry, or paving the way thither with such deeds as the one here told,
and well known West, the old hero and that company were philanthropists
to the core. I do not know if the wicked scheme of Forbes may not be
excused a little, solely because it afforded the occasion for the
great enterprise, growing out of this last visit to Kansas; but Forbes
himself must nevertheless be held guilty for its inception, as only
ambition to usurp power, and his great love of pelf, (peculiar to
him, of all connected with Capt. Brown,) made him dissatisfied, and
determined to add falsehood to his other sins against John Brown.
“JUDAS” FORBES.
This Forbes, who, though pretending to disclose some dangerous
hornet’s nest, was careful enough of his worthless self to tell next
to nothing, but to resort to lies, rather from a clear understanding
of the consequences, if caught, is an Englishman. When information
came, it was not known how much he had told or how little; therefore
Brown’s precaution to proceed West. From the spring of ’58 to the
autumn of ’59, getting no intelligence of him, it was said he had left
America; but instead of that, he lurked around in disguise, feeling, no
doubt, that he deserved the punishment of death. Before his defection,
he entered into agreement with Capt. Brown to work in the cause of
emancipation upon the same terms as did the others, as I repeatedly
learned from Brown and his associates, who were acquainted with the
matter, and whose veracity stands infinitely above Forbes’ word. From
Brown, Kagi and Stevens, I learned that the position of second in the
organization under the Captain was to be held by “Judas,” because of
his acquaintance with military science. He was to be drill-master
of the company, but not to receive one particle of salary more than
the youngest man in the company. But having once gained a secure
foothold, he sought to carry out his evil design to make money out of
philanthropy, or destroy the movement for ever, could he not be well
paid to remain quiet. Money was his object from the first, though
disguised; and when he failed to secure that, he raised the question of
leadership with Capt. Brown, and that was his excuse for withdrawing
from the movement. His heart was clearly never right; but he only
delayed, he did not stop the work. When the outbreak occurred, he
figured for a little while, though very cautiously, and finally fled to
Europe, another Cain, whose mark is unmistakable, and who had better
never been born than attempt to stand up among the men he so greatly
wronged.