The Liberator Files

April 17, 1857

A two-line note:  “Capt. John Brown. ‘the hero of Ossowatamie’, has left Boston for Kansas.”

October 21, 1859

A great portion of a page is given to dispatchs, providing initial details about the John Brown raid at Harper’s Ferry.  Dispatchs come from Baltimore, Monocacy Bridge, Harper’s Ferry, and Washington.

October 28, 1859

A long article begins with praise for John Brown:  “.. all who know him personally are united in the conviction that a more honest, conscientious, truthful, brave, disinterested man, (however misguided or unfortunate,) does not exist…..Is there another man, of all thirty millions of people inhabitants of this country, who could have answered  more wisely, m0re impressively, more courageously, or with greater moral dignity, under such a trying ordeal? ….It will be a terribly losing day for all Slavedom when John Brown and his associates are brought to the gallows.  It will be sowing seed broadcast for a harvest of rebellion….”

The editor comments:  “…we spoke of Harper’s Ferry as a well-meant effort, adding -’Our views of war and bloodshed, even in the best of causes, are too well known to need repeating here; BUT  LET  NO  ONE  WHO  GLORIES  IN  THE  REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE  OF  1776  DENY  THE  RIGHT  OF  THE  SLAVES  TO  IMITATE THE EXAMPLE  OF  OUR FATHERS.’

October 28, 1859

In the Refuge of Oppression column, an article from the N.Y. Journal of Commerce, begins: “No wonder that some of the leading organs of Republicanism writhe under the disclosures at Harper’s Ferry….It is easy to trace the connection between cause and effect. —between the teachings of the leading spirits of Republicanism, and the practice of their willing instruments, in carrying out the spirit of the doctrines thus inculcated….”

November 4, 1859

The Executive Committee of the American Anti-Slavery Society calls upon people to observe that “tragical event, on the day of its occurrence, in such manner as by them may be deemed most appropriate — and to consecrate themselves to the patriotic and Christian work of effecting the abolition of that most dangerous, unnatural, cruel an impious system of slavery…..”

November 4, 1859

An excerpt of Child’s words:   “Brave old man!  Brave and generous, though sadly mistaken in his mode of operation. Whether they put him to death, or he escapes from their hands, I think this will prove the ‘Concord Fight’ of an impending revolution, and ‘Bunker Hill Battle’ will surely follow. MayGod make us strong for freedom!  I would say that evil days were near, were it not that no days are evil which lead to good.”

November 4, 1859

Here is notice that the Fifth Fraternity Lecture promised by Douglass did not occur.  “Mr. Douglass, however, did not appear, and the explanation of his absence by the Committee gave us to understand that he does not now consider himself safe in any part of the United States, in consequence of his alleged implication in the Harpers’ Ferry invasion.”   ….”The vacancy thus made at the late hour had been filled by the voluntary offer of Henry D. Thoreau of Concord, who took for his subject one in whom all mankind are now interested, ‘Captain John Brown of Ossawattomie’.  This exciting theme seemed to have awakened ‘the hermit of Concord’ from his usual state of philosophic indifference, and he spoke with real enthusiasm … bestowing hearty praise upon the enterprise at Harper’s  Ferry….”

A comment by the editor, says that Thoreau had distorted Garrison’s early word that the attempt at Harper’s Ferry was insane, into a charge that he, Garrison, had represented Brown himself as insane.

November 4, 1859

A description of the Conclusion of the First Day of the Trial is included.

November 11, 1859

A large part of this edition is devoted to response to Harper’s Ferry, and to Brown.

Letter from Frederick Douglass
Some excerpts: “The taking of Harper’s Ferry was a measure never encouraged by my word or by my vote, at any time or place…. I therefore declare that there is no man living, and no man dead, who, if living, could truthfully say that I ever promised him or anybody else, either conditionally or otherwise, that I would be present in person at the Harper’s Ferry insurrection……Some reflection may be made upon my leaving on a tour to England at this time. I have only to say, that my going to that country has been rather delayed than hastened by the insurrection at Harper’s Ferry. All knew that I had intended to leave here in the first week of November.”

November 11, 1859

In a lecture at Tremont Temple, Emerson referred to Brown:  “The Saint, whose fate yet hangs in suspense, but whose martyrdom, if it shall be perfected, will make the gallows as glorious as the cross”.