Disunion Feed

"Several strange men, for some time past, were stopping in Chambersburg, boarding at different places; who they were or what their legitimate business was, nobody knew, and the strangers themselves did not see proper to tell. [...] They represented themselves as Mineralogists, but who they were, what they were and what they were after, nobody knew. Our citizens were as totally ignorant of their designs--of their dark and damning plot--as were the citizens of Harper's Ferry, into whose midst these Sharp's Rifles, Revolvers, Pikes, Picks, Shovels, Spades, &c. were transported and secreted."

The Republican paper in Brown's staging town — same day as the Democratic Valley Spirit across town, earlier in this feed — pleads local innocence while condemning the 'dark and damning plot.' Its Oct 19 issue went to press before the news — this is its first reaction. Fragments joined with [...].

Read it in the original — Franklin Repository, Oct 26, 1859 (Valley of the Shadow) ↗

"As to Capt. 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 [...] And by the same logic and the same principles, every slave-holder has forfeited his right to live, if his destruction be necessary to enable his victims to break the yoke of bondage."

Garrison was a pacifist; the editorial condemns the method ('sadly misguided effort', 'wild and futile') while defending Brown's character. Fragments joined with [...].

Read it in the original — The Liberator, Oct 28, 1859 ↗