BROWN, JOHN. Autograph letter signed in full to his family ("Dear Wife & Children every one"), Brown's Station, Kansas Territory, 13 March 1856. 1 page, 4to. Fine condition. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE POTAWATOMI MASSACRE, BROWN HOPES FOR "AN ACT THAT WOULD SET KANSAS MATTERS RIGHT AT ONCE" A prophetic letter, during a crucial period, on the intensifying political controversy in Kansas over the issue of slavery. "Last mail brought us a letter from Ruth Watson, & Anne; with two Douglas [Kansas Territory?] papers. By these we learn of your welfare & also that Banks has been elected speaker; but whether the House [of Representatives] have allowed [Andrew Horatio] Reeder a seat; is wholly unknown to us. That would be an act of recognition of the Free State people that would set Kansas matters right at once. And soon as you hear that Reeder has either been allowed or refused a seat in Congress; I hope some of you will write us to that effect: also any important moves that you hear of by the [Federal] government. Newspapers do not reach us wither so seasonably; or so certainly as letters. I have again written to Mr. [William Henry?] Hurlbut of Connecticut about the battle [perhaps a reference to the co-called Wakarusa War?]; & I do hope you will get some help from that source as I cannot now think of any way to help you from this direction. I may however think of some way before long; & will do all I can. Henry & Jason, have a little of the Ague hanging about them, & Fredk. has been a little unwell...but all are able to be about doing something. John is still absent at the meeting of the Legislature...." Andrew H. Reeder, who had been appointed Territorial Governor, was removed from office under pressure from pro-slavery forces. Reeder and another anti-slavery figure, Whitfield, were chosen by the Free-State forces in a special election in October 1855 as Kansas representatives, but were rejected by congress. In March 1856, at the time of Brown's present letter, the Free-State Legislature elected Reeder and James H. Lane to the Senate, but the increasing violence in Kansas forced him to flee to Illinois; he became a principal leader of the Free State Party during the 1860 campaigns.
BROWN, JOHN. Autograph letter signed in full to his family ("Dear Wife & Children every one"), Brown's Station, Kansas Territory, 13 March 1856. 1 page, 4to. Fine condition. TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE POTAWATOMI MASSACRE, BROWN HOPES FOR "AN ACT THAT WOULD SET KANSAS MATTERS RIGHT AT ONCE" A prophetic letter, during a crucial period, on the intensifying political controversy in Kansas over the issue of slavery. "Last mail brought us a letter from Ruth Watson, & Anne; with two Douglas [Kansas Territory?] papers. By these we learn of your welfare & also that Banks has been elected speaker; but whether the House [of Representatives] have allowed [Andrew Horatio] Reeder a seat; is wholly unknown to us. That would be an act of recognition of the Free State people that would set Kansas matters right at once. And soon as you hear that Reeder has either been allowed or refused a seat in Congress; I hope some of you will write us to that effect: also any important moves that you hear of by the [Federal] government. Newspapers do not reach us wither so seasonably; or so certainly as letters. I have again written to Mr. [William Henry?] Hurlbut of Connecticut about the battle [perhaps a reference to the co-called Wakarusa War?]; & I do hope you will get some help from that source as I cannot now think of any way to help you from this direction. I may however think of some way before long; & will do all I can. Henry & Jason, have a little of the Ague hanging about them, & Fredk. has been a little unwell...but all are able to be about doing something. John is still absent at the meeting of the Legislature...." Andrew H. Reeder, who had been appointed Territorial Governor, was removed from office under pressure from pro-slavery forces. Reeder and another anti-slavery figure, Whitfield, were chosen by the Free-State forces in a special election in October 1855 as Kansas representatives, but were rejected by congress. In March 1856, at the time of Brown's present letter, the Free-State Legislature elected Reeder and James H. Lane to the Senate, but the increasing violence in Kansas forced him to flee to Illinois; he became a principal leader of the Free State Party during the 1860 campaigns.
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
