For militant abolitionists, John Brown was already a legend well before he stepped foot in Harper’s Ferry. After being contacted for aid by an enslaved man, two columns of John Brown’s small army, one led by Brown the other by the also to be martyred John Kagi, raided into Bates and Vernon Counties, Missouri on December 21, 1958 liberating eleven people, protecting them on a thousand-mile winter journey to relative freedom in Canada, arriving there on March 12, 1859. Here, Brown writes to the east shortly after the initial raid to draw a parallel between the reaction to his violence in service of freedom and the murderous violence of pro-slavery Bushwhacking terrorists.

‘Parallels’ by John Brown from The Anti-Slavery Bugle. Vol.14 No. 26. February 12, 1859.

TRADING POST, Kansas, January, 1859. The editor of the New York Tribune will greatly oblige an humble friend by allowing me the use of his colums while I briefly state two parallels in my poor way.

Not one year ago, eleven quiet citizens of this neighborhood, viz: Wm. Calfsetzer, Wm. Robertson, Amos Hall, Austin Hall, John Campbell, Asa Snider, Thomas Stilwell, William Hairgrove, Asa Hairgrove, Patrick Ross and B.L. Reed were gathered up from their work and their homes by an armed force under one Hamilton, and without trial or opportunity to speak in their own defence were formed into a line, and all but one shot–five killed and five wounded. One fell unharmed, pretending to be dead. All were left for dead. The only crime charged against them was that of being free state men. Now, I inquire what action has, ever since the occurrence in May last, been taken by either the President of the United States, the Governor of Missouri, the Governor of Kansas, or any of their tools, or by any pro-slavery or administration man, to ferret out and punish the perpetrators of this crime?

Now for the other parallel. On Sunday, the 19th of December, a negro man named Jim, came over to the Osage settlement, from Missouri, and stated that he, together with his wife, two children and one other negro man, were to be sold within a day or two, and begged for help to get away. On Monday, the following night, two small companies were made up to go to Missouri and forcibly liberate the five slaves, together with other slaves. One of these companies I assumed to direct. We proceeded to the place, surrounded the buildings, liberated the slaves, and also took certain property supposed to belong to the estate. We, however, learned before leaving, that a portion of the articles we had taken belonged to a man living on the plantation as a tenant, and who was supposed to have no interest in the estate. We promptly returned to him all we had taken. We then went to another plantation, where we freed five more slaves, took some property and two white men. We moved slowly away into the Territory, for some distance, and then sent the white men back, telling them to follow us as soon as they chose to do so. The other company freed one female slave, took some property, and, as I an informed, killed one white man (the master) who fought against the liberation.

Now for a comparison. Eleven persons are forcibly restored to their “natural and inalienable rights,” with but one man killed, and all “Hell is stirred from beneath.” It is currently reported that the Governor of Missouri has made a requisition upon the Governor of Kansas for the delivery of all such as were concerned in the last named “dreadful outrage.” The Marshal of Kansas is said to be collecting a posse of Missouri (not Kansas) men at West Point, in Missouri, a little town about ten miles distant, to “enforce the law.” All pro-slavery, conservative free-state, and doughface men, and Administration tools, are filled with holy horror.

Consider the two cases, and the action of the Administration party.

Respectfully yours, JOHN BROWN.

PDF of original issue: https://www.loc.gov/resource/sn83035487/1859-02-12/ed-1/?dl=page&q=john+brown&sp=1#viewer-pdf-wrapper