Thomas Wright's Diary

November 1859

3, November 1859

Ma, been feelin poorly past few days. Poppy thinks it's just, the trip back an missin her sister is all.
Betsy thinks the same, Ems isn't happy. Betsy thinks Mike he been stayin with a Slave of late. Ma worried about her sister, I am hopin. Ya know uncle Mike, married ta good lady in Ems.

Best be thinkin about her, Ma may just go back an
tan his hide. They about done clearin the trees, probably got maybe week left. Thursday week movin along good. No problems with the progress of work. Don't have a Patten ta mess that up. Uncle Thom keeps a good stern hold on the overseers and the Slaves. Works thum just hard enough not overhard or ta strict.

Decided ta try an make Corn whisky. Got some cracked corn soakin in some water, out on the back porch. Don't know might be ta cold ta ferment. Wait an see. Ma Bowman passed, Mister Bowman seems ok. Mister Bowman asked ifin I would write Theo an tell him. Told him I would, he should be the one writtin. So I wrote Theo. Long day thinkin I am done.

6, November 1859

Sunday, no Church Poppy think we needs a trip ta Maysville. He say Ma may feel better we gets inta town. Even if it's just a good walk around an Supper. Uncle Thom took Betsy ta Church fer me.
Say he would just stay an wait. Maybe even catch the Sermon. That funny, uncle Thom listenin ta Sermon. Roof fall in on that makeshift Church.

Wish Betsy could come, no point have ta sit outside or the kitchen ta eat. Make her and myself uncomfortable. Don't know about Ma or Poppy. Needs ta get away from the farm an such, that Plantation also.

Most the shops were closed, bein Sunday an all. Still had a good time. Wasn't real cold felt nice out.
Little chill not nough ta worry ya none. Walked Ma just gazed inta windows at the fine store clothes, skillets an such. Me an Poppy had look inside the Gunsmith shop, few nice pistols, I would love ta try at.

Had Supper at The Inn. Poppy had roast duck Ma had the same, I ordered beaf roast. Ma had glass a wine Poppy had the same, myself ordered a beer.
Nice day it was, just wish Betsy were with me. Gots home late, think I am finished fer the day.

8, November 1859

That fool Brown was found guilty, he is to be hung.
That date far as I know has not been set. Didn't want ta talk about around, Poppy get him all fired up about States rights an such. Man was guilty, Virginia tried him why? The Arsenal is Federal land. Virginia say the people killed were on Virginia land. Well, I thinks the Federal Government say, old Brown won't be leavin Virginia alive. Let them put him on trial. Do know this, he took by force an Arsenal, killed people in the process.

Took to incitin an uprisin, of the Slaves. No Slaves showed in his support. Least ifin they did, no proof of it. Only Slaves Colonel Washington relative of General Washington and former president. His Slaves were took and impressed by Brown. They took no active part in the rebellion. Colonel Washington was held hostage near the Arsenal.

They found a Provisional Constitution which Brown and his Officers had signed. Yes I do think he had far sweeping plans. Man was a terror should hung him back Kanas way. Rest of the day was normal Farm work an such. Betsy is callin me, somethin about uncle Thom. Best see what they wants.

Uncle Thom just wanted ta say he was leavin, going ta live at Rivers Edge fer now. Hell he could have stayed. He was no bother. Can't think of much more. Guess time ta close.

John Brown wrote a speech he read at the end if his trial. I'll include a portion of his speech, and website at the end.

John Brown

John Browns
Speech

I have may it please the court, a few words to say. In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted-the design on my part to free the slaves. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of that matter, as I did last winter when I went to Missouri and there took slaves without snapping of a gun on either side, moved them through the country, and finally left them in Canada. Designed to have done the same thing on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or excite or incite slaves to rebellion, or make insurrection.

Few websites

John Browns speech https//nationalcenter.org

John Browns raid USHistory.org

Battlefields.org Witness and testimony at the trial of John Brown.

Some say John Brown was probably mentally ill.

I think he was driven to do what he thought right.
Possibly he was mentally ill, to think a handful of men could do what he tried. Who is to say? Like Thomas said he took a Arsenal and killed people.
Was his trail fair suppose fair for the time and laws. Even Brown thought the trial relatively fair.
His act alone now would have all the people ready to help execute him. Think about the Oklahoma City bombing, other terrorist attacks. With all is thoughts of freedom for slaves, he lost track started it with bloodshed. Slavery was evil and unacceptable, but a part of our history. Don't bury or over simplify it, or make more hard than it was.

It was a part of life, both sides needed it. For the most part both sides tolerated it. Without slavery no cotton no tobacco, or even normal food. Just a injected thought, but what I said is fact, for the most part, people were indifferent to Slavery.

John Browns plan was to make a Subterranean Pass Way. The Secret Six as they were known funded him. Brown purchased hundreds of Sharps carbines and thousands of Pikes. To arm the first waves of slaves, he expected to flock to him. Once he occupied Harpers Ferry. Brown said when I strike, the Bees will swarm. If this wasn't a true treasonous act he asked Frederick Douglass, to sign on as provisional President. Harriet Tubman to recruit runaway Slaves for his Revolutionary Army. Neither Tubman or Douglas signed on.

Douglas thought a fools journey Tubman worried the workings of the Underground Railroad would be harmed. Douglas said Brown was going into a perfect steel trap. His overall plan was to raid Plantations move the Slaves north build an Army.
Fortify Stations along the way.

This information can be found on Smithsonian.com

So can John Brown be seen as a savior or plotting to over throw the United States. He wanted a Provisional President had a copy of a signed Constitution. A Recruiter lined up. This I am certain
without his Raid it would of never divided the Republican Party. Leading to a three way race for President, Lincoln wouldn't of had a chance to win without Browns Raid. Lincoln didn't Allie himself with Brown, he was more relocate the Free Slaves to Liberia.

I give you the information some not even taught in schools. For you to see read and decide. Check those sites read more and learn.

That's all for now, vote comment if you please. Thanks for your support.