"WERE THE PRINCIPLES OF THE HARPERS FERRY EVENTS JUSTIFYABLE [sic]." Manuscript notes for an undelivered speech, dated Philadelphia, Jan. 1860.

A 7 pp. rough draft of a speech, approximately 875 words, addressed to "Mr. President & Gents." The unnamed author states that he has been listening "with much pleasure & benefit to your discussions for several Sundays." Though he agrees that slavery is politically, morally and socially evil, he also strongly believes it is an economical blunder. He states that 4/5 of the civilized world believe slavery will eventually be "blotted from civilized society. John Brown & his companions undertook to hasten this work. We are here to discuss principals involved in his acts." The author acknowledges that efforts to rid this country of slavery will take time and that Brown "did not go to work about it in the right way.... Some one has truly said that the surest way to mens hearts & intellects lies through their pockets. I do not believe that Southern slave owners are an exception to this rule. I believe that they hold slaves & defend their institution principally because it is to their pecuniary interests to do so." He believes that the Philadelphia Inventors & Mechanics are "by their labor saving machines... unconciously but steadily & surely driving slavery from our lands, by simply making it unprofitable." Item #57858

The author may be J.B. Brooks. A Jonathan Brooks was elected to the Philadelphia City Council in May 1860.

Price: $650.00