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From the Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) Christian Observer of 27 October 1859 and later reprinted in the Richmond (Virginia) Whig

A Regular Abolition Conspiracy

Company “F,” under command of Capt. Casey, returned from Harpers Ferry, in the 2 o’clock train, yesterday evening. We have been furnished by some of the members with information to the effect that documents were found in the possession of some of the insurgents, showing that there was a regular conspiracy, which has been maturing for twelve or fifteen months, and in which twelve to fifteen hundred persons were engaged. They were banded together under a regular printed constitution and by-laws, the conspiracy extending into all the Northern and some of the Southern States.

We learn that letters were found, implicating in the affair the notorious Joshua R. Giddings, of Ohio, the notorious Eli Thayler, of Massachusetts, and the equally notorious Fred. Douglas [Douglass], the free negro abolitionist, of New York. These were the only names mentioned to us in connection with the affair, although the documents in possession of Brown, and his confessions, which have been taken down, are now in the keeping of Gov. Wise, show that the conspiracy embraced twelve or fifteen hundred persons.

It was stated to us, also, that a large quantity of arms had been discovered, which the insurgents brought with them, as none such are manufactured at Harpers Ferry. At a stone school house, in the neighborhood of the Ferry, twenty-one dozen Sharpe’s rifles were found, together with nine thousand spears or pikes, and a large number of pistols, and other kinds of weapons. This school house constituted the armory or depot of the insurgents within the limits of Virginia. It is supposed that a similar armory or depot exists on the Maryland side of the river, for which search will be made. It is stated that the great body of conspirators were kept in consequence of there being no trains running on Sunday. They were hourly expected on by Brown, and were, no doubt, on their way to the Ferry; but meeting the news that the plot had been discovered, they prudently retraced their steps.

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