Session 2000
Effective: April 28, 2000
� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1853 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � A Resolution celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birthdate of John Brown.
� � � WHEREAS,� John Brown, the abolitionist, was born May 9, 1800, at Tor-
rington, Connecticut, the son of Owen and Ruth (Mills) Brown. His father was
an abolitionist and an agent of the underground railroad; and

� � � WHEREAS,� John Brown spent his boyhood in Hudson, Ohio, an anti-slav-
ery stronghold where he had little formal education but learned the tanner's
trade while working for his father. In 1825 he moved to Richmond, Pennsyl-
vania, which was the first of ten migrations in which he established and sold
tanneries, speculated unsuccessfully in land and incurred debts. Always an ab-
olitionist, his homes were way stations for the underground railroad. Late in
his life the thought of freeing slaves by force dominated his mind; and

� � � WHEREAS,� In the spring of 1855 five of John Brown's sons moved to Os-
awatomie where John's half-sister, Florella Adair, lived. At that time the Kansas
territory was in the midst of the struggle as to whether Kansas would be free
or slave. In May of 1855 John Brown joined his sons at Osawatomie bringing
a wagon full of guns and ammunition. He quickly became the leader of the
local militia. During May of 1856 after proslavery forces sacked Lawrence, John
Brown led a group that killed five proslavery men living along Pottawatomie
Creek. His actions he justified as being ordered directly by God; and

� � � WHEREAS,� He then formulated a plan to incite a massive slave insurrec-
tion. To further this idea in early 1859 he moved to a rented farm near Harpers
Ferry, West Virginia. In October of 1859 he led 21 followers on a raid against
the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry. He succeeded in occupying the arsenal
but was soon trapped therein by federal forces under the command of Robert
E. Lee. In his trial for treason he vigorously condemned slavery and defended
his actions as ordained by God. He was, however, found guilty and hung De-
cember 2, 1859. He is buried at the North Elba, New York, farm which had
been maintained by his second wife, May Ann (Day) Brown: Now, therefore,

� � � Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas:�That we note the actions
of John Brown in helping Kansas enter the union as a free state and his efforts
to quell the institution of slavery.

Senate Resolution No. 1853 was sponsored by Senators Hensley, Barone, Biggs,
Downey, Feleciano, Gilstrap, Gooch, Goodwin, Jones, Lee, Petty, Steineger
and Stephens.