Money, Morality And Madness, By Jan Bridgeport Smith

In â€Å"Money, Morality and Madness,† author Jan Bridgeport-Smith narrates the â€Å"Kansas work† – an unsuccessful slave revolution led by John Brown in 1859. The author describes John Brown as a â€Å"radical abolitionist† native of Ohio who â€Å"has passion for justice† and â€Å"equality between the races.† (Smith 50) In April of 1848, Brown arrives to Peterboro, New York to find Gerrit Smith, a philanthropist and â€Å"peace-loving abolitionist† whom he aims to convince to finance his plan. He succeeds in recruiting people to join him in his mission to abolish slavery in the South. in an attempt to take over a federal armory, Brown and his group attacks Harpers Ferry, Virginia on October 18, 1859. Brown’s plan fail, however, as he was captured by the U.S. Marines under the command of Col. Robert E. Lee while members of his group dies during the excursion. In October 20,1859, the Herald newspaper editorial published an article accusing Gerrit Smith and Frederick Douglas of being an accessory of Brown’ rebellious act. By the end of October 1859, Brown was convicted of murder, treason and for sparking a revolution. Frightened that he may also be indicted, Smith destroyed all evidences that links him to Brown, and sends his son-in-law Charles Miller to obtain any evidences that Brown’s family may be keeping. For this reason, a group of New York Democrats by the name of Democratic Vigilant Association published a fake investigative report accusing Smith of being a â€Å"dangerous man† and â€Å"key figure in a