The Death of a Radical Abolitionist

by Lana Everett

Yesterday we hung a man who was said to be insane, on a count of treason. John Brown, a well-known anti-slavery activist, finally took his actions too far.
On October 17 he and eighteen other followers raided the United States arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virginia. They did so successfully, but were unable to escape their bind.
The next day Colonel Robert E. Lee forced the fort open and had Brown taken to the state court to be tried. Many of his Northern friends urged him to plea insanity, but he simply said, "now if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the further of the ends of justice and mingle my blood . . . with the blood of millions in the slave country whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, I say let it be done." So he was charged with treason and hung on December 2, 1859.
Earlier in his attempts he had acted in vengeance against a pro-slavery sheriff who had led a mob into anti-slavery Lawrence, where they sacked and burned the town. In return Brown led a party to a pro-slavery settlement on Pollawatomie Creek during the night where he killed five men by splitting their skulls with

 broad swords. After this incident many small but bloody battles took place between the pro-slavery men and the anti-slavery men.Later he planned to invade the south, finally deciding to do this by raiding the United State's arsenal. So he began collecting arms and men in 1857. Frederick Douglas advised him, but would have nothing to do with the actual effort. Although he was an outlaw, many supported and pitied him not knowing about his intentions for the Southern people.
After raiding the arsenal his people then proceeded to raid surrounding estates. They took about thirty unwilling slaves back to the arsenal. During the raid Brown ironically killed a free black man.
Early in life Brown had shown much contempt for slavery. He was said to have helped many slaves escape to freedom in Canada. In addition to helping them escape, he also organized a league among blacks for their protection against the slave catchers. He also worked to prevent Kansas from becoming a slave state.
Brown's attempts to free slaves always ended up costing many lives on both sides. However, he will always be remembered in the north for his genuine efforts. Ralph Waldo Emerson said of Brown, "he will make the gallows as glorious as a cross." His radical acts will be remembered by the south as well because it incited slavery rebellion for us.

This is the radical abolitionist whose radical acts led to his hanging yesterday.

This is a the attack on the arsenal at Harpers Ferry in Virgina.