Abolitionism in America

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The Life, Trial, and Execution of Captain John Brown, Known as “Old Brown of Ossawatomie,” with a Full Account of the Attempted Insurrection at Harper’s Ferry…. New York: R. M. De Witt, [c1859].
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John Brown
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In 1859, with the financial support of six wealthy abolitionists, militant John Brown attempted an insurrection against the federal armory at Harper’s Ferry, Virginia. He believed the raid would incite a major slave revolt, but when it failed, he was tried and hanged for treason. Most abolitionists disagreed with his tactics, but they greatly admired his strong convictions and his calm eloquence at his trial and execution. Ralph Waldo Emerson described Brown as “The Saint whose fate yet hangs in suspense, but whose martyrdom, if it shall be perfected, will make the gallows glorious like the Cross.”

Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection.

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Cornell University Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library