John Brown (May 9, 1800 - December 2, 1859)

On this day in 1859, John Brown was hanged for treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia. The introduction in this clip gets some of the facts wrong, but it is a powerful performance of his final speech at sentencing:

After the jump, Paul Robeson sings "John Brown's Body."

 

Comments

[A non]

Were he around today, would John Brown go after the neo-slavers in California and other Blue states, you reckon?

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/technology/california-uber-lyft-prop-22.html

Too much confirmation bias on your end to even see the point, Steve-O? Well, at least you needn't think about Russiagate anymore...

[Steve Diamond]

Proud to live in Saratoga, CA, where John Brown's widow found refuge and is buried alongside her daughter. Thanks for this posting!

[Ralph Browning]

Col. Robert E. Lee commanded the detachment of Marines that stormed the arsenal and took John Brown prisoner. J.E.B. Stuart had a hand in the opeation as well.

[Steven Lubet]

Thanks for the comment. Lee was in command of the detachment, Stuart actually led the detail that stormed Brown's redoubt.