John Brown Assessed 150 Years After Harpers Ferry Raid

In the early 19th century, the United States was divided on the issue of slavery. In the south, slaves worked on large plantations and were critical to the production of cotton, tobacco and other cash crops. Some Americans advocated the abolishment of slavery. One man decided to take action by taking over Harpers Ferry, a small Virginia town with a major armory. John Brown's raid began on October 16th, 150 years ago. Brown was executed for his actions in December 1859. But even though long ago, his bid to end slavery is still being debated. VOA's Susan Logue reports.

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[Louis2decaro]

@eflint1 The South lost faith in the Union because they could no longer manipulate the Union to get what they wanted-which was to keep 4 million people as property and steal their labor. John Brown killed pro-slavery terrorists, and it was the southerners who were the murderers and maniacs in Kansas; Brown's followers are many and growing, and we renounce the wicked CSA and its offspring

[Louis2decaro]

@eflint1 I'm not trading insults. Address the facts. What "faith" did the South have in the Union? The South was threatening secession for years, even planning it. The South had virtual run of the country with the Fugitive Slave Law and still that wasn't enough. Like I said, Brown's followers and admirers are growing and you're on the wrong side of history. All I do is think for myself--after I study for myself. Say whatever you want, I'm not wasting my time with another round.

[timmarshall63]

@Eunuchification Locke's natural law concerning self defense. This doesn't relate to people like John Brown that use his belief system for simply murder innocent people. Had this been an insurrection led by slaves, then this natural law would apply. "Each person owns his or her own life and no other person has a right to take that life." - Locke in the same law. Attacking the govt is not the same as dragging people out of their homes and hacking them to death.

[timmarshall63]

@Eunuchification I am not going to get into a continued debate on this, because I am sure you want the last word which you can have. As I stated earlier it is no different than supporting guys like Roeder because you believe strongly in Right to Life. JB killed innocent people for his cause. No different than suicide bombers killing using religious reasoning. The brutality of Pottawatomie is unjustifiable, I don't care how noble the cause. Not the same as your last sentence.

[timmarshall63]

@Eunuchification I am not going to get into a continued debate on this, because I am sure you want the last word which you can have. As I stated earlier it is no different than supporting guys like Roeder because you believe strongly in Right to Life. JB killed innocent people for his cause. No different than suicide bombers killing using religious reasoning. The brutality of Pottawatomie is unjustifiable, I don't care how noble the cause. Not the same as your last snetence.

[Eunuchification]

@timmarshall63 Taking this into account, it is clear that John Brown was merely attempting to finish the war which the Southern colonies had begun the moment they introduced slavery to North America in 1619. In order to accuse John Brown of being a cold-blooded murderer, you must also accuse every human being who was ever willing to fight and die for human liberty as well.

[Eunuchification]

@timmarshall63 "Whenever the legislators endeavor to take away and destroy the property of the people, or to reduce them to slavery under arbitrary power, they put themselves into a state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience, and are left to the common refuge which God hath provided for all men against force and violence."- John Locke....

[SamuelDMorgan]

He was a terrorists who deserved everything he got!

[EastAustraliaCurrent]

@EastAustraliaCurrent I do know that the use of African's as slaves was allowed to continue due to the larger, probably coastal, groups of Africans that would catch and help catch other Africans from smaller and rival groups in exchange for rum, supplies, and fire arms.

[EastAustraliaCurrent]

@truthhitmanisback First off, It's Native American. 2nd using violence anytime it's in someone's own hypocritical interest is something that could and has been in seen in people today and in the past; regardless of race, gender, and sexual orientation.I'm not going to tell you how African slavery began for I know very little about it except for the fact it was under the Dutch and the ships were manned by despicable characters who only cared about money.

[CheckM8King2]

..."I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the sins of this country can only be purged away but with blood!....Whether you admire or revile him, you gotta admit those are truly prophectic words!

[timmarshall63]

@mojosideburns

That would be like condoning guys like Eric Rudolph & Scott Roeder, that kill gays, or doctors that provide abortions if you are a right-to-life proponent. You could make a similar argument for guys like Bloody Bill Anderson, who believed strongly against the Union after the unnecessary deaths of his sisters. Was his killings just as justified? I think not. Glorifying a cold-blooded murderer in the name of a political cause is dangerous, regardless of how you actually feel.