John Brown's Raid

byron ed

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I imagine after Virginia needed federal troops to stop Brown and his handful, they wanted to demonstrate they could do security. Virginia was roundly, if unfairly mocked for Brown putting the hoorah on the town. after all the boasting of Southern prowess.
R.E. Lee and J.E.B. Stewart were Virginians, who with prowess and in short order handled the incident. So what are you referring to?

I can't find that there was any significant unfair criticism "roundly" mocking the handling of the affair; which after all was a completely-successful military operation; nor have I found that there had been any significant or overt boasting of Southern prowess leading up to the operation. I've heard hindsight discussions like this regarding Harper's Ferry, but can't find that they were much in venue at the time.
 

diane

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The Potawatomi massacre was may 24-25 ,1856 way before kansas became a state on jan.29,1861 so I don't think the feds wanted him.the arsenal was Federal property,hence a federal crime.
Oh, no, the feds were leaving Brown's activities in Kansas up to the states/territories. But they did use federal resources to hunt for him and his boys - Stuart was stationed in Kansas. Harper's Ferry, as you say, was another matter. Lee was mostly sure it was Brown he'd cornered but he needed to be certain. Jeb Stuart was the only person around who had seen John Brown and could positively identify him. Just went on down there and knocked on the door! Brown himself opened the door and stuck the barrel of a carbine right up against Jeb's chest, said no deal, Jeb said thank you kindly, Brown shut the door and Jeb waved his hat to signal Lee it was indeed John Brown... then got the heck out of the way!
 

byron ed

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The Potawatomi massacre was may 24-25 ,1856 way before kansas became a state on jan.29,1861 so I don't think the feds wanted him.the arsenal was Federal property,hence a federal crime.
Oh, no, the feds were leaving Brown's activities in Kansas up to the states/territories...
Rather the Feds did want Brown for the earlier Potawattami massacre -- it had happened in Federal-governed territory, not yet a state, hence it was a Federal crime. There was no such thing as "leaving Brown's activities in Kansas up to the states/territories" because by definition a territory is Federal jurisdiction, and this territory was not yet a state.
 
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diane

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The Feds did want Brown for the Potawattami massacre -- it had happened in Federal-governed territory, not yet a state, hence a Federal crime.
That's right! Territories are federally administered.
 

diane

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The jury was hung or brown was hung?
Hard to say how nuts he was. Crazy like a fox, or just crazy? Or...a man who had taken an oath to do a thing or die trying. I'm more in that category...but Brown definitely had a screw loose somewhere.
 

Nitti

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That's right! Territories are federally administered.
After 1838 there was a system of 4 different federal courts that were used in the territories.
 

Nitti

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After 1838 there was a system of 4 different federal courts that were used in the territories.
That system is still in use today in Guam,Virgin Islands and the northern mariannas.
 

diane

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After 1838 there was a system of 4 different federal courts that were used in the territories.
Thanks! I'm beginning to remember now...that's why California became a republic for a few weeks. Fremont wanted a crown!

Virginia, Kentucky, Massachusetts and I think Pennsylvania are all still Commonwealth, but now that's a difference without a distinction. Did it mean a little more autonomy before the CW? Seemed to out West here, but then it was a long way for the pretty short and stubby arm of the federal government to reach.
 

O' Be Joyful

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don't know whether virginia even has a statute about treason, but if they had one that could by definition only apply to virginians - he wasn't one of them which means there cannot be any treason towards virginia. was what jb did a hanging offence? probably yes but the way virginia handled this case was nothing but judical murder.
I can not prove it at the moment, but I believe the Floyd and Barr families are close cousins.
 
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