October 28, 1859—Governor Wise and the Court in Virginia have condemned John Brown to death and he is to be hanged on the 2nd of December. The New York paper says he is a fanatic and believes he is right in trying to incite insurrection among the slaves of the South. I am sorry for any man who has a nature so depraved that murder and arson seem right to him.
Judge Baltzell thinks the negroes will rise up on that day and apply the torch as Brown urged them to do, but Father does not think so, neither does Brother Junius.
Susan Bradford is 13 years old when this entry was made.
Diary entries from before 1860 are included when the content is relevant to the issues that led to or framed the American Civil War. — MpG 5/22/2020