Treason to a US State?

[The Minsky Moment]

I cannot imagine a conscientious jury deciding whether Brown owed allegiance to a state in which he had never resided (I know you have decided this for yourself, but you don't have a jury's responsibility) in 45 minutes.

It depends what instructions the judge gave.  If the judge instructed the jury that Brown's residence was irrelevant to the treason charge, it wouldn't take up any time at all.

[MadImmortalMan]

I see no reason why it wouldn't be possible to commit treason against a state in theory. It's probably incredibly rare though, since all of the states have delegated their functions of foreign interest to the feds.

[grumbler]

I see no reason why it wouldn't be possible to commit treason against a state in theory. It's probably incredibly rare though, since all of the states have delegated their functions of foreign interest to the feds.

In neither case of which I am aware has the issue of foreign involvement been an issue.  For the states, treason is simply rebellion/insurrection, it seems.

[Neil]

If a man who is guilty of all sorts of crimes that would carry the death penalty is wrongly convicted and hanged, what does it matter?  Public order is of more value than spending valuable time sorting out why we're hanging a man?

[CountDeMoney]

John Brown was a religious nutter who committed murder.

Go fuck yourself.  There.

[CountDeMoney]

Didn't he kill people in Kansas too?

He simply gave certain anti-Free Staters who were publicly known to have murdered, plotted to murder, and participate in the sacking of Lawrence a taste of their own medicine.

Heaven forbid Abolitionists should use violence against those who committed much more heinous atrocities. Abolitionists should simply walk around and pray, right?  Fuck you.

[CountDeMoney]

Having said that, I also don't see the basis of the "sham" argument;

I expect Berkut to have his opinion on the Brown matter, but you?  And as a Jew, no less.  Disappointing.

[dps]

Having said that, I also don't see the basis of the "sham" argument;

I expect Berkut to have his opinion on the Brown matter, but you?  And as a Jew, no less.  Disappointing.

Actually, your position is the one I find interesting.  In my experience, law enforcement professionals generally don't endorse vigilantism, at least not publicly.

[CountDeMoney]

Having said that, I also don't see the basis of the "sham" argument;

I expect Berkut to have his opinion on the Brown matter, but you?  And as a Jew, no less.  Disappointing.

Actually, your position is the one I find interesting.  In my experience, law enforcement professionals generally don't endorse vigilantism, at least not publicly.

John Brown wasn't engaging in vigilantism; he was fighting a war in the Cromwellian sense against an entrenched entity and those who espoused it, protected by law, custom and prejudice.

If anything, he was fighting for America's soul...you know, the one that was included in the Declaration of Independence.

[PDH]

Didn't he kill people in Kansas too?

that was just dust in the wind.

carry on, my wayward son.

[Eddie Teach]

John Brown wasn't engaging in vigilantism; he was fighting a war in the Cromwellian sense against an entrenched entity and those who espoused it, protected by law, custom and prejudice.

Fine, he was fighting a war and not wearing a uniform, so he got executed as a spy.

[CountDeMoney]

John Brown wasn't engaging in vigilantism; he was fighting a war in the Cromwellian sense against an entrenched entity and those who espoused it, protected by law, custom and prejudice.

Fine, he was fighting a war and not wearing a uniform, so he got executed as a spy.

Stop hating black people.

[DontSayBanana]

Actually, your position is the one I find interesting.  In my experience, law enforcement professionals generally don't endorse vigilantism, at least not publicly.

Insurrection against a perceived morally bankrupt entity is a wee bit different from vigilantism.

[dps]

Actually, your position is the one I find interesting.  In my experience, law enforcement professionals generally don't endorse vigilantism, at least not publicly.

Insurrection against a perceived morally bankrupt entity is a wee bit different from vigilantism.

I was referring more to CdM's defense of his actions in Missouri than to what took place at Harper's Ferry.

[garbon]

John Brown wasn't engaging in vigilantism; he was fighting a war in the Cromwellian sense against an entrenched entity and those who espoused it, protected by law, custom and prejudice.

John Brown
Cromwell
Brown x Cromwell...