State Historical Society of Iowa

"To The Public." Alexandria Gazette, December 29, 1859

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Description

This short article was published in an Alexandria, Virginia, newspaper shortly after John Brown had been executed. Mr. Riker, who had moved to Virginia from the North, proclaimed his loyalty to Virginia and his opinion that Brown and his followers deserved to be executed.

Source Dependent Questions

  • Summarize this article in two or three sentences.
  • In this article, Mr. Riker affirms that he is “no abolitionist.” His declaration was published several weeks after John Brown was executed. Why do you think Mr. Riker felt compelled to have this declaration made public?
  • G. Mason attests that the declaration was “signed in [his] presence.” How does acknowledging that impact the credibility of the declaration?

Citation Information

Alexandria Gazette. (Alexandria, VA) 29 Dec. 1859, p. 2. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/item/sn85025007/1859-12-29/ed-1/. Courtesy of Library of Congress