In 1859, after John Brown was executed following his raid on Harpers Ferry, his failed attempt to free America's slaves, much to the disgust of Virginians he was portrayed by abolitionists as the rebel, against Virginia the tyrant. As put by Wendell Phillips in a well-attended speech, reported on the front page of the New York Herald the day of Brown's execution,
It is a mistake to call him an insurrectionist. He opposed the authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Commonwealth of Virginia!—there is no such thing. There is no civil society, no government; nor can such exist except on the basis of impartial equal submission of its citizens—by a performance of the duty of rendering justice between God and man. The government that refuses this is none but a pirate ship. Virginia herself is to-day only a chronic insurrection. I mean exactly what I say—I consider well my words—and she is a pirate ship. John Brown sails with letters of marque from God and Justice against every pirate he meets. He has twice as much right to hang Governor Wise as Governor Wise has to hang him.