Boston church bells ring to memorialize John Brown.

Brown was hanged the day before in Charles Town, Virginia. Thousands attend an afternoon meeting at Tremont Temple, where Emerson declares that Brown “made the gallows glorious like a cross.” Some 4,000 more attend an evening meeting, where Garrison proclaims: “Today Virginia has murdered John Brown; tonight, we here witness his resurrection.” The so-called “Secret Six,” who had supported Brown, go into hiding. Howe, Sanborn and Stearns subsequently flee to Canada fearing prosecution, while Smith feigns insanity. A Senate Committee, chaired by Sen. James Mason of Virginia, investigates the group’s involvement with Brown, but none of the members are ever prosecuted.