On Wednesday evening, November 23, 1859, in Warren, Rev. Mark Trafton of New Bedford, gave a ``Mission of Sympathy'' lecture in which he favorably viewed the Harper's Ferry insurrection. The Warren Telegraph stated that many of Rev. Trafton's remarks were inappropriate and savored strongly of radicalism and fanaticism. In its account of the Trafton lecture, the Providence Daily Post said that the remarks of Rev. Trafton made the people indignant.

No sympathy or admiration for Brown could be found in the Providence Daily Post, for the editor claimed that there were a score of men in the state prison who were a thousand times more deserving of sympathy. The Providence Daily Journal, however, stated that Brown's courage, bravery, and heroism ``in a good cause would make a man a martyr; it gives something of dignity even to a bad one.'' The Woonsocket Patriot admitted that John Brown might deserve punishment or imprisonment ``but he should no more be hung than Henry A. Wise or James Buchanan.'' The Newport Mercury exhibited more concern over the possibility of the abolitionists making a martyr of Brown than it did over the development of sympathy for him.

In her letter to John Brown, ``E. B.,'' the Quakeress from Newport, had suggested that the American people owed more honor to John Brown for seeking to free the slaves than they did to George Washington. During the latter days of November to the day of Brown's execution, it seems that most Rhode Islanders did not concur in ``E. B.'s'' suggestion. On November 22, 1859, the Providence Daily Journal stated that although Brown's ``pluck'' and honest fanaticism must be admired, any honor paid to Brown would only induce other fanatics to imitate his actions. A week later the Daily Journal had discovered the initial plans of some Providence citizens to hold a meeting honoring John Brown on the day of his execution. The editor of the Daily Journal warned, ``that if such a demonstration be made, it will not find support or countenance from any of the men whose names are recognized as having a right to speak for Providence.'' The Providence Daily Post's editor wrote that he could not believe that a meeting honoring Brown was to be held in Providence. He further called upon the people of Providence to rebuke the meeting and avoid disgrace.