This proved to be effective many times. The final straw for John Brown was the burning of Lawrence in 1856. In retaliation John Brown made history. When told of the idea, some of the men refused to go along with it. So, shut up for you might discourage my boy.
Dead men tell no tales.
In the Pottawatomie massacre five people were pulled from their houses at night and brutally murdered. The massacre of these men moved the United States one step closer to Civil War. In Kansas many people were startled and appalled by the news of the murders. This included two of John Brown's sons who were not present during the killings. Although many disapproved of John Brown's actions, there was the underlying understanding of the necessity of such an act.