Help me here Homer. What is this case in the context of this thread? It’s a fascinating story so far, reads like a mystery novel that I can’t wait to get to the end. I want to say, “Don’t tell me how it ends” but I’m not sure where it fits with the events leading up to the Civil War..
There are several events of great import in the years prior to secession and the onset of hostilities. For example, we are currently in the period between the oral arguments and the announcement of the decision in the Dred Scott case. Later we will have the Lincoln's House Divided speech, then the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and in late 1859 the Harper's Ferry incident. During this same period, however, there are long periods where there is not much in the day-to-day news to keep this projecting humming along, unless I find things like Harper's Magazine or G.T. Strong's diary to post. Strong's political views and later his involvement in the Federal Sanitary Commission are directly relevant to our core subject. For things like the Burdell murder case and the like, the best I can say is that they provide insight to the times as viewed through the eyes of a certain class of easterners.
Beginning January 1858 I'm pretty sure I can provide Harper's Weekly postings (a different publication than Harper's Magazine) to liven things up.