Answer:
He was a hero to the Abolitionists, but they were not representative of the North, even though their numbers had risen since the publication of 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'.
He could certainly be classified as mad-brave - a quality that the Confederates displayed more than the Union in the upcoming combat.
His action was certainly not responsible or constructive - encouraging an armed rebellion of slaves. It poisoned the atmosphere of debate, and brought it home to the public that the differences between North and South would never be resolved, except through armed conflict.
Some have called these the first shots of the Civil War.