Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-12-20
p.msrks of Mr.. Thomas, Of Fairfax.


., tss Case Of Coppie, In Senate Of "a,
VI Thomas. of Fairfa1.-Like the Senator
Rsltori Mr. Johnson when this mat
ir.u, presented for consideration elsewhere.
,'' .s.i with him, sir, that perhspsit would
't,hn, on the part Of the State Of Virginia,
indicated he laws, having shown
Ia wus able 10 maintain her sovereign
' w., uphold her integrity at every hazard
thought that having accomplished all
-. she might temper justice with mercy in
I'm, with these prisoners. The Governor
I,r',,uia appeared before the committee,
WI .nGrhrcned that body very much in re-
al~ :, the action and extent Of Coppic's
" '';, IN This IIarper's Ferry affair, SO far as
ms. known to him. He said. moreover.
H., from his knowledge Of Cuppic' relation
18Th. whole movement, aud particularly his
,,,r.. with reference to the prisoners whom
XVI had captured, he would have taken
'a,o binseltthe responsibility Of committing
.ant.uce 70 Imprisonment Tor life, though
). .hs, act he should not have the approval
..n.ti N Of single individual in the State.
.aJ mi, he sand he would do, because he be-
,,.,aI the act 10 be just and right This dec
I.r.to.,, coupled with statements made by
,,aptIsmen familiar with Coppic, compliment
NV I, his previous character, together with
,,her circumstances extenuating his guilt,
ub;,h were detailed, made an impression
rn,o ms mind which induced me then TO
,a,e N favor of a communication Of his sen
,.n.., was willing that q discrimination
.b,ui be made in reference to the push
r,.ut - lie melted out to those prisoners, and
i nothing had TRANSFERRED since then that
wa, calculated 10 change my mind upon the
.uhis,,, | would now have been found with
the Senator from Bedford. (Mr. Johnson.)
tsroriny po,tpunement of the consideration
II This matter. or voting in favor Of recon-
meudatiun 10 the Governor to commute Cop
mes sentence. But sir, paper has been
N, into my hand this morning, which, |
nm sorry to say, changed this feeling in re-
GARD u Cuppic. II he were that ingenious
Youth represented to us by his friends and
The Governor, that appeal might be still
male with tull force; but believe now, with
toe gentleman from Jefferson, MIR. lsbell.l
that Coppu is not entitled 10 the sympathy
that has been asked for him. have no
doub, from all that was revealed in the tea
.muny regarding Cappic, that he was actu-
s.ei BY the same motives that urged on John
Brown himself in this career of infamy.
will now read from the New York Her
aid Of the 18th inst, the following letter ad-
dressed by Coppic 10 Mrs. Brown. aud read
in connection with the funeral Grafton recent
IL delivered over ohm Brown, at his home i'll
New York State:-
CHARLEsrowN JAIL, Va, Nov. 8.
Mss. JoHS BEowa:-
DsAR MApAM:--i was very sorry that your re-
Quest TO SEQ the rest Of the risoners was not COM
pied with. Mrs. Avis brought mo u book whose
p.yos are full OF truth aud beauty, entitled ''Foi
oSs Of the True Hearted" which she told me wss
. present from you. For this dear token of re-
msmbrauc.. please accept my many thanks Ny
comrade J. 4. Cook. aud myself deeply sympa
tdis. with you in your sad bereavement. Wewere
both a, uuainted with Anna and Martha. They
we're /, Il. ns SISTERS and brothers We sympa
thte with then, in DC dark hour OF trial ana aife
,iou | was with your sons VIXEN they fell. Oil
YER lived but u very few moments AFTER no was
shot. He spoke word, but yielded calmly 10
bis tate. Watson was shot at ten o'clock on Mon
dsy morning. aud died about three o'clock on
Wednesday morning lie suffered much. Though
mortality wounded at ten o'clock, yot at o'clock
Monday afternoon he fought hravely against the
men who charged When the enemy were
rpul..a ani the excitement Of the charge Wa
over, be began 10 sink rapidly. Alter We ~.ru
taken prisoners, he was placed in the guard house
with me- He conn iained Of the hardness OF the
bouch on which h, Wa, lying. begged hard for
. bed fpr him, 81 cSen blanket, but could obtain
none Tor hlm. | took oil my coat aud placed u
under him, and held n, head in my lap, IN which
position he died Without u sroan or n struggle. l
have stated these itrts thinking that they may al
ford to YOU and 10 the beTeavcd widows they have
left, mvuTulul consolation. Give my love u Anna
sai Martha. with our last farewell Yours truly,
EDWIN Curric.
Mr. Thomas continuing Now. MIR. Pre-
sident when thi, youth. with his sad end III
yiew-when he knew that the gallows was
To DO his doom hen lac still INDUCES, SIR,
in tia, feeling which have no doubt now
prompted him To- become n partlclpator IN the
Brown INVASION when he speaks OF his breth
rem at Harpcr's Ferry Us enemies. against
whom he was ready 10 deal the deathblow,
and as the Senator from Jefferson MIR. Is
tell) said. he did do; when now, instead OF
throwing himself upon the mercy and the
generosity OF the people Of Virginia. he pro-
claims that We are his enemies, | have no
feeling of pity OF commiseratios for him, and
will vote in favor OF the report Of the commit
tee. declaring it inexpedent - interpose in