The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-15
NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER Is 1859.

very different footing from that OF the other individual
who have been sentenced. He informs me that ne is
youth of about twenty three years OF age and that
had borne an unexccpuonabe character up to the tim
Of this difficulty. There present here in our lobb,
several mbers Of tho Society of ads who have al
intimate knowledge of tins since he was sever
years of ago. He was an orphan At the age o
SIX, and was placed in charge of one OF thes.
gentensn where be had remained until he astained ths
aye OF sixteen. This gentleman then removed from the
State of Ohio the STATE OF Iowa. and he was placed IN
charge OF another member o the Society OF Friends with
| whom he renamed until August last These gentlemen
niom that he was their trusted agent in the transAo
ton Of business, and frequently IN tho COLLECTION oil
money and that In all circumstances he acquitted him
self with fidelity and Euthulness They express the
deepest mpathy for Him. and the Governor informs me-
moreover, that thus young man. while he was in the en-
CINE house at Harpers Ferry, was the Of saving
the lives OF the prisoners who were captured BY tho
marauders that hc frequently demonstrated with them
about the exposure Of their persons, pointed out
places Of safety which no insisted they should occupy
while he demonstrated against the murder Of others
The street by Of his associates know nothing Of
,he facts myself, sod give them " you they have
been communicated to In view Of the near approach
OF the day Of execution trust atspeedy action Win be
bad upon IT, move its reference 70 the Committee Of
Courts Of Justice.
O'Clock tCssonsider the question. ST ts
Mr.. WckHAM-I had supposed thai all subjects refer
join, Committee already appointed to consider tho
matters connected with this invasion Would il not DO
well 70 give that destination 70 the memorial Just pre-
sentedY iaa@uH
Mr.. suARr-his is matter peculiarly belonging 70 tho
Comnitaee OF Courts OF Justice. " q
Mr. THOMAS, OF FairfaxI desire TO hear that memorial
read For part should prefer that the Senate should
act upon il In Committee OF the Whole for IL seems
70 me mere y something IN which requires that I DO
II essentially necessary that should have full in
formation on this subject, and that the Governor himself
should appear before us 10 give whatever facts he may
have IN regard to matter Of 80 much importance as
this is -
Mr.. STuARr--I had presumed that the proper course
would be 70 commit the memorial to the Committee OF
,ss Of :sis e. could
them The committee might, they choose have
ference with the Governor. and summon before them
those gentlemen from distant States are now present
committee of the whole house, presume would be TOO
large examine into all the details this question while
the Committee OF Courts Of JUSTICE from nature Of its
constitution, would have more facilities To obtain all
cessary nfor maton and mine the subject fully
The report OF that committee would carry with that
weight which would induce the Senate act upon il as
they would upon any other question. the
memor NJ viii be permitted 10 take the destin alton
which have Indicated and that the committee will act
upon as speedily as the necessity OF the case demands
Mr. THOMAS called for the reading of the memorial
The Clerk then proceeded with the reading Of it, fol-
ron ,n ns a o.
OF gina, convened in General assembly
Iowa respectfully represents hat Rdwn Coppe cize en-
Of that STATE now IN u. M Charlesown
late Seporsble affair at hsrpers Ferry Your memoras
the imprisonment III The peuitsnary and in
support Of said request begs leave to submit. the following
Edwin Coppe left orphan at the early age of six
Da sa n'n ssns his
celent reputation. Your memoralst has been well ac-
s ae o
with John brown he was An honest industrious
Your mehorsst further represent thu. the acausn.
and he had With him what.
ever n Kansas would respectfully refer %
show unit Edwin not fully John
Your would also repeatedly refer to tho evil
an
5 syy s s
lions where hey would be shielded from injury he did
Your memorials. would further urge behalf Of this
a md S
eney accompansd y heartfelt
Aarpers Ferry Cbaestown where are known
general desire that hts should DO
On these and others which might offered
ms and trusts Ss @
dgnled moderation you viii in his case temper justice 9Th
RICHMOND Va. Dec. 10, 1859.
Mr. TAoMAs-1 do not know that shall object to the
course indicated by the Senator from Augusta Stuar
nasmuch the memorial presents circumstances,
certainly OF alienation in the OF Coppie would
be better, perhaps, that the examination should be
by the Committee for Courts OF Justice. 1t wou'' d
cessary however in order that that commit. DC ne
form efficiently the important duty may per
iha, they should have power to sem s SEQ upon them
pers Il necessary, AMI make Ior persons and pa
addition to the motion 70 reor tho 20 !nat enect
mittee for Courts OF Justice. ~ "ein'1iai W Tue Com
Both motions were e ,cod 10
House ~ Delegates .emorai was presented in the
-.fcrred 10 he ~ ~ Mr. Barbour Of Cupepper and
I ~ '-1nmlttee Of Courts Of Justice.
! -, NEGRO TESTIMONY
MI. WfSDHAN RoBERTsoS Of this CITY Offered tho fo,
loving resolution in the House Of Delegates to day
I IN nj -,
affairs or Ferry to inquire into the expedenc,
OF so modifying the existing law as to make negroes
competent witnesses In all cases of conspiracy with
melting slaves 10 rebel make instruction or crcu
lang written printed matter designed TO that end O
seang or carrying oil slaves or OF advising slaves ID
apscond that under existing laws or under any
laws that shall hereafter be passed punish these or like
offences anu that the committee fur Their inquire wha
measures and MAY be taken by this State counter
vail the hostile and unconstitutional legislation of those
States which have passed laws designed defeat tho
execution or impair the efficiency Of the laws Of the
United States for the surrender Of fugitive slaves
have otherwise violated the rights of owners of saves
1 of the slnveholding States.
The resolution adopted
The question Of taxing oysters in conformity with the
suggestion of Governor Wise, to-day referred to
! select committee.
! Rood the agent for the Eclectic Maqos;ne, passed
through here day two ago his way North, after
being released from the clutches Of the Law in Charloes
vile. He swears understand he will never attempt tn
| sell book again south OF Mason and Dixon's line.
Northern agents peddlers and drummors have entirely
disappeared this latitude. druggist in this city
told he one or two DAYS ago that against an average 81
twenty live calls week heretofore made by persons OF
this ciass, not one month is now made. Business
look upon this decided advantage for those fellows
! were ntoerabc pests They seem to have realized a
proper appreciation Of tho state Of feeling tho South
| when they wisely determine to remain away Their
passage through Virginia now, any part Of the South
would be very thorny one and they would do well TO
keep that conviction before their minds for the future
Twas informed on yesterday that brother OF the no.
torous Helper s passing in disguise through Virginia.
at least has been very recently, distributing the sim
pending Crisis He passes, ! understand, under the
srse Of pension agent looking up claims If he
ceeds in propagang these documents must be In some
strictly private for their character well
ard 80 generally known to prevent their being gotten
Oil as countcrieits If this fellow apprehended that
/ will be the end OF MIN, imagine.
Both committees TO whom the memorial In favor OF Cop
pie referred met this evening for the purpose
sidering IT, Governor Wise summoned before them
TO state what ne knew regarding Copies the
HaTper's Ferry affair He gave full of all he had
ascertaned from the prisoners taken by Rrown-Coonel
Washington and others-and stated that had Coppe
been convicted Of treason and therefore placed beyond
his jurisdiction he would have comued his sentence II
every in the State opposed to it. He said that