The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1859-11-09
General Melvs.

l.
] John Brown, whose exploits at Har--
per's Ferry have given worldwide
fame, has BEEN convicted of treason,
murder, and conspiracy. and was, on
Wednesday last sentences to- be hung,
When asked if he had anything to- say
why sentence should not be pronounced,
he rose up and in clear, distinct voice
i said !:
" [ have, may it please the Court,
few words to say.
" In the first place, I deny everything
but what have all along admitted
the design on my part to free the slaves.
I intended, certainly, to have made q
clean thing of that matter, as / did
last winter, when / went into Missouri
and there took the slaves without the
Swapping Of gun on either side, NOV
eel them through the country, and f.
nally left them In Canada. Idesigned
dong thes same thing again, on larger
scale. That was all / intended. /
never did intend to commit murder or
treason, or to destroy property or to
excite OF incite the slaves to rebellion,
and to make an insurrection.
F" have another objection, and that
is, it is unjust that / should suffer sueh
a penalty. Had / interfered in the
manner, which | admit-and which
admit has been fairly proved, (for | adj
mire the truthfulness and candor of the
greater portion of the witnesses who
have testified in this case) had / so
interfered in behalf Of the rich, the
powerful, the intelligent, the so-calEed
great, or in behalf Of their friends, Ell
Their father, mother, brother, sister,.
wife, or children, or any of that class,
and suffered and sacrificed what / have
in this interference, it would have been
all right. Every man in this court
would have deemed it an act worthy of
reward, rather than punishment, This
court acknowledge, as ] suppose, the
validity of the law Of God. I see a
book kissed here which | suppose to be
the Bible, or at least the new Testa-.
ment. That teaches me that fall
things whatsoever / would that men
should do to me, should do even so
them.' It teaches me further to re-
member those that are in bonds as bound
with them endeayo red to act up
to that instruction | say / am yet
| too young to learn that God is any re-
specter of persons. / believe that to
have interfered, as / have done, as /
have always freely admitted / have
done, in behalf of His despised poor,
was no wrong, but right. Now, if it
is deemed necessary that / should for
! felt my, life for the furtherance of the
ends of justice, and mingle my blood
further with the blood of my children,
| and with the blood of millions in this
slave country whose rights are disre-
garded by wicked, cruel and unjust
enactments, / submit let it be done.
Let me say one word further. / feel
entirely satisfied with the treatment /
have received On my trial Consider
ing all the circumstances, it has been
more generous than | expected but
feel no consciousnessof guilt. have
stated from the first what was my in
tention, and what was not. never
had any design against the life of any
person, nor any disposition to commit
treason, or excite the slaves to rebel
or any general instruction. l never
encouraged any man to do so, but
| always discouraged any idea of that
| kind. Let me say, also, in regard to
the statements made by some of those
connected with mel hear it has been
stated by some of them that have in
duced them to join me, but the con-
trary is true. I do not say this to in
Jure them, but as regretting their weak
ness. Not one of them Joined me but
of his own accord, and the greater
part at their own expense. A number
! of them / never saw and never had a
word of conversation with, till the day
they came to me; and that was for the
purpose / have stated. Now / have
done.
While Brown was speaking, perfect
quiet prevailed. When be had finished
the Court proceeded to pronounce the
sentence. After few preliminary re-
marks in which he said no reasonable
doubt could exist as to the prisoners
guilt, he sentenced ham to be hung, IN
public, on Friday, Cd of December.
Brown received the. sentence with
composure i
The only demonstration made, was
with the clapping of hands by one
man in the crowd who is not resident
of Jefferson county. This was prompt
ly suppressed, and much regret was
expressed by the citizens at its occur
renee. 6oH
After being out an hour the jury
in the case of Coppee returned with a
verdict, declaring him guilty on all
the counts in the Indictment.
His counsel gave notice of motion