Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-11-09
Brayp senteneed-His sueech.

-NtAAs
l have, may it please the Court. a few
words to say. In The first place i deny
everything but what | have admitted-the
design on my part to free slaves. l inten-
ded certainly to have made q clean thing OF
this matter, as l did list winter when l
went into Missouri. and there took slaves
without the Swapping of gun on either
side, and moved them through the country
and finally left them in Canada. de-
signed to have done the same thing again
on 4 larger scale; that was all | intended.
l never did intend to commit murder or
treason. or to destroy property, or excite,
or incite slaves to rebellion, and TO make
an instruction. l have another objection.
and that is, it is unjust that | should suf-
Ger such a penalty: had interfcrcd in the
manner which | admit. and which | admit
has been fairly proved-for admire the
truthfulncss and carlor Of the greater por-
ton of the witnesses which have testified
in this casc-had | so interferei in behalf
of the Iich, Tie powerful. the intelligent,
the so-caFled great. or in behalf of their
friends, either fathef, mother, Brother. SIS
ter, wife or children, or any of that class.
and suffered and sacrificed what l 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 ac-
knowledges. as suppose, the validity of
the law of God. L see a book kissed here
which I suppose to be 4 Bible. or at least
the New Testament. That teaches me that
all things whatsoever I would that men
should DO to me | should 10 even so to
them. 1t teaches me further to remember
them that are in bonds as Bound with them.
I endeavored to act up to that instruction.
I say l am yet too young to understand
that God is any rcspectcr of persons l
believe that to have interfercd as l have
donc, as | have always freely admitted l
have done in behalf of his despised poor,
was no wrong, but right. Nowit is deemed
necessary that | should forfeit my life for
the furthcrance 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 dis
regarded by wictcd, cruel and unjust en-
actmcnts. Iadmit So. let it be done. Let
nc say orc word further. l feel entirely
satisfied with the treatment | have received
on MY trirl, considering al the c;rcum-
stances.
II has been more generous than | OK
pccted. but I feel no consciousness Of guilt
/ have stated from the first what was my
~intentioRs and what was not. / never had
4 design against the life Of any persons nor
any disposition to commit treason, or excite
the slaves to rebel. or make any general in
surrcction. l never encouraged any man
to 90 50. but always discouraged any idea
Of that kind. Let me say also in regard
to the statements made by some of those
connected with ne. | hear it has been
stated by some Of them that have induced
them to join me, but the contrary is true.
l do not say this to injure them, bat as re-
GREETING their weakness. Not one joined
nc but of his own accord, and tie greater
part at their Z expense. \ number of
them l never saw. and never had a word
Of conversation with, TIL the day they came
to ne. and that was for the purpose | have
stated. Now / have dorc.
While Brown was speaking perfiect quiet
prevailed. When he had finished, the Court
proceeded to pronounce his sentence. At
ter a few preliminary remarks, to (Which he
said no reasonable doubt could exist as to
the prisoners guilt. he sentenced him to be
hung in public, on Friday, the second of
December.
Brown received the sentence with cor-
posnrc. The only demonstration made was
with the elapping ofhands by mrn ia
the crowd, who is not q resident of Jefer-
son county. This was promptly suppress
cd, and much regret was expressed at its
occurrence.
The verdict in Coppcc's case was guilty
on al the counts Of the indictment. After
being out an hoar the jury in the case of
Coppcc returned, with a verdict declaring
Coppce guilty. His counsel give a notice
of a motion to arrest judgement, as in
Browns case. The Court then adjourned.
The reporter Of the New York Herald
says:
The speeches of Mcas7s. Chiffon and
Griswold for the defense, and Mr. Hunter
for the Commonwealth, were very fine ef-
forts Of forensic oratory. Indeed, the zeal
and devotion of Messrs. Chiffon, Griswold
and Hoyt, III behalf of an unfortunate fci-
low being, surrounded only by those against
whom his crimes were directed, and from
whom, therefore, he could expect no sym
patty, are worthy of all praise.
He thus describes the scene and the old
lion when the verdict was brought in:
1t was terrible to looS upon such a crowd
of human faces, moved and agitated with
but one dreadful expectancy-to let the eye
rest for 4 moment upon the only calm and
unrufled countenance there, and to think
that he alone of al present was the doomed
one above whose head hung the sword Of
fate. But there he stood just that man Of
indomitable will and iron nerve, all collcc-
ted and ungoved, even while the verdict
which consigned him to an ANONYMOUS
doom was pronounced upoa him
Not the slightest sound was heardint the
vast crowd as this verdict was thus returned
and re@l. Not the Slightest expression Of
clation Of triumph was uttered from the
hundreds present. who, a moment before,
outside the ccnrt, joined in heapipg threats
and imprecations on his head; nor was this
strange silence interrupted during the whole
of the time occupied by the forms of the
Court. Old Brown himself. said not a
word, but, as On any other previous day,
turned to adjust his pallet, and then ON
posedly stretched himself upon it.
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