The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1859-12-16
The Case of COppie, the Harper's
Ferry COnspiratOr.

FoIiy OOuSPlFdtOf.
A memorial, signed Thomas Winn,o of Iowa
for communication of Copies sentence, was
presented in both Houses of the Legislature
of Virginia, on Monday, and referred to the
committee on courts of justice of each house.
The committee met in the evening and con-
sidered the subject. Of the House committee
but one, it is rumored, was against commute
ton. The Senate committe was equally divi-
ded. In submitting the petition in the Senate,
Mr.. Staurt stated that he had that morning
called on Gov. Wise, and had learned from
him that, in his Judgment, there were many
circumstances tending to mitigate the enor-
nifty of the offense of Coppie, and that he
regarded the memorial as entitled to the
serious consideration of the General Assem-
bly,. The Governor stated that it appeared
from the evidence on his trial, that Coppie
was very young man, who had not yet at
tanned his Oath year; that he had been left
an orphan at six years of age, and had, until
August last, been under the guardianship of
respectable members of the society of Friends
who testified as to his uniform good conduct,
| industry, honesty aud truthfulness, up to
| August last, when he left them.
Mr.. S. said that these persons, feeling much
interest in Coppie, were now in the lobby of
the Senate and ready to bear testimony t.
his good character. 1t also appeared from
the testimony that Coppie had been instrum-
men who had been captured and held In con-
! fnement by Brown and his lawless band.
During the assault on the engine house, in
| which the prisoners were confined, Coppie
| had carefully pointed out to them the places
| of safety, and urged them to occupy them,
declaring his anxiety that they should es
| cape unhurt. The connection of Coppie
with Browns party was very recent orig in
and there was strong reason to believe, from
what Mr.. s. had learned from the Governor
| and other sources, that Coppie was not appris-
| ed Of the purposes of Brown until he was too
| far implicated to retreat. Mr.. 8. said that he
had formed no definite opinion on the merits
of the application, but he prepared to give
it an impartial consideration.
The memorial asks that the sentence of
death be committed to imprisonment ia the
penitentiary, and for the reasons set forth in
Mr.. Staurt's remarks. Coppie, it alleges, was
not with Brown in Kansas. The memorial
adds:
"Your memorialist would further urge on
behalf of this young man that, during his
Imprisonment in the Jail at Charlestown, his
| conduct has been commendable, and his cor
respondence entirely unexceptionable, ac-
| companied by heartfelt repentance for the
wrong he has committed, and that there is at
Harper's Ferry and Charlestown, where the
| facts are known, general desire that his
sentence should be commuted, in considera.
ton OF his meritorious treatment of Browns
| prisoners"
| Lieutenant General Scott at Home.
arrival of Lieutenant Gen. Winfield Scott
at New York, from San Juan, bearing the
news of the temporary settlement of the dis
puted island question, was announced yester-
day. He was accompanied by Col Lay,
Col. Thomas, and DR.. Crane, all of the U.
States army. The two former were sent i'm
mediately to Washington, as bearers of dis
patches to President Buchanan, containing
a full statement of the terms of the settle
ment of the San Juan imbroglio. General
Seott's arrival was entirely unexpected, and
therefore the citizens of New York were
precluded from giving him handsome re-
ception. The Times says:
Some fears were entertained that the in
trinity of years would render the journey
too wearisome for his strength, but the re-
suit is happily different. Immediately after
his Decentralization from the Atlantic, he
went to his residence on Twelfth street,
where the members of his family gave him
welcome more grateful doubtless to the old
veterans feelings than any of the ovations
have been which he has received since his
departure. General Scott states that since
he left this city, on the Goth of last Septem-
Der, he has travelled thirteen thousand
miles. So far from impairing his health,
the constant changes have been of decided
benefit, and he says that he was never more
robust and vigorous than he is at present.
He expresses the greatest qualification at the
warm reception which has everywhere been
ID