The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-16

and since his DEATH by somc Or the jail gard which
must close this for the present In my next shall
send many points Of interest 70 the Northern people
OUR RICHMOND CORRESPONDENCE.
RICHMOND, Va Dec 49, 1859.
ne Declaration Of Governor Wise before the House and
Ssnase Committees haUing under Consideration the Memori
alin behalf Of Interesting Debate in the State Senate
on the Report Of the Committee Of Courts Of Justice the
Aemo,ial-Coppie to be Hupg-The Legislature on me
Military Organization Aan.facturs- Of Gunpo,cder,
DC dc.
The declaration Of Governor Wise before the Senate and
House Committees for Courts Of Justice which had under
consideration last night the memorial in behalf of Coppe,
has excited the highest possible admiration Of his bold
and independence, amongst the very members
Of the committee who were opposed to Communication Of
Copies sentence The Governor said that there should
be distinction made between the guilt Of Coppe and
the other prisoners In view Of the concern which tho
former manifested for the safety Of the prisoners captured
by Brown. He said moreover that had the case OF Cop
pie come within his jurisdiction, he would have committed
his sentence, even though every man In the State de-
manded bis execution. This bold avowal took the
mttees evidently by surprise; and the general pre-
sumption among the large crowd Of outsiders
who were present at the investigation was that
the committees would not hesitate 70 re-
commend a Communication OF sentence after candid
declaration by the Governor. The joint committees for
courts Of justice Of both houses consist OF twenty
members, Of whom but FIVE were in favor Of commute
ton TO wit four Of the Senate committee and OF the
House committee Five OF the former and fourteen Of
the latter opposed TO communications result which
took every who the declaration Of the Governor
somewhat by surprise. But the members Of the
mttees had doubtless too keen appreciation Of the
popular feeling upon this subject to make any
mendation In conflict with the sentence OF the Court
MEMORIAL copPM THE SENATE
An interesting debate took place in the Senate day
upon the report Of the Committee for Courts Of Justice
the memorial Of Thomas VIM for the communication OF
Coppe's sentence The report consisted OF resolution
sentence.
Mr.. JOHNSON, Of Bedford county moved TO lay the
whole subject upon the table until to morrow
that time may be afforded for it's consideration. He ad
dressed the Senate briefly support Of his notion urging
as reason for posponemen OF further consideration Of
this subject until the time specified its great Importance
Mr.. CoGHII, of Amherst advocated the adoption OF the
report of the committee without further delay. He said
nothing had transpired induce him to vote for die
rent punishment TO Coppie from that TO be inflicted the
Mr. THoMAs NJ IsBxrI, of Jefferson county, said Mr.
President TO that after the action OF the
of Jefferson county in convcting this man. Coppe whom
ia now sought TO place in poeon different from that
Of the other prisoners convced after the action Of the
House of Delegates some few days ago, in opposition TO
any interposton by the General Assembly ia behalf OF
these prisoners after the action OF that branch Of the L.
gslature this very day, scarcely any why
motion should be made in the Senate for the purpose
Of considering the subject any further.
The PRESIDENT sad it was in order to refer TO the action
Of the House.
Mr. JoHNsoN-At the time ! made the motion was not
Of the action Of the House Of Delegates As soon
as the Senator gets through with his remarks shall with
Mr. sBEI-I only refer to the action Of the House sim.
ply be cause was reported here by messenger from
that body.
TIE PRKmpxyr-I was compelled to absent myself for a
few minutes day. and therefore ignorant what
anspred during the brief interval Of my absence The
Clerk however, informs me that no formal message was
received from the House in reference its action upon
the memorial under consideration II s therefore OF
order for the Senator TO refer TO what ranspred In the
House.
Mr. InE-In respect to the propriety OF this pardon
desire say one two words. do think that any
distinction shouA be made between the Of any Of
those who have been found guilty by the Court Coope
shown in the testimony adduced before the Court
and Jury before whom he was tried Of the
determined ana desperate men who engaged in the
encounter at Harpers Ferry If he more generous
devil than the others, he is entitled TO whatever credit
attaches to that characteristic But Mr. President was
shown by the testimony presented on the trial. that he
was the very man who occupied a front position
In the engine house, and that il was by bali
discharged from his Sharpe's rife that the
Mayor Of Harper's Ferry was killed He subse-
so called for the fidelity with which he inflicted the death
upon s e. WIZ will o sS
vcted OF ueas0BY II has been shown that Cook occu-
pied heretofore very respectable relations society but
testimony introduced
before the Court to have been Of the deter.
mined and desperate of all those nsurrec onss and 20
far as know, has been unrepeptant any among
the rumber OF bis coniederas upon whom sentence Of
death has been passed have yet to hear OF single
man the county OF Jefferson other than those men
toned BY The gentleman from Bedford (Mr. Johnson)
who IL III favor Of extending pardon Communication Of
sentence any Of those PRISONERS. There vol or
petition coming up from that county for mercy to Coppie
has disturbed by these insurgents hey whose homes
have been invaded, could probably receive greater
shock by any action a.D,. Of the Senate Of Virginia
to these men, whose hands dripping With
the very gore of thier frienis This the first time
that grave offence has been committed agains. the
State OF Virginia, and so far as informed the first
proceeding under the law Of that has ever taken
place This proceeong aprang from an offence which is
northern border, and becomes make such exam
pies Of the marauders convicted sentence
will operate TO restore confidence 10 these people and
deter others similar acts murder and rapine II
said Mr. PRESIDENT that this Copoe was deceived
as TO the motives OF John Brown in coming TO Virginia
He could not have been deceived. He was one OF that
band who had put upon his conscience oath of dey
to Brown in suoverpg the government and exciting the
slaves to- rebellion He 10 much guilty Of urder as
any convicted before courts-as much guilty If
not guilty, than John Brown himsef for So far as
Brown shot any body 10 iha. struggle This man Copps
was moreover fully cognzant Of and parcpater in the
military preparations Set on foot at Browns farm some
months previous to the invasion He precisely in
the position with the other prisoners who con-
victed Of murder exciting 70 rebellion All Of
ne presented Inc plea tnat tDey came not Tor the
pose OF sia gberpg ciizns but Of carrying of their
propcrty-with the intention, not to commit any act
Of personal violence upon the people Of the Common
wealth except when that people decided 10 resist them
their unlawful In view Of these facts Mr. Presi
DENT am in favor Of withholding from the Executive Of
this State the power Of pardoning Coppe or any
other OF the prisoners convicted at Charestown,
their connection with the Harper's Ferry invasion.
Bot, sir, il is said that having upheld laws and
enforced our authority-thn having vindicated our
selves before the whole country, and shown TO the
North ano to the South and to the whole world in fact
that We can defend ourselves and mean 70 do it,
and enforce our laws against wbomsoever may dare
TO violate them-that having presented these vim
dications to tho world, might temper justice with
mercy, and pardon these meu, Who have been the
greatest offenders against laws that have ever been
brought before courts for trial say that in the
sng relations between the North and South II becomes
rather The duty Of Virginia TO give notice to the whole
world that he who dares place his foot upon her soil with
the same hesh purpose shat actuated the prisoners now
in her custody at Charles,own shah hang as high as
Baman ana that no mercy shall DO accorded to him who
comes IN the dead Of night 10 citizens. be.
eve that it Is impotc extend this pardon to Coppe
or any other OF those prisoners believe that shall
49,