Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-05
TRIAL OF THE HARPER'S FERRY
INSURGENTS,
AT CIIARLESToWN, VIRGINIA.

TRIAL OF EDWIN corrEE --spNrENcE OF DEATH rAss-
Ed on BHowN--mIs SPEECH To THE COURT
Messrs. Sonnet and Russel arrived ut Charles
town yesterday from Boston to net as co" nsel for
the prisoners.
coprccs trial was resumed, but no witnesses
were called for the defence.
Mr.. Harding opened for the commonwealth.
mud Mes>rs. iloyt and Uriswold followed for the
defendant, when Mr.. Hunter closed for the prose-
cuton. The speeches were all marked by ability.
Alr Grswold asked for several instructions To the
jury, which were all granted by the court, when
tho jury retired.
j CAPITA Brown then brought in and tho
courthouse was Immediately thfongcd, The conrt
gave its decision on tho motion for arrest of
Judgment, overruling the objections made. In re-
gard to The objection that treason canno, be com
mitted against tho State. tho court ruled that
wherever allegiance is due treason may be COM
mtted Most of tho States have passed laws
against treason. The objection IA to the form of
the verdict rendered, the court also regarded US
ifsuccnt.
Tho clerk now asked the prisoner If hc had any
thing to say why sentence should not be pronounc-
ed against him.
Brown stood up, and in q clear, distinct voice,
said: Il have, may it please tho court, n few
words to say. In the first place. | deny every
thing hut what have all along admitted. of de-
sign on my part to free tho slaves. | intended
certainly to have made clean thing of that mat
ter, rs did last winter when | went into Missou-
ri and there took slaves without the swapping of
gun on either side, moved them through the coun-
try, and finally left them in Canada. | designed
to have done the same thing on II larger scale
This was all | intended. | never did intend muir
der, or treason. the destruction of property, or
to iucite slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrcc
ton.
4 have another objection and that is it is un.
just that should suffer such penalty. Had l
intericrcd in the manner which / admit, and
which admit hns been fairly proved for | nd-
imire the truthfu,ness and candor of the greater
portion OF tho witnesses who testified III this case
chad so intericred in behalf of the rich and
powerful, the intelligent the socaled great or in
behalf of any OF their friends, either father or mo
ther, brother or sister. Wifi or children or any ut
that class, and suffered and sacrificed what have
in this interference it would have been all right
and every man in this court would have deemed
it an net worthy Of reward. rather than punish.
ment
This court acknowledged too, as | supposc.
the validity Of the law of God. zee book kiss
ed here which / suppose to be the Bible, ur mt
least the New Testament. That teaches me that
uli things whatsoever would men should do To
me- | should do even so to Them And it teaches
me further, to remember them that arc in bond.
rs bound with Them ! underworld to act up /,
those instructions. ] say am yet too young /,
understand that God is any respeeter vt persons
l believe that TO have intcrfcred as | have done
and as have always freely admitted nave done
in behalf OF his despiseI poor. was no wrong
but right.
"Now lift is deemed necessary that should
forfeit my life for the turtherance of the ends Of
justice. and mngle my blood further with the
blood of my children, and with the blood Of the
millions in this slave country, whose rights arc
disgraced Ly wicked, cruel. and unjust enact
ments, submit. So let it be done, Let me saw
one word further. / feel entirely satisfied viii,
the treatment have received on my trial. Con
sidering all the circumstances it has been more
generous than expected but feel no conscious.
ness of guilt. have stated from the first VIII
we're my Intentions and what were not.
II never had any design against the life Of any
person, nor any disposition to commit treason. or
excite the slaves Ia rebel. or make any general in.
surrection. never encouraged u y i.,an t. do
80, but always discouraged any idea os thai, kind.
Let nue. SAY, also, in regard 10 Il sta.i1ert iaadc
by s'me ct th"sa connected with u,r. fear il
has been stated by some # thcu tlat have Undue
ed Them to join me. But the contrary is trrr. |
40 n"t say this b. iure hem but IA re .re ;p,,
ter weakness. There is not one Of thea, hue
JOINED me OF his own ae.;,rL. and II Greater part Mt
their own expense. humber of them 7 meyer
saw, and never had word of conversation with
till the day they came to me- and that was for tha
purpose have stated. Now have done"
| While Brown was speaking perfect quiet pre-