Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-12-14
laid before the Committee in seharol commu,..On Of

laid before the Committee in eehalrof Communication
Mr. CoHILL then stated that a memorial from Mr.
Wnn had been laid before the committees of the Senat,
and House of Delegates aud that two or three persons
RON Ohio had also appeared before them. The Cover
nor had been sent for at his mr. Coghis request ant
had made lengthy and elaborate statement aud appea
IN behalf OF the commutaon Il had been stated In ev
denee that Coppoc had enlisted In the enterprise sir
months before the attack Harpers Ferry. II due
to the Governor to that he stated before the Com
mittee that Ii the consent OF the Legislature were given
him he would commute the sentence but the Committee
shown. '''
Mr. JOHNSON moved to lay on the table in order to
have further time consider and he did this at the
gestion of Senator'S There was division in the
Senate committee. The Governor very urgent and
very decided in his appeal for communication; he (hc
1overnorl said that he would commute the the
Legislature gave him the power; that parties from Har-
pers Ferry (Mr. Ball and Mr. Kiizmier had appealed In
coppocs behalf: and that Coppoc had shown more hu.
mainly than the rest His mr. Johnsons) own feeling
aud Judgment were in favor OF commutation; he be.
evcd just aud mercu and il would dignifed and
polite ON the part of the State OF Virginia accede
the prayer of the memorials Coppoc he regarded be-
ing not guilty to the the others up to the
time of his enlistment in Browns enterprise he had been
OF reproaehable character aud he had been tempted
Mr.. AUGUST What his object in culisting with
Brown
Mr.. JOHNSON To steal slaves but not to commit
treason Coppoc's crime Of the same magnitude
as Browns, aud while his mr. Johuson) views in Cop
pocs the result his Judgment and feeling
he had great horror OF Brown and his nj
the time he afraid TO stand up in the Sen.
ate and manifest the independence speak in favor of
the Communication; he would be glad if both House.
would give the Governor the power to commute
Mr.. COGHILL replied TO Mr.. JOHNSON This was not
question of comparative, but of absolute guilt; the
question was, was Coppoc guilty; any evidence
whatever brought before the committee Justify the
appeals Coppoc not only adjudgcd guilty by the
jury, but motion Tor new trial was refused by the
Judge-and who were so competent to form correct
opnionr And not only was that the case but the high
est tribunal in this land had refused TO interpose WHY
was IL this mans case deserves the consideration
sought for IL, that others from Charlesown and
Harpers Ferry but Ball and ktkmler had made appli-
cation IN Coppoc behalf! Mr.. Coghil then went to
show that tue very things which were adduccd
Ios 'ne 'oin'ou oVvreu ~ Tue very ume that Cop
poe was engaged IN murder, treason and instruction,
ana 70 prove thS the were such as deserved DEATH
husn respect as ne hau lot tne uoVernor hminded
anu ru,nu uousn nc oeneNeu nun 10 De- YET he could
see nU,n'ns IN VIVA. ne nad urged TO justify him tMr
osnl III aceus 70 me prayer OF tns petition, and a.
lar as ne was ne never would consent TO give
'ne "o'S.nor ,ne power IN sueh cases rs Cop
Poss nr. .Us"in lnen uisW 1eariu' picture OF the
., oS'5 PviPe""'eu y. Drown anu MS associ-
es ana concluded oy protesting against the motion to
u. ", on , un1 eaUe'
III ionr.i o' 'euerson, su ne could see no differ
SCe 'e Su Oh oopPoc ana That OF the others
COpPOe was one OF the most desperate of the whole gang
he II was who kiIaa the N,vor 81 H., - ~ sie "suS
be received thornG,r ,ha .nni, s ~ city anu
Chief (Brown) Coppoc called him If Coppoc was tho
least desperata Devil of tho p,nr Ia hin, d. -, a. -,
20 a., trL.,.... 4, -. ~. % ~ 80 ''e 'e Oreul'
VI 'noS "''eNeF Z" was "otul' IL tue sentence be com
was utterly imp.nitcnt and tbere u,,s ro,hir ., IL
,L,, h. ~, -. \, ~ M 'ui'"S W suo"
la '' ""u N"aibeu MS schtiheh's' rms man was one
OF those who came in the night to commit murder and
treason and to iucite slaves 10 rebel aud ono or a.
CREATES, ou,ra,c. ,,h;,h ,o,,t5 ~ s'.I.., u ','e
,r;; go s 49, t &c Ioul'' ,' against tue
surviving friends OF those with whose blood Coppoc's
hands dripping would be TO grant the nraycr az
he peti,;on ono ~, -, W
- ts. 80 ~ man """' N"fiSstonn or mar
per feiy except the TWO before mentioned appealed
for him. He then decidedly opposed To granting
-; t. -. '. nc Nn'' tsoelD was law
auuIs man, nut ne questioned he had seized Brown
and his companions IL he could himself TO give them
trial by jury.
Mr. ISBELL continued nj considerable LENGTH and With
much eloquence against the appeal; and among Other
things he contended hatit was proper to show the whole
world by the Withholding of mercy from the prisoners
that Virginia was determined thai all ,Lo yroII1 49,,
her soil should meet the penalty of death
Mr.. THOMAS then rose and said that he had en,o-,.i
ed the same views as Mr. johnson. that whom tho co..
euor had made the statement he did no tbonsb, tbo
should be entertained he tbougbt n oIJ
be polite to temper Justice with mercy and II notbn
had occurred since the meeting of The Committees a.,
change his views he would still agree with Mr. obnson
but he nov held in his hand p,oer (the New, Vol H..
AID of the l2h) containing letter from Connoc which
changed his views entirely and inclined him 10 beTcvc
FIRMLY that Coppo, was no. Uor,bv Of orr 60
Her, NJ rIibu : - 80. r.II----