Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-03
virginia Pl lomise---Virginiu Performance

Virginia PI IOmise-a-Yirginin Performance
Soon after the sentence Of John Brown, the
Richmond Enquirer, protesting to speak by au
thoEity of Gov. Wise, as it no doubt it did sug'
gested that the question Of Browns insanity
could be tested under the laws Of Virginia, and
invited those who believed him insane to make
the legal investigation. Assurance was yiItu.
ally given that should the investigation be asked
the prisoner would be respited by the Govern
or for that purpose. Acting on that sugges-
ton, made in good faith as was supposed, the
counsel and friends of Mr.. Bro Wn procured the
afiidavits cf number Of respectable citizens of
Ohio, in reference to his personal and family
insanity, all tending strongly to show that his
case was not simply case of one-ideaism. but
of that sort Of alteration of mind which
should exempt him from penal treatment -
These were submitted to Gov. Wise with the
following letter from his Counsel;
HIS Ereslieney Henry A. Vase, Con. Of Va:
SR-I herewith submit for your considera>
ton the afiidavits Of the following named per>
sons, to wit: Harvey Baldwin, Henry Wetmore,
Sylvester Craig, Ethan Allen, Milton Lusk,
Gideon Mills, George Leach, James w. Weld,
| Sylvester and Mills Thompson, Z. N. Sill, o.
@. Kendrick, s. w. Goodale VIM. s. @. Otis,
jeremiah r. Brown, and Orsou NJ OViatt,
showing the insanity of John Brown now un
der sentence of death, for some years, and that
his grandmother, two aunts, one uncle, five
cousins, one sister, ,one niece and two sons, have
been insane.
submit this proof. together with the certif.
] oaia nf he III Iliefrfat Eor %
of Ohio, certifying to the responsibility of the
most material of the Witnesses, with the obs
ject of Praying you to giant postponement Of
the execution Of the prisoner in order that the
opportunity may be offered rue as his counsel to
have an issue, framed and l,ed under the law
Of Virginia, respecting the sanity of said
Brown.
am with great repPect, your ob't sery't,
SAML. Chiffon,
Counsel for John Brown
Ia respect to Mr.. Brown himself, several oi
tho witnesses, including his physician, oil
Hudson, Ohio, who had known HIM since 1919
and gentleman who had acted as his legal
adviser for many years, concur in saying that
he has always exhibited predispOstion to in.
sanity, and that his mind, at varisus times, has
actually been disordered.
knowing full we'll that the afilavits wer,
being taken and that an application would be
made in the case of Mr. Brown, so late al
Nov oath the Richmond EOquirsr repeated it,
previous suggestion, and in speaking generally
Of the sentenced prisoners said
"These men are not srasy; and if any mar
believes them crazy, we have already pointed
out the mode by which our laws provide fol
testing their sanity Let any try il who be-
lieVe them crazy"
Clearly, upon such suggestions and upon
such showing, the Governor of Virginia ought
not to have hurried on the execution Of Brown
and thus numerically cut Oii'ths possibility Of
decision BY jury upon tue vital question Of
Insanity. He has done so, and 50 far az ap-
Peara, Gov. Wise did not even treat the Appll
cation Of Mr.. Browns Counsel with the re.
Speet Of confederation or answer. A parable
record of unfeeling outrage of the rights of .
condemned man. cannot be fourd ia ths ar
ehives Of Chfistendom