Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-04
SENTENCE or CAPT. BROWN AND CONVICTION
OF COPPEE

Capt. Broten Sentenced 10 be hung ON 2d D,,,aL,r-m
sPtffh TO me o"t-conrietion Of Coppoe-P,elini.
nary Termination Waptd By Cook.
CHARLEStowN, Nov. 2.-Messrs Russell and Senpe,
from Boston, reached here to-day, to act as counsel for
the prisoners.
Capt. Cook was brought before the Magistrates Co,r,
today, but waived an examination, and was committee
for trial. ~
,%CoPpee's trial was resumed, hut no witnesses were call.
ed for the defence.
Mr.. Harding opened for the Commonwealth and
Aessrs. Hoyt and Griswold followed for the deGendsn,
When Mr.. Hunter closed for the prosecution. Tbc
speeches OF all were marked by ability. Mr. G,iswoId
asked for several instructions TO the Jury which wsrs al
grantedby the Court, when the jury retired.
cArTAIS BROWNS sPrEcH To rHE corEr.
.ip,, nLo.n was then brought IN, and the courthouse
was immediateI; %thronged. The Court gave il. decision
on the motion for an arrest Of judgment. oveuuling The
on9ecton made In regard to the objection that treason
cannot be committed against the State, the Court ruled
that Wherever allegiance IL due treason NAV be oommi,.
ted Most OF the States have passed laws against treason.
Inc objection a. TO the form, of the verdict rendered. the
Court also regarded as Insufficient.
The Clerk nov asked the prisoner II he Ind anx,h;,n
TO say why sentence should not he pronounced ag,;ns,
him. "o""
Brown stood up, and in a clear, distinct voice. said-
II nave, may II please the Court, n few words 10 saw Il,
the first place, 1 deny everything but what I have al
along admitted, Of a design on my part to free slaves I
intended, certainly, 10 have made a clear thing Of that
matter, rs ! did last winter, when I went into Msso,,;
and there took slaves without the swapping M a oI
either side. Moved them through the country and n.
naly lett them IN Canada. / designed to have done the
Ha"t llhB dRiH, ~ \ larger scale. That WAS all \ in
tegded. ] meyer did intend murder, or treason or the
destruction OF property, Gr 10 ineite slaves IN rabol;ion
or To make Instruction.
=" have another objection, and tina, Is. tis unjust that
i SHOULD suner such n penalty. Had | intcrfcred In the
manner which j admit, and which ] admit had been f,irlv
proved, (tor j admire the truthfulness and candor of ,hc
greater portion OF the witnesses who test led in this cas-.
had so intericrcd in behalf Of the rich and powerfu
the intelligent-tbe so-called great, or in behalf of any
Of their friends, either father or mother. brother or ~
ter, VIE o. children, o. any OF that class, aud Suffered
aud sacrificed what ! have 10 this interference, IL would
have been all right, aud every man 10 this cour, woaiJ
i'll menL pun
" This court acknowledged, too. as I suppose. The val;
dity Of the law Of God. see a book kissed here Will
] suppose 10 be the Bible, or at least the New Testament
Ihat teaches me that I'll tbing ~ whatsoever I would N zen
shon,n 20 ~ me j should do even 20 10 then : I teache.
me, iur'sey TO Femepber them that are 10 bonds n,
bonded with them eDdeav0red to act up TO ibese In
strucuonr. ] say am yet too young to understand thai
zoo y any resspeeter Of persons. ! believe that to bav,
interfered "a ] have done, in behalf Of his despiscd poor
was no wrong, but right. Now. " Il is deemed neces
sary that ! should forfeit my life for the furtherance o.
me ends OF Justice and mingie my blood further viii
the blood OF my children aud with the blood Of IN,
milnons IN this slave country, whose rights are disregard
go Dy wicked, cruel aud unjust enac,ments, ! submit. s,
let 10 be done
with the treatment ! have received on my trial. Con
sidering all the circumstances, IL has been more gene
IV.s uan expected, but I feel no epasoisusue.s OF guilt
] nave stated from the first what was my intentions. an,
what was not. ! never bad any design against the I'M
OF any person, nor any dispoittou 20 commit treason o
excite TIC slaves 20 rebel or make any general insurrec
non ] never encouraged aDy man 20 do 90, hut alway
discouraged any idea OF that Kind. Let me ssy slso. h
tegsrdto The statements made by some Of those cor
nected with me. ! fear IL has been stated by some Of then
that ] have Induced them TO join me. But the contrsr,
!. true, J DO not say this 10 iujure them, but A. regfettini
their weakness. There l. not one Of them but lolne,
me OF hs osn accord, aEd The greater part at .hst owl
eHPense. a number Of them r never saw aud never hs,
a word OF conversation with till the day they came q
me. add that was for the purpose I have stated. Nov
have donei"
while Brown was speaking pcrfes, quiet prevailed
Mhon ne had finished the Court proceeded TO pronounc
sentoHco.
ssrrgroE 90 pyktH.
Alter some preliminary remarks In which the JudR
said that no reasonable doubt could exist M 10 the pri.
oner's guilt, the court sentenced him 10 be hung In pTl
Ic, on Friday, the "a OF December"
Brown received the sentonce with composure, aud IN
only demonstration made was q clappirg Of hands by
miu In the crowd, who IL not q resident IL Jensrsoa
comfy. This iodecorum vas promptly suppressed an
much vas expressed by oiassns q lts occurrsncs
coy3xr cprvtcyEp.
' amer beng out ~ hour te july esns N sth . W