, 1859-11-03
Trial of tl.e Harper'a Ferry Insurreo-
1tnnfhIH.

l1OQ4N2As
cnAalxsrows. Va Nor. :.-itusset and sin
day.
Cook was brought before the Magistrates
Court, but wRvad Nh examination. He wxs
committed for ssial.
Coppie's trial was resumed. no witnesses
were called for the defence. Mr. Harding open
ed the atgument for the Slate and uoyt and
Grlswold followed for the defendant. Iii: Hun-
ter closed for the prosecution. The speeches
were Of marked ability Mr. Gri1wold asked
for several instructions, which were all granted
bv the Court. jury thcu retired. Brown was
tban brought into the Court House, which was
immediately througed.
The Court then gare its decision on the mo-
ton 10 arrest Judgment, ortrFuling the objec-
tions nude on the objection that treason CAN
not be committed ugalntt State. except by
CITIZEN. II ruled thut wherever allegiance rs
due, treason mas be committed. Most OF the
States have passed iaws against treason. TIIe
objections rs to the form Of the verdict re.s-
desed were also regarded as insufficient.
The Clerk then asked Brown whether be Lad
anything TO say why sentence should not bo
pronounced, when brown stood up and in Il
clear and distinct voice, said:
hare, may it please the Court, a few wor.ls
10 SAY. ln The first place, ! den; everythp;;: ::
OH my part to free the slaves. ] intcndttt
certainly to hare nndc Glenn thing Of that
matter. Us l did last winter when / went
into Missouri, and thee took the slaves
without the snnpping Of Q gun on either
side, moved them through the country,
aud finally left then, in Canada. designed 70
hnve done the same thing again on q larger
scalc. Tint was all I Intended. Inerer did in-
tend to commit murder, nur treason. nor to a.
cile or iueite the slaves to rebellion and to maze
En- insurrection.
have another objection, and that is that it is
unjust that should suffer such penalty. Had
l interfered in the manner ~hch admit, and
mire the truthfulness and candor OF the greater
portion Of tie witnesses who hare testified III
This case, bad SO interferci in behalf Of III.
rich, The powerful, the intelligent, the SO callcl
great or in behalf Of their friends, either father
mother, brother, sister, wife, or children. or
what have in this interference. it would hav"
bcen all right. Every man in this court would
have deemed it an act worthy Of reward rather
than punishment.
Ttis Court acknowledges, as suppose, the
validity Of the luw Of God. ] see book kisse.!
here which suppose to be the Bible, or at least
The New Te-tulnent, that teaches n1e that +" Ill
things whatsoever would that men should do
10 me, even SO should do to them." 1t teaches
nlc further, 10 remember them that ale in
bonds us bound with t4ein." cndeasored II
act up to TINT instruction. say am yet ton
young to understand that God is any respecter
OF persons.
j believe that to hare interiered as have
done, as 1have always freely admitted hare
done, in behalf Of bis despised poor, was NJ
wrong, but right, now it is deemed necessary
that should forfeit iny life fer the
furthesance Of ends Of Justice, and rningle my
blood further with tue blood Of my children,
and viii. blood Of millions in this slave country,
whose rights are disregarded By wicked, cruel
aud unjust enuctments, admit, SO let it be
done.
Let me say a word further. feel entirely
| satisfied with the treatment hare had Oh my
trial, considering all the circumstances. 1t has
been more generous thnu expected, but feel
no consciousness Of guilt. hare stated fron,
the FIRST what was my intentions md what was
not. ncyer had any design against the life Of
| my person, nor any disposition to commit
treason. or excite the slaves to rebel, or make
any general insurrection. l never encouraged
idea Of the kind. Let me speak also in regard
to the statements made By some Of those con-
/ necied With me.
l hear it has been stated by some Of then,
that hare induced them 10 join me, but The
contrary is true. do dot say this to injurs
them, but as regretting their Weakness Not
oue joined 1ne but Of his own accord, and the
| greater patt at their own expense. 4 number
IT them / never saw. and peyer had word Of
conversation with till The day they came to me,
ind that ,sas for the purpose / have stated.
| Now have done.'
While Brown IVES speaking, perfect quiet
prevailed. When be had flushed the Court
proceeded to pronounce the sentence. After a
| lew preliminary remarks in which he said: M
| reasonable doubt could exist as to the prisoner
| guilt, be sentenced him 10 be hung in public OH
| Friday tile I'd Of December.
Brown received the sentence with composurc.
The only demonstration made was with tl.v
| rf- Af L. 4svet IL
| who is not resident Of Jefferson County This
was promptly suppressed. and much regret WAS
expressed by citizens ut its occurrence.
After being out al hour, the jury in the case
| Of Coppce. returned With verdict. declaring
Coppte guilty on all the counts in the ipdict.
tnent- His counsel garo notice Of motion to ar.
| rest judgment as in Browns case.
The Court then adjourned