The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1859-11-24
Browns Speech.

The Clerk asked John Brown whether
he had any thing to say why sentence
should not be pronounced, when Brown
stood up, and in a clear and distinct voice.
said:
have, may it please the court. few
words to say. In the first place, [ deny
everything but what | have all along ad
mltted-the design on my part to free the
slaves. L intended to free the slaves. |
intended certainl y to have made as clean
thing of that matter as | did last winter
when L went into Missouri and took the
slaves, without the swapping of gun, and
moved them through the country, finally
leaving them in Canada. [ desired to
have done the same thing on large scale;
that was all | intended. | never did in
tend to commit murder or treason, or to de-
stroy property, or excite or incite the
slaves to rebellion, and to make an inser-
rection.
have another objection, and that is,
1t Is unjust that [ should suffer such a
penalty Had | interfered in the manner
which L admit has been fairly proved-for
| admire the truthfulness and the candor
OF the greater portion of the witnesses who
have testified in this case-had | so inter
tered in behalf Of the rich, the powerful
the intelligent, the so-called great, or in
behalf Of their friends, either father or
mother, brother or sister, wife or children,
or any Of that class, and suffered or sacri-
feed what | have in this interference, it
would have been all right. Every man in
this Court would have deemed il an act
worthy Of reward rather than punishment
This Court acknowledges, as | suppose, the
validity Of the law of God.
| see book kissed here, which | sup
pose to be the Bible, or at least the New
Testament; that teaches me that all things
whatsoever | would that men should do to
me L should do even so to them. 1t teach
es me further TO remember them that are
in bonds as bound with them. | endeav-
ored to act up to that instruction. | say
L am yet too young to understand that God
Is any respecter to persons. | believe that
to have interfered as | have done, as |
have always freely admitted | have done
In behalf Of his despised poor, was no
wrong but right. Now it is deemed nee
essary that l should forfeit my life for the
furtherance Of the ends Of justice and min
gle my blood further with the blood Of my
children, and with the blood Of millions in
this slave country whose rights are disre-
garded by wicked, cruel and unjust enact
menU.
[ am entirely satisfied withthe treatment
| have received on my trial. Considering
all the circumstances it has been more
generous than L expected; but | feel no
consciousness Of guilt. | have stated from
h. 1ySf hot inf nd hot
was not. | never had any design against
the life Of any person, nor any disposition
to commit treason, or to excite slaves to re-
bel or make any general insurrection. L
never encouraged any man to do SO but al
ways discouraged any thing of that kind.
Let me say also in regard to the statement
made by some Of those connected with
me. | hear it has been stated by some of
them that | have induced them to join me.
But the contrary is true. [ do not say
this to injure them, but as regretting their
weakness. Not one joined me but Of his
accord, and the greater part at their own
expense \ number Of them | never saw
and never had word Of conversation with
till the day they came to me, and was for
the purpose l have stated now. l have
done
While Brown was speaking perfect qui-
ct prevailed When he had finished the
Court proceeded to pronounce thesentence
after a few preliminary remarks, in which
he said no reasonable doubt could exist as
to the prisoners guilt. lie sentenced him
to be hung in public on Friday the md
Of December.
Brown received the sentence with com
posure. The only demonstration made
was with the clapping of hands by one
man in the crowd who is not resident of
Jefferson county. This was promptly sup
pressed and much regret was expressed by
the citizens at this occurrence