The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-10
HARPERs FERRY INSURGENTS.
Trial Of Coppcc-Scntence Of Dcath Passed on
Br0rn-Mx Specch 10 Tie Conrk

IFdt W CoPpcc-ScHtence 0} DcdM Passed on
Bromn-His Specch to the Court.
CnAnLEsrowS. Nov. 2d.-Messrs. Russell and
Sennet, from Boston, reached here 10 day to net
as counsel FOR the prisoners.
Captain Cook was brought before the magis.
trates' court to-day, waived an examination, und
was committed for trial.
Coppee's trinl was resumed, but 10 witnesses
were called for the defence.
Mr. Harding opened for the commonw ealth,
aud Nessrs. FIoyt and Griswold followed for
| the defendant, when Mr.. Hunter closed for the
| prosecution. The speeches Of NIL were marked
by ability. Mr.. Griswod asked for several in =
structions 10 the jury, which were all granted by
the court. when the jury retired.
Cnpt. Brown was then brought in and the
court house was Immediately thronyed. The
court gave its decision the motion for IN ar
rest of judgment, overruling the objections made
In regard to the objection that treason cannot
be committed against the State, the court ruled
that wherever allegiance is due treason may be
committed. Most of the States have passed laws
against treason. The objection to the form Of
the verdict rendered the court also regarded us
insufficient.
The clerk now asked the prisoner if he had
anything to say why sentcuce should not DO pro-
iounced against him.
Brown stood up, and In clear. distinct voice,
said: II have, may it please the court, few
words TO say. In the first place. DENY every.
hing hut what l have all along admitted, of
design OH my part to free the slaves / intend
ed certainly to have II clean thing of that mat
ter, as l did last winter when l went into Mis-
souri, aud there took slaves without the swapping
OF gun OH either SHE, moved them through the
country and finally left them in Canada | de-
signed TO have done the snrne thing on u larger
scale. That was all l intended. never did
intend murder, treason. or tho destruction of
property; to insite slaves to rebeIIi or to
make iusurrcction
81 have another objection, and that is, it is
unjust that should suffer such penalty. Tod
nterierrcd III the manner which l admit, and
which | admit has been fairly proved-(for
admire the truthfulness and candor uf the great
ei portion of the witnesses who testified in this
cnse)-had | so inlerferrrd in behalf of the rich
and powerful. the int elligrn, the so called great
or in behalf of any of their friends. either faith
er or mother, brother sister, wife or children
or any Of that class, aud suffered und sacrificed
what have in this interference. it would have
been nil right, and every mnn in this court would
have deemed it an act worthy OF rewa I'd rath-
er than punishment.
"Ihis court acknowledges too, rs suppose,
the validity OF the law Of God / zee book
kissed here which suppose to he the Bible cor
at least the New Testament. That teaches me
that all things whatsoever would men should
do I" me. / should do even so to them. 1t
teaches me, further, to remember them that are
III bonds as bound with them. imtravored to
act up to these instructions say am yet too
young to understand that God is any respector of
persons. l believe that to have iute,ferred as 7
have done, and as have always freely admitted
have done, in behalf Of Ills dcspIsed Door, was
nolwrong, but right.
Now if it is deemed necessary that should
forfeit my life for the furtherance of the ends
OF justice, and mingle my blood further with the
oond OF my children. aud with the blood of the
'niilIons IN this slave country, whose rights are
d'sregarded by wicked, cruel and unjust enact
inents, submit. So let 1t be domal Let me
say one word further. l feel entirely satisfi cd
with the treatment l have received on nv trial.
Considering all the circumstances, it has been
more generous than l expected; bur feel no
consciousness Of guilt. ! have stated from the
hrst what was my intention, and what was moi.
II never had any doing against the life of
any person, nor any disposition to commit trea
son, or excite the slaves to rebel, or make nny
general insurrcction. l never encouraged any
man to do 80, but always discouraged any idea
Of that kind. Let me soy, also, in regard to
the statement made by some of those connected
with me. | fear 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
lnJure them but rs regretting their weakedncss.
There is not one Of them but joined me of his
own accord. and the greater part at cir own
expense. number of them never saw. and
never had word of conversation till the uay
they came to die. and that was for the purpose
have stated. Now. have done !"
while Brown was speaking perfect quiet pre-
vailed: When he had finished the court pro-
ceeded 10 pronounce sentence.
After some preliminary remarks in which the
Judge said that no reasonable doubt could exist
as to the prisoners guilt the court sentenced him
ITO be hung in public on Friday, December 2d''
Brown received the sentence with composure,
and the only demonstration made was a clap
ping OF hands by one man in the crowd. who Is
not resident Of Jefferson county. This iude-
corum was promptly suppressed, and much re-
gret was expressed by citizens at its occurrence
Alter being out an hour the jury came in with
verdict that C"ppee was guilty on all the counts
il the indictment. Ills counsel imme ediately gave
notice OF motion for an arrest of Judgment, as
! IN Browns case The court then adjourned.
CHARLEsrowN. Nov. 3.-Brown's counsel will
carry his case to the Court Of Appeals on a bill
of exceptions.
Jdpan-We are gratifed to learn that the
American nap is n onpraoiot. ouJ