Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-11-14
9ailg- Tirsiuiau.
Old Brown in Prison.

dent:
Aperson visiting Brown in Jail and seeing him
tor the first time with an estimate formed Of tho
man from his conduct during the trial aud the
speeches there delivered by him. would find his
preconceved opinions rapidly disappear before
the subject of them II is true that, acting under
excitement from the consciousness that he was
surrounded by his enemies, Brown frequently in
dalged in irascible remarks, feeling somewhat se-
euro IN the protection of the law whose victim he
must be- while, at the san,s time. he dared and
indeed, seemed to court the worst his foes could
do. thinking, perhaps, that ho might escape the
slower and more vongeful process Of the law. In
this state of feeling. sensitive rs enthusiast in
giving to the world tho motives Of an act which,
to his own diseased mind, was great and good, but
winch the world must condemn, ha claimed with
petuiance and mpatience those delays in tho nd
minstraton of the law which neither his crimes
nor the circumstances of tho court could fairly ad
init OF. His object in this was, as he himself
said, to give the world fair opportunity Of judg-
ing of his motives. If this opportunity was to be
denied HIM. summary quietus from one Of tho
sharpes rifles in the hands of hs enemies was
all he next rboss desired. Now that he has
celved at the hands Of Justice aud fair play all tho
delay that he could possibly hope fora trial pre-
tracted over FIVE days-.with tho fullest publicity
gwen to the statement OF these witnesses who tes-
titled most directly and generously to his humani-
ty to his prisoners in the Armory ut liarpers Fer
ry, he is satisfied and awaits the result with that
calm firmness which IN the sure characteristic OF
u brave man.
What Brown was most anxious to establish in
the eyes o! the world, during the trial, was his
claim to being considered humane and merciful
from his conduct to his prisoners. Whatever good
quality man possesses in any marked degree he is
most anxious To have it acknowledged at n time
when,circumsanccs point the other way;& so it was
with Brown. Though his deeds in the Kansas
wars did not eutitle him to be considered either
humane, or ayerso to tho shedding Of blood Ger
tany his prisoners at Ilnrpors Ferry had no fault
TO fnd with him on that score. They frankly ac-
knowledged his humanity and courtesy towards
them. AT all events. tho opinions formed Of the
man from the darker features of his life would
fade before the influence Of a personal interview
with him in prison. Now that his fate has been
decided by the just and proper process OF law, be
feels resigned to it. Ile no longer induges in
his trial. but whenever he does he pays a tribute
to all concerned Judge. counsel and witnesses.
lie speaks freely upon all subject but one. and
that is, the death of his sous. From his tacitur-
nifty he has heen adjudged as entirely cnllous as
to the fate of his sons and the other unfortunate
victims Of his mad enter prise; but this is very
great mistake. and arises FROM ignorance Of the
human heart lie avoids tho subject, it is true,
but in waving it. should it he started. tho obser-
YER can mark and understand the feeling which
confines it to his own heart. lie speaks freely
enough of his wife aud daughters. and he has
been -ome time considering the pr"priety OF al
lowing them to visit him. They now on their
way to visit him. although he had resolved ON
avoiding an interview with them until some few
days previous to that fixed for his death, and
which he has not the slightest hope Of seeing put
off single honr.
Mrs Russell, wife Of Judge Russel visited him
the other day. and had u long chat with him. lie
n.lu'a
and was very communicative with her. In illus-
t.ang h own ehar lcter, he said that he mad never
known whct fear when brought into opposition
or collision with his fellow men but he had strange
feeling Of that nature Oh his first introduction to
the higher class of men with whom his peculiar
and wayward lfo brought him into cohtaet.
THIS feeling he said, was very awkward and very
painful, also when entering the society Of womon
The interview with Mrs. Russell seemed to 4 tnch
the old mans heart, and woman could turn
from him so full of trials and for women
at such moment rarely looks back to first Causes
without emotion.
Brown frequently indulge. in amusing nara
tiyes of his euconners with his border cncmios of
Kansas and Missouri. lie related to mo that upon
one occasion he had succeedca in running nway
with party uf slaves from Missouri. but that ho
was SO hoty pursued that SOME stratagem was ne
cessnrv to prevent them from being overnkenn the
event of which reverc fight and consequent snerl'
flee of life must he the result. To avoid this. Brown
himself turuei off the track nf the retreating far-
~ and having completely disguised hn,sci Joined
as mn amateur pursuer. With them he remain
cd day and night entering into their councils
and efectually controlling their motions, 30 That
he turned them of the right track and gave his
friends an opportunity to escape. Tho OLD man
laughed he recalled the scene, and said. Il ncs-
er was good at disguises, but that tune aece'vea
several in the party who had seen and known me
lefore." With all that come in kindly spirit To
visit him Brown is exceedingly free and open
He esteems s,ch as friends and seems t view tneit
leave taking with regret Bot these visits ar" oot
angel vi 3it., few far between; the jealousy AM
suspicion with. (which the people OF Charicstown re-
gard all ho are likely to feel m iDr ana 'yn,pAiI.
barr ed the prison doors. 1t is not SO. however,
ia rclord to those about whose earnest hostility
to aN abolition movements their Is no doubt enter
taikod. They enter in il"cks. and cape ana stare
aud follow the jaler in and out. IL was even
With sume difficulty that succceoea III eHect'p9
AZ entrance to Browns prison; but scarcely had
Z | commenced a conversation with nun ~heh inc
chief ;anitor called mo to join the tail OF tho re-
In avery conversation had with Brown he de.
nouncod the attempts that wero being made with
Governor Wise to Interfere 10 any way with the
course of Justice as marked out by the trial and
the result to which it tends. lie ieels that those
who are thus treating the subject Of life and death
with him are not those with whose feelings and
designs ON the question Of slavery no had identi-
6ed himself, whose counsels he shared. whose con-
6denoe he possessed. and whose visionary schemes
he had pledged himself to carry into fulilmsnt or
sdie in the attempt" These men. he said, dare
mot publicly avow themselves, and the spectators
in political capital, and the sohen,ers in political
eventualites be never had and did not now desire
to have; anything to do with. Hs declares that
the object u thnse men is base that of those
persons who. 10 Iarpsr'e Ferry and Charlsstown,
friends. threa ling him with vengeance and
death should he carry on: the sentence pronoun-
ood hv the law lie recognizes foes under both