Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-11-04
The Harper's Ferry insurgents.

S""t''t"" ~ CnPpft-iT"c"e y h''1"
PISSED On B,oma-HiS Srccch 10 tie Court.
CHARLEsrowN, Nov. 2.-Messrs. Russell
and Sonnet, from Boston, reached here to-
day 10 act n counsel for the prisoners.
Capt. Cook was brought before the mags-
trates' court to-day, but waived an examlna-
ton, and was committed for trial.
Coppee's trial was resumed, but no wit
nesses were called for the defence.
Mr.. Harding opened for the Common
wealth, and Messrs. lIoyt and Grswold fol
lowed for the defendant, when Mr.. Hunter
closed for the prosecution. The speeches OF
all We're marked by ability. Mr.. Griswold
asked for several instructions to the jury,
which we're al granted by the Court, when
the jury retired.
Capt. Brown was then brought in aud tho
Court House was Immediately thronged.-
The Court gave It's decision ON the motion
for an arrest Of judgment, ovcrruling the
objections made. La regard to the objection
that treason cannot BE- committed against
the State, the Court ruled that wherever al
leglance is due, treason may be committed.
Most OF the States have passed laws against
treason. The objection as to the form of the
verdict rendered, the Court also regarded as
Insufficient.
The clerk now asked the prisoner if he
had anything 10 say why sentence should
not be pronounced against him.
Brown stood up. and i'll clear. distinct
voice. said Il have, may it please the court,
few words to say In the first place,
deny everything but what have all along
admitted OF design on my part To free the
slaves. | intended certainly 10 have made Il
clean thing Of the matter, aS | did last win
ter when went into Missouri and there took
slaves without the swapping of u gun on either
/ side, moved them through the country, and
finally left them in Canada. designed to
have done the same thing on larger scale.
| That was all intended. never did intend
murder or treason, or the destruction OF pro-
perry or 10 ncite slaves to rebellion or 10
make Instruction.
! Il have another objection. and that Is, it is
Just that | should suffer such penalty.
| Had interirrei III the manner which |
admit and which admit has been fairly
| proved-(tor admire the truthtulncSS and
candor of the greater portion of the witnesses
4 who testify in this case had | so interfered
i'll behalf of the rich and powerful, the intel
ligent, the so-called great, or in behalf Of
/ any of their friends, either father or mother,
! brother or sister, wife or children, or any
! Of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what
! have in this interference. it would have
been all right, and every man in this court
would have deemed it an act worthy of
reward rather than punishment.
! This court acknowledges too. rs sup
pose. the validity of the law Of God. | see
!; book kissed here, which | supposed to be
/ the Bible, or ut least the New Testament.
That teaches me that all things whatsoever
! | would men should do to me | should do
! even 50 to them 1t teaches me, further, to
remember them that are i'll bonds as bound
with them | endeavored to act up to these
| instructions. | say that | am yet too young
to understand that God is any respector OF
persons. | believe that to have intertered,
as have done, and as | have always freely
| admitted have done, i'll behalf Of Ills des-
pired poor. was no wrong. but right.
"Now, If it is deemed necessary that |
! should forfeit my lie for the furtlerance OF
the ends CT justice, and mlnglc my blood
further with the blood of my children, and
with the blood o. the millions i'll this slave
country, whose rights are disregarded by
wicked, cruel and I'M ust enactments, | sub
nit So let it be done. Let me say one
word further feel entirely satisfied with
the treatment have received on my trial.
! Considering all the circumstances, II has
been more generous than expected; but
! feel no consciousness of guilt. have stated
from the first what was my intention, and
what was not.
Il never had any design against the life
! of any person, nor any disposition To COM
nit treason or excite thr slaves to rebel. or
make any general insurrcctlon. never en-
Outraged any man to do 50, but always dis
Outraged amy idea Of that kind. Let me
saw, also. in regard to the statement made by
some Of those connected with me: fear 1t
has been stated by some of them that have
induced them to join me. But the contrary
is true. do not say this to inlure them,
but as rcgrettng their weakness. There Is
not one of them but joined me of his own
accord, and the greater part ut their own
expense. A number Of them | never saw,
aud never had a word Of conversation with,
till the day they came L. ne, and that was imr
I the purpose have stated. Now have done
While Brown was speaking perfect quiet
prevailed When he hal finished, the court
proceeded to pronounce sentence.
After some preliminary remarks IN winch
the Judge said that no reasonable doubt could
exist as to the prisoners guilt, the court SEN
fenced him 10 be hung in public on Friday,
| December 3D.
Brown received the sentence with compo-
sure, and the only demonstration made was
a clapping of hands by one man IN the crowd
who is not resident of Jefferson county
/ This indecorum was promptly suppressed
and much regret was expressed by citizens at
its occurrence.
! After being out an hour the jury came IN
with a verdict that Coppee was guilty on Ill
the counts in the Indictment. Ills counsel
Immediately gave notice ot Il motion Tor an
arrest of Judgment, a III brown ; CASE
| The court then I'D iourned.
Browns Attorney-samuel Chiffon
We regret to see that Mr.. Chiffon : man
agsment Of the Charestown case Is mIsunder-
stood. Mr.. Chiffon is not Northern man,
not an abolitionist, nor yet a Black hepubii-
-. L., N nv birth and UNI