Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1859-11-16
Old Browns Speech to the Court.

Bef re passing the sentence of the Court.
the clerk asked the prisoner il he had any
thing to say why sentence should not be pro.
nounced against him.
Brown stood up, and, in clear, distinct
voice, said: have, may it please the court.
a few words to say. In the first place. | deny
everything but what have all along admit.
ted, of design on my part to free the slaves.
| intended certainly to have made a elea!
thing OF that matter, as did last winter when
! went into Missouri and there took slaves
without The swapping Of gun on either si'!',
moved them through the country and finally
leE them in Canada. designed to have
done the same thing on larger scale. Thal
was all intended. never did intend mnr.
der, or treason, or the destruction OF prop rty
surrectisn.
II have another objection, aud that il, ii
is unjust that should suffer such penalty.
Had iuterferred in the manner which, al.
nit, has been fairly proved, (for admire the
truthtulness and candor of th- greater por'i II
OF the witnesses who testified in this cnsc, had
| so interferred in behalf of the rich aid
powerful, The intelligent, the so.called gr'at,
or in behalf of any Of their friends, either
father or mother, brother or sister, Wit nr
children, or any Of that class, and sui: sd
and sacrificed what have in this interference,
it would have been all right, and every nan
in this Court would have deemed it an act
worthy of reward, rather than punishment.
This Court acknowledges, too, as ! sup.
pose, the validity Of the law Of Gud. St.. {:
buok kissed here which l suppose to be the
Bible, or at least the New Testament. hat
teaches me that all things "whatsoe"ec
would men should do to me should do r-n
So to thern.n 1t teaches me, further, to re.
member them that arc in bonds as ho'ind
with them" endeayurcd tc act up 10 these
instructions. | say ain Jet too Young to ri,.
iersland that God is any rcspecter of pers'n
believe that to have intcricrel as | lave
done, and as have always free y admit'.l |
have done in behalf Of His despised poor, was
no wrong, but right.
Now, if it is deemed necessary that !
should forfeit my life for the furtherance Of
tue ends of justice, and ningle my bl.'od
further with the blood Of my children, and
with the blood of the millions in this sla.e
country, whose rights are disregarded by wick
ed, cruel and unjust euactments, submit.
So let it be done Let me say one word f:r.
ther. feel entirely satisfied with the tre:t.
ment have received OIL nv tria!. Considering
all the circumstances, it has been more gen.
erous than expected; bnt feel no con-
sciousneSs of guilt. have stated from the
first what was my intentions, and what was
not
al never had any design against the life Of
any person, nor any disposition to commit
treason, or excite the slaves to rebel, or make
any generalinsurrection. Inever encouraged
al.r nan to do SO. out always discouraged any
idea o. that kind Let me soy, als,,, III re.
gard 10 lie staten euL made by .''.re OF those
Ice. .:i.: Il is i,t
~ snr1t .. he's: .tat J !'.rv" induced tas:n.:a
ou ule. Blu, the contrary is ,rae. | do .ot
cay this 10 iujnre them, but as as,esre'ting their
weakness, i'here IS aot one OF lhem but
Joined me Of his own accord, and the sres'e
part ut their own expense: A number Of them
never saw, and never had word Of con.
yersation with till the day they came To mo,
and that was for the purpose | have stated
Now have dohe."
While Brown was speaking perfect qnivi
prevailed. When he lad finished the Court
proceeded to pronounce sentence.
After some preliminary remarks, in wtirh
the Judge said that 10 reasonable doub' card
exist as to the prisoners guilt, the Court sen
fenced him to be hung in public on Fri'ayy,
December 2nd.'
Brown received the sentence with comro.
sure, and the only demonstration made was
clappirg 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 cilizers at
its occurrence.