The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-11-09
Trial OF the Insurrec1lonIsts.

CHARLEsowN, Va, Nov. 2.-Russell and
Sinnet, attorneys from Boston, reached here
to-day. Cook was brought before the Mag
islrate's Court but waived On examination.
He was committed for trial.
Coppee's trial was resumed. No witness
es were called for the defence. Mr.. Hard
ing opened the argument for the Common
wealth, and Hoyt and Griswold followed for
defendant; Mr.. Hunter closed for the prose.
cution. The speeches were Of marked abil-
ity. Mr.. Griswold asked for several in.
structions which were granted by the Court.
The jury then retired. Brown was then
brought into the Court House, which was
mediately thronged. The Court gave its
decision on the motion TO arrest judgment,
overruling the objections made. On the
objection that treason cannot be committed
against the State except by citizen, IL ruled
that wherever allegiance was due treason
may be committed. Most OF the States have
passed laws against treason. The objections
as TO the form in which the verdict was rem.
dered were also regarded as insufficient.
The Clerk then asked Brown whether he
had anything to say why sentence should
not be ptNiounced, when Brown stood up,
| have, may it please the court, q few
words to say. In the first place deny eve-
rything but what have all along admitted,
the design on my part TO free the slaves.
intended certainly to have made a clean
thing of that matter, as | did last winter
when went into Missouri, and there took
slaves without the swapping of a gun on Ell.
ther side. and moved them through the coun.
try and finally left them in Cana da. de.
signed to have done the same thing again
on a larger scale-that wns all / intended.
/ never did intend to commit murder or trea-
Fon, or to destroy property Or incite slaves
TO rebellion, or to make an insurrection. I
have another objection, and that is, that it is
unjust that should suffer such penalty
Had | interfered in the manner which ad.
NIT, and which admit has been fairly prov
cd, for admire the truthfulness and candor
OF greater portion of the witnesses who
have testified in the case; had 80 interfered
in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the in
tellgeDt, the SO called great, or in behalf Of
their friends, either father, mother, brother,
sister, wife or children, or any of that class,
and suffered and sacrificed what have in
this interference, it would have been all
right. Every man in this court wou d have
deemed it 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 suppose 10 BE- the Bible,
or OF least the New Testament-that teaches
me that oil things whatsoever that | would
that men should do to me should do even
so to them; it teoches me further, to remem-
ber them that are in bonds as bound with
them. | endeavored to act up to that in.
struclion-l say | am yet too young TO un.
derstand that God is any respecter Of per
sons. believe that TO have interfered as |
have done, os have always freely admitted
| huve done, in behalf of his despised poor
was no wrong, but right. Now it is deemed
necessary lhat | should forfeit my lie for
the furtherance of the ends of justice and
minge my blood further with the blood OF
my children, and with the blood of millions
in this slave country, whose rights ore dis.
regarded by wicked, cruel and unjust enact.
ments. ] admit, so let it be done.
Let me say one word further-I feel Ell.
tirey satisfied with the treatment have had
on my trial; considering all the circumstan-
ces 1t has been more generous than expect
ed. but | feel no consciousness of guilt. |
have stated from the first what was my in
tentions, and what was not. ] never had
any design against the lie of any person;
nor any disposition to commit treason, or
excitNthe slaves to rebel. or make any gen.
eral lnsurrection. | never encouraged any
man to do so, but always discouraged any
idea of that kind. Let me say also in re.
gard to the statements made by some OF
those connected with me. hear it hus
been stated by some Of them that have in.
duced them to join me, but the contrary is
true. do not say this to injuFe them, bu!
as regretting their weakness. Not one join.
ed me but of his own accord, and greater
part at their own expense. A number OF
them never saw and never had word o
conversation with till the day they came to
me, and thst was the purpose have stated.
Now have done.
While Brown was speaking perfect quiet
preveiled--when he had finished the Court
proceeded to pronounce the sentence. After
few preliminary remarks, in which he said
no reasonable doubt could exist as to the
prisoners guilt, he sentenced him to be hung
in public on Friday, the second of Decem.
ber. Brown received the sentence with
composure. The only demonstration made
was with the clupping Of hands by one man
in the crowd, who is not q resident OF Jeffer.
son county-this was promptly suppressed,
and much regret was expressed by citizens
at its occurrence.
The verdict in Coppce's case, is guilty on
oil the counts of the Indictment. After be.
ing out an hour the jury returned with YER
dict declaring CoPpee guilty. His counsel
gave notice of motion to arrest Judgment
as in Browns case. The Court then ad .
journed.