The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-11
WHOLE NO.. 5l3.
Speech Of Capt Brown on Receiving His
Sentence,

Tho Clerk then asked Brown whe,bor bs
mad any thing to say why sentence should
not be pronounced, when Brown stood mn
and in clear and distinct voice, said P
II have, may it please the Court. fov
"ords 10 say. In tho hrst place, deny
everything but what have all along nd.
mitted-the design on my part to free tho
slaves. intended certainly to have made
clean thing of that matter as | did last
winter in Missouri,and took the slaves with.
out tho swapping Of gun, and moved them
through the country. finally leaving them
in Canada. | designed to have done tho
same thing again on largo scale; that was
all intended. | never did intend to COM
init murder or treason. or to destroy prop
ertv, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion,
aud TO make an nsurrection.
| have another objection. and that ia. that
it is unjust that should suffer such PEN
atty. Had l intcrtered in tho manner
winch l admit, and which admit has been
iaIrly provcd-for | admire tho truthfulness
ana cahuor OF the greater portion of tho
witnesses who have testified in this cnse--
had | so interfcred in behalf of the rich. tho
powerful, the intelligent, and the so-called
great or in behalf of their friends. either
father or mothor brother or sister. wife or
children. or any of that class, and suffered
or sacrificed what | have 10 this intorference.
1t would have been all right Every man
in this Court would havo doomed it an act
worthy of reward rather than punishment.
Ibis Court acknowledges. as l suppose tho
validity of the Law of God.
see book kissed hero which supposed
to be the BibIo, or at loast the New Testa.
mcnt that teaches mo that all things what
soerer would that mon should do to me
should do even SO to them. 1t teaches me-
further to remember them that are in bonds
as bound with them. endeavor to act up
TO that instruction. Isay am vet too Young
to understand that God is any respector OF
persons. l believe that to have interfered
as have done, as | have ALWAYS freely adj
mitIod have done in behalf of His despised
poor, was no wrong, but right. Now it ia
deemed necessary that l should forfeit nv
lie Tor tho turtherance Of tho ends OF Justice
and mlngle my blood further with the blood
oi my children, and with tho blood of mil
Ilons IN this slave country whose rights arc
disregardod by wicked, cruel and unjust
enactments,
am entirely satisfied with tho treatment
l nave received on my tril!. Considering
all the circumstances, it has boen more gem
e'ous than ! expected but feel no con-
sciousness of guilt. have stated from the
hrst what was my intentions, and what was
not l never had any design against the
ne Oh any person, nor any disposition to
commit treason, or to excite slaves to rebel
or make any general insurrection. l never
encouraged any man to do so. but aiways
discouraged any idea of that kind. Let me
say also in regard to the statements mado
by some of those connected with me. / hear
1t has been stated by some of them that
have induced them to join mo. But the
contrary is true. do not say this to iniure
them, but as regretting their weakness.-
Not one joined mo but of his own accord,
aud greater part at their own expense
A number of them never saw, and never
had a word Of conversation with till the day
they came to me, and that was for the pur.
pose have stated now. have dono.