Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-11-24
THE INsURRECTIoN.
CHARLEsTowN, November,

,.--s . CHARLEsTowN, November, IL.
The proceedings of the Circuit Court for
Jefferson county we're brought to close
yesterday morning, after session of three
weeks, which was occupied exclusively in
the trial of the Harper's Ferry conspirators.
The Circuit Court for Frederick county,
over which Judge Parker presides, COM
mer,ces to-day, and hence the necessity of
closing the term for the county. The term
will long be remembered as the most inter-
estiDg ever held here, FIVE men having been
tried and found guilty of the highest crimes
known to our laws. ~.
The conncts, Cook, Coppie, Copeland
and Green were brought out yesterday at
2 o'clock, to receive the sentence Of Judge
Parker. The Court room was crowded, and
the anxiety to get another view of the ,pris-
oners was great. They were brought into
Court by the deputies and placedin the bar,
in range of chairs facing the Judge
Near Cook was seated Governor Willard
and Mr.. Crowley, both of whom seemed
bending beneath the weight of sorrow this
affair has cast over them and their families.
The prisoners were then directed to stand
up and asked if they had anything to say
why sentence should not be passed upon
them. Cook and Coppie then proceeded. to
deliver short addresses, the former being
somewhat vehement in his manner of speak
ing, whilst the latter made firm impress
sion by his great and collective style Of de-
livery. Both protested their ignorance of
the attack on Harper's Ferry, until the Sab
bath before the night of the attack, when
they were called on to swear to obey the or
ders of their commander Brown. Coppie
stated that he knew he would be punished
for his foolhardy attempt, but be thought it
should have been lighter than had been ad-
judged. The negroes declined saying any
thing.
Judge Parker proceeded to deliver the
sentence on the prisoners, which was recei.
we'd by them with great frmness. The SEN
tence was that John E. Cook, Edwin Cop.
pie, Shields Green and John Copeland -
Your trials, on which we have been 80 long
employed, have at length ended, and all that
remains to be done to complete these judi
cial proceedings, is to pronounce and record
the judgments which by law must follow
upon the crimes for which you have been
tried, and of which you have been found
guilty. These crimes have all grown out of
mad inroad upon this State, made with
the predetermined purpose TO raise in our
midst the standard of servile insurreetion.
In the execution of this purpose, in the
darkness of Sabbath night, you seized up
on portion of our territory, captured seve-
raj of our best citizens-holdiug them as
hostages of war until your party was itself
overcome by force-armed such Of our slaves
as you could seize upon with deadly weap-
ous, which they were to use against their
owners, whom you denounced to them as
their oppressors ;and, in your efforts to push
your bold and uuholy schemes through to
successful issue, you have taken human life
in no fewer than FIVE instances. The evil
dence most abuudantly proved that all these
things have been done, and by the force of
that evidence, jury after jury has felt itself
compelled to bring in its verdict Of guilty
against each one of you.
Happily for the peace of our whole land,
you obtained no support from that quarter
whence you so confidently expected it. Not
a slave united himself to your party, but, so
soon as he could get without the range of
your rifles, or as night gave him opportuni-
ty, made his escape from men who had come
to give him freedom, and hurried to place
himself once more beneath the care and pro-
lection of his owner. When we reflect up
on all the mischief and ruin, the dark and
fearful crimes, which must have attended
even your partial success-men everywhere
should be thankful that you we're 80 soon
and so easily overpowered. For these ofen-
ces, the law demands the penalty Of death,
and imposes upon me the duty of pronoun-
cling that sentence. 1t is the most painful
duty I have been called on to perform.
In spite of your offence against our laws,
I cannot but deeply feel for you, and sim
cerely, most sincerely, do sympathise with
those friends and relations whose lives are
bound up in yours, and whose hearts will
be wruug with grief when they shall hear
of the sad fate which has overtaken you, the
objects of their warmest and holiest affec-
tions. For them we all do sorrow whilst
due regard for our safety may not permit US
to forgive the offence of which you have
been guilty, hope that they will turn for
consolation, and you for pardon, to that good
Being who in his wrath remembereth mer-
cy. Make, then, your peace with him-for
you must soon be ushered into His presence,
there to be dealt with as His justice and
His mercy may ordain.
To conclude this sad duty, I now announce
that the sentence Of the law is, that you and
each one of you, John E. Cook, Edwin Cop
pie, Shields Green and John Copeland, be
hanged by the neck until you be dead and
that the execution of this judgment be made
and done by the Sheriff of this county, on
Friday, the sixteenth day of December next,
upon you, Shields Green and John Cope.