Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-12-18
Old John Brown.

Ferry in the autumn of 1850, was speed
lily suppressed, and he was put on trial
for his life, on the charge of treason,
conspiracy to produce an insurrection,
and murder He was hung December
2, 1859. He appeared in the court room
for the last time on the I'd Of November
and just before being sentenced, ON be-
ing asked if he had anything to say,
made the following characteristic speech
al 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 slaves. / intended, certainly, to
have made clean thing of this matter,
as | did last winter when / went into
Missouri, and there took slaves without
the swapping of gun on either side,
moving them through the country, and
finally leaving them in Canada. l de.
signed to have done the same thing again
on larger scale. That was all / In
tended. l never did intend murder or
treason, or the destruction of property, |
or to excite or ncite slaves to rebellion,
or to make insurrection. | have anoth-
er objection, and that is that it is unjust
that should suffer such penalty. Had
interfered in the manner in which l
admit, and which / admit has been fairly
proved-for / admire tne truthfulness
and candor of the greater portion of the
witnesses who have testified in this case
had | so interfered in behalf of the
rich. the powerful, the intelligent, the
so-called great; or in behalf of any 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 would have deemed it an act wor-
thy Of reward rather than punishment.
, This court acknowledge, too, as l sup
pose, the validity of the law of God. l
see book kissed, which l suppose to be
the Bible, or at least the New Testament,
which teaches me that all things wbatso-
ever I would that men should do to me
: | should do even so to them. 1t teaches
{ ne, further, to remember them that are
10 bonds as bound with them. l en-
deavored TO act up to that instruction.
: say | am yet too young to understand
. that God is any respector of persons.
al believe that to have interfered as
have done, as have always freely ad-
mitted | have done, in behalf of his de-
spised poor, is no wrong, but right. Now
4 if it is deemed necessary that should
forfeit my life for the furtherance of the
= ends of justice, and mingle my blood
further with the blood of my children
. and with the blood of millions in the
! slave country, whose rights are disre-
i garded by wicked, cruel and unjust en-
actments, say 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, it has been more
generous than | expected, but | feel nc
consciousness of guilt. | have stated
from the first what was my intention,
: and what was not. / never had any de-
: sign against the liberty of any person
Q nor any disposition to commit treason OF
o incite slaves to rebel or make any gener
al insurrection. Inever encouraged any
i man to do SO, but always discouraged
any idea of that kind.
:" Let me say, also, in regard to the
statements made by some of those who
} were connected with me, l fear it hai
. been stated by some of them that | have
= induced them to join me, but the con
i trary is true. do not say this to injure
them, but as regretting their weakness
!. Not one joined me but of his own ac
n cord and the greater part at their
own expense. A number of them | new
{. er saw ana never ndu WOTu OIL cOnVeT'
A sation with till the day they came to me
and that was for the purpose have stat.
= ed. Now / have done"
r FOR HIS SOUL Is MARCHING ON.
They call thee hot-brained, crazed and mad /;
Z But every word that falls
Goes straight and true. and hits the mark
'. More sure than cannon balls;
Through scepter forms of bogus law.
l. 1t cuts its way complete, Et-
And judge and jury too are tried
At Gods great judgment seat.
b Old man. farewell. they'll take thy life;
For dangerous enough.
!, In these our sweetly piping times.
D, Are men of hero stuff
II We should tread soft above the fires
That underneath US lie;
9 You'll crack the crust OF compromise.
4 And set them spouting high
Where Henry's cry for Liberty"
: Once sent its shivering thrill,
There's only room six feet by two
J, For heroes now TO fill.
And DER the spot the years viii roll
G As spring its verdure weaves.
And autumn FER the.felon's grave
= shake down its yellow leaves.
q But not the spot six feet by two
Will hold a man lik thee;
r John Brown will tramp the shaking earth
From Blue Ridge to the sea,
? Till the strong angel comes at last,
y And opens each dungeon door.
r And Gods Great Charter holds and waves