Year: 1859

Conclusion Of Capt, Browns Trial
HIS SPEECH on RECEIVING SENTENCE.


On Tuesday morning, Nov. ID, the
Court gave its decision on tho motion
to arrest Judgment, overruling the OBJ
jections made. On the objection that
treason cannot be committed against a
State except by a citizen, it ruled that
wherever allegiance is due, treason may
be committed. Most Of the States have
passed laws against treason. The OBJ.
jections as to the form Of the verdict
rendered, were also regarded as insult
fcient. The clerk then asked Brown
whether he had anything to say why
sentence should not be pronounced,
when Brown stood up, and in a clear
and distinct voice said:


"I have, may it please the Court,
few words to say. In the first place,
deny everything but what I have all
along admitted-the design, on my
part, to free the slaves. I intended, Ger.
tainly, to have made a clean thing Of
that matter as I did last winter when /
went into Missouri, and there took the
slaves without the swapping Of a gun
on either side. / moved them through
the country, and finally left them in
Canada. l designed to have done the
same thing again, on a larger scale
That was all / intended. I never did
intend to commit murder or treason, or
to destroy property, or to excite or in
cite the slaves to rebellion or to make
an insurrection. / have another OBJ.
jecion, and that is, it is unjust that
should suffer such q penalty Had I
interiered in the manner in which I ad-
NIT, and which I admit has been fairly
Iproved-fOr I admire the truthfulness
and candor Of the greater portion of
the witnesses who have testified in this
case-had 1 SO intcrfered in behalf of
the rich, the powerful the intelligent,
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 would have deemed it an act
worthy Of reward, rather than punish
ment. The Court acknowledges, sup
pose, the validity Of the law of God.
see a book kissed here which I suppose
to be the Bible, or at least the New Tes.
lament, that teaches me that all things
whatsoever 1 would that men should do
unto me, I should do even so to them;
it teaches ME, further, toremember those
that are in bonds as bound with them.
l endeavOred to act up to that instruc-
ton. | say 1 am yet too young to un-
derstand that God is any respecter of
any persons. l believe that to have
interiered as l have done, as I have ell.
ways freely admitted what l have done
in behalf Of His despised poor was no
wrong, but right Now it is deemed
necessary that 1 should forfeit my life
for the furtherance Of the ends Of JUS
tice, and mingie my blood further with
that Of my children, and with the blood
Of millions in this slave country, whose
rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel
and unjust enactnents, admit, so let it
be done. 1 feel entirely satisfied with
the treatment I have received on my
trial, considering the circumstances
Ii has been more generous than l ex-
perted; but l feel no consciousness Of
guilt. l have stated from the first
what was my intention, and what was
not, / never had any design against
the life Of any person, nor any disposi-
ton to commit treason, or excite the
slaves to rebel, or make any general in
surreCtiOn. I never encouraged any
man to do 50, but always discouraged
any idea Of that kind. Let me say now
in regard to the statements made by
some Of those connected with me-
hear it has been stated by some of them
that l induced them to join me, but the
contrary is true. I do not say this to
injure them, but as regrctting their
weakness. None Joined me but Of their
own accord, and the greater part at
their own expense. A number of them
never saw, and never had a word Of
conversation with, till the day that
they came to me, and that was for the
purpose 1 have stated. Now ] have
done"


While Brown was speaking, perfect
quiet prevailed When he had finished,
! the Court proceeded to pronounce the
sentence. After a few preliminary re-
marks by the Judge, in which he said
no reasonable doubt could exist as to
the guilt of the prisoner, he sentenced
him to be hung in public, on Friday,
the second day Of December


Brown received the sentence with
composure. The only demonstration
made was with the clopping Of hands by
one man in the crowd, who was not 4
resident Of Jefferson county. This
was promptly suppressed, and much re-
gret was expressed By the citizens fol
its occurrence.


SOURCE OF THE NILE DISCOVERED
The GREAT problem of the source of IN