ADDRESS OF JOHN BROWN
To the Virginia Court, Nov, 2,1859, on receiving the
SENTENCE OF DEATH.
For his heroic attempt at Harper's Ferry, to
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[ Mr. Brown, upon inquiry whether he had any thing to say why sentence should not be pronounced upon him, in a clear, distinct voice, replied : ]
I have, may it please the Court, a few words
to say.
In the first place, I deny every thing but what
I have ^already admitted, oLgi design on my part to
free Slaves. I intended, certainly, to have made a
clean thing of that matter, as I did last winter, when
I went into Missouri, and there took Slaves, without
the snapping of a gun on either side, moving them
through the country, and finally leaving them in
Canada. I desired to have done the same thing
again, on a much larger scale. That teas all I intended.
I never did intend murder, or treason, or the destruc¬
tion of property, or to excite or incite Slaves to
rebellion, or to make insurrection.
I have another objection, and that is, that -it is
unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I
interfered in the manne*r, and which I admit has
been fairly proved,—for I admire the truthfulness and
candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who
have testified in this case,— had I 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
I have in this interference, it would have been all right.
Every man in this Court would have deemed it an
act worthy a reward, rather than a punishment.
This Court acknowledges too, as I suppose, the
validity of the law of God. I saw a book kissed,
which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the
New Testament, which teaches me that, " All things
whatsoever I would that men should do to me, I
should do even so to them." It teaches me further,
to " Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with
them." I endeavored to act up to that instruction,
I say I am yet too young to understand that God
is any respecter of persons. I believe that to have
interfered as I have done, as I have always freely
admitted I h&vp done, in heh.al.f_0f his dr.gnsed-'psar,
I have done no wrong, but (right.
Now, if it is deemed necessary that I 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
this Slave country, whose rights are disregarded
by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments,—I say,
LET IT BE DONE.
Let me say one word further: I feel entirely
satisfied with the treatment I have received on my
trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been
more generous than I expected ; but I feel no con¬
sciousness of guilt. I have stated from the first what
was my intention, and what wTas not. I never had any
design against the liberty of any person, nor any dis¬
position to commit treason, or excite Slaves to rebel,
or make any genexal insurrection. I never encour¬
aged any man to do so, but always discouraged any
idea of that kind.
Let me say something, also, in regard to the
statements made by some of those who were con¬
nected with me. I hear that it has been stated by
some of them, that I have induced them to join me;
but the contrary is true. I do not say this to injure
them, but as regarding their weakness. Not one but
joined me of his own accord, and the greater part
at their own expense. A number of them I never
saw and never had a word of conversation with, till
the day they came to me, and that was for the pur¬
pose I have stated. Now I have done.
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