|
John Brown's last statement
I
have, may it please the Court, a few words to say.
In the first place, I deny everything but what I
have all along admitted, the design on my part to
free the 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, moved
them through the country, and finally left them in
Canada. I designed to have done the same thing
again, on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I
never did intend murder, or treason, or the
destruction of property, or to excite or incite
slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection.
I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust
that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I
interfered in the manner which I admit, 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; and
every man in this court would have deemed it an act
worthy of reward rather than punishment.
This court acknowledges, as I suppose, the validity
of the law of God. I see a book kissed here which I
suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New
Testament. That 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 have done in behalf of His despised poor,
was not 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 submit; so 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 consciousness of guilt. I
have stated from the first what was my intention and
what was not. I never had any design against the
life of any person, nor any disposition to commit
treason, or excite slaves to rebel, or make any
general insurrection. I never encouraged any man to
do so, but always discouraged any idea of that kind.
Let me say, also, a word in regard to the statements
made by some of those connected with me. I hear 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 regretting their
weakness. There is not one of them but joined me of
his own accord, and the greater part of them 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 purpose I have
stated.
Now I have done.
|