The Life, Trial, and Execution of Captain John Brown: Known as "old Brown of Ossawatomie," with a Full Account of the Attempted Insurrection at Harper's Ferry

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R. M. DeWitt, 1859 - Abolitionists - 108 pages
John Brown was tried in the Circuit Court of Jefferson County, then in Virginia, Oct. 25-Nov. 2, 1859, for treason, for conspiring with slaves to produce insurrection, and for murder.
 

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Page 79 - ... 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.
Page 78 - 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 socalled great, or in behalf of any of their friends...
Page 15 - It is a mistake, sir, that our people make, when they think that bullies are the best fighters, or that they are the fit men to oppose these Southerners. Give me men of good principles, — God-fearing men, — men who respect themselves, and with a dozen of them I will oppose any hundred such men as these Buford ruffians.
Page 78 - 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.
Page 78 - 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.
Page 78 - ... 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".
Page 78 - 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...
Page 91 - ... have placed us. I have now no doubt but that our seeming disaster will ultimately result in the most glorious success. So, my dear, shattered, and broken family, be of good cheer, and believe and trust in God with all your heart and with all your soul, for he doeth all things well.
Page 40 - Brown: I furnished most of it myself. I cannot implicate others. It is by my own folly that I have been taken. I could easily have saved myself from it had I exercised my own better judgment, rather than yielded to my feelings.
Page 56 - No person shall be convicted of treason unless upon the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.

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