Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1859 — Brow Sentenced. [ARTICLE]

Brow Sentenced.

Charleston, Nov. 2. The Clerk asked Brown whether lie 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, a few words to say. In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted, the design on my part tj free the slaves. 1 intended, certainly, to have made a clean thing of tout matter, as I did last winter when I went to Missouri, and there took the slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, and moved them thronuh the country, and finally left them in Canada. I designed to have done the same thing again, and on a larger scale. That was all °I intended. 1. never did intend to commit murder or treason, or to destroy property, or to excite or incite tiie slaves to rebellion, and to make an 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 the case. Had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called great, or in behalf of their friends, either lather, mother, brother, sister, wife or child, or any in that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have done 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 punishment. This Court acknowldges, as I suppose, the validity of the law of God. I see a book kissed here, which I suppose to be a Bible, or, at least, the New Testament, that teaches me ‘that all things whatsoever 1 would that men should do to ine, 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 as to that instruction.

“I suy I am yet too youg to understand that God is a respecter of persons. I believe that to have interfered as I have done, as 1 have always freely admitted I have done’ in belKtlt of His despised poor, was no wrong, but right. Now, it it is deemed necessary that I shall forfeit my life for the furtherance ol the ends of justice, and mingle my blood 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 rny trial. Considering all the circumstances, it has been more generous than I expected. But I leel 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 committreason, or to excito the slaves to rebel, or to make any general insurrection. I never encouraged any man to do so, but always discouraged any idea of that kind. Let mo say this, also, in regard to tiie statements made by those connected with me: I hear it is stated by some of them that I induced them to join me, but the contrary is true. I do nut say this to injure them, hut as regretling their weakness. Not one of them joined j but ot h:s own accord, and the greater part |of them at their own expense. A number I of them I never saw, and never hail 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.” While Brown was speaking, perfect quiet prevailed. When he had finished, the Court proceeded to pronounce the sentence, after a tew preliminary remarks, in which he suit! no reasonable doubt could exist as to the prisoner’s guilt. He sentenced him to be hung, in public, on Friday, the 2d day of December. Brown received the sentence with composure. The only demonstration made was with clapping of hands by one man in the crowd, who is not a resident of Jefferson county. This was promptly suppressed, and much regret was expressed by the citizens at its occurrence.