Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 3, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 December 1859 — Cook's Case and Confession. [ARTICLE]

Cook's Case and Confession.

Cook’s confession is published in full in the New York Tribune of Saturday. It amounts to nothing as evidence of a conspiracy, outside of the parties already to some extent connected with Brown’s expedition, flerritt Smith, Howe, Sanborn, and Thaddeus Hyatt- And as to those it reveals nothin<r but ;hat Brown once or twice spoke of them as aiding or having at former times aided him in some way. What their connection with the Harper’s Derry affair was, he says he don’t know, and don't know that they had any at all. As a t narrative of personal adventure it is not without interest. In any other regard it is simply nothing, and so it was regarded by the Democrats of Charlestown, for they never used it till the trial, and it was thought too trifling even u ’;en to abroad. As to Cook there appears to be but little doubt of IDs execu‘.’° n ’ The Richmond Enquirer of the 24th ti.lt., says: “Strange as it may appear, there is on foot a greater effort, if possible, for the pardon of John E. Cook than was made for Old Brown. We are informed by the North lowa 7 imes that efforts are being made upon the press of the North-Western States to effect this object. We do not feel the extreme disgust for this attempt that is expressed by the North lowa Times, for we know how little the character of Gov. Wise is understood by those who think mercy from him can be bought by political favor or extorted by personal threats. “Those who understand the character of Henry A. Wise know that if he believed Cook deserved pardon it would be extended to him, though opposed by every paper in the broad limits of our country; but the pardon of Cook is out of the question— he is the most guilty of all the Charlestown prisoners. So far from his being the dupe of Old Brown, Ossawatomie is the victim of John E. Cook. “The fact of his connection with Governor Willard, while it will, doubtless, increase the regret which an Executive always feels in withholding pardon, will have no influence in the present case. When men have connections in high positions, it should be a restraint upon their conduct, and if such connections dues not thus influence the vicious, it should never be permitted to become an incentive to crime by the precedent of pardon.” The Richmond Enquirer is edited by a son of Governor Wise.