Page:The History of Slavery and the Slave Trade.djvu/880

 leaving 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 to [sic]committ murder or treason, or to destroy property, or to excite or incite the slaves to insurrection, and make an insurrection.

"I have another objection, and that is, that it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit—and which I admit has bean 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 their friends, either father or mother, brother or sister, wife or children, or any of that class, and suffered or sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right. Every man in this Court would have deemed it an act not worthy of punishment. This Court acknowledges, I suppose, the laws 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 man 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 after 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 no wrong, but right. Now 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 the blood of millions in this slave country, whose rights are disregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments.

"I am 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 were my intentions, and what were not. I never had any design against the life of any person, nor any disposition to commit treason, or to 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, 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. Not one joined me but on 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 purpose I have stated now. I have done."

When he had finished the court pronounced the sentence of the law, that Brown should be hung in public on Friday, the 2d of December. He received the sentence with composure, and throughout all the exciting scenes, up to the moment of execution, he manifested the most extraordinary fortitude. His