History
John Browns AddressJUST THREE QUESTION THIS IS JUST THE INFORMATION PLS HURRY DUE TOMARROWTo the Virginia Court, when about to receive the sentence ofdeath for his heroic attempt at Harpers Ferry, to givedeliverance to the captives, and to let the oppressed go free.[Mr. Brown, upon inquiry whether he had anything to say whysentence should not be pronounced upon him, in a clear, distinctvoice replied:]I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say.In the first place, I deny everything but what I have alreadyadmitted, of a design on my part to free slaves. I intended,certainly, to have made a clean thing of that matter, as I did lastwinter when I went into Missouri, and there took Slaves withoutthe snapping of a gun on either side, moving them through thecountry, and finally leaving them in Canada. I designed to havedone the same thing again on a larger scale. That was all Iintended. I never did intend murder, or treason, or thedestruction of property, or to excite or incite Slaves to rebellion,or to make insurrection.I have another objection, and that is that it is unjust that Ishould suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner,and which I admit has been fairly proved, -- for I admire thetruthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesseswho have testified in this case -- had I so interfered in behalf ofthe Rich, the Powerful, the Intelligent, the so- called Great, or inbehalf of any of their friends, either father, mother, brother,sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered andsacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have beenall right. Every man in this Court would have deemed it an actworthy a reward rather than a punishment.This Court acknowledges too, as I suppose, the validity of theLAW OF GOD. I see a book kissed, which I suppose to be theBIBLE, or at least the NEW TESTAMENT, which teaches me that,All things whatsoever I would that men should do to me, Ishould do even so to them. It teaches me further to,Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them. Iendeavored to act up to that instruction. I say I am yet tooyoung to understand that GOD is any respecter of persons. Ibelieve that to have interfered as I have done, as I have alwaysfreely admitted I have done in behalf of this despised poor, isno wrong, but RIGHT.Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life forthe furtherance of the ends of justice, and MINGLE MY BLOODFURTHER WITH THE BLOOD OF MY CHILDREN, and with theblood of millions in this Slave country whose rights aredisregarded by wicked, cruel, and unjust enactments, -- I sayLET IT BE DONE.Let me say one word further: I feel entirely satisfied with thetreatment I have received on my trial. Considering all thecircumstances, it has been more generous than I expected; but Ifeel no consciousness of guilt. I have stated from the first whatwas my intention and what was not. I never had any designagainst the liberty of any person, nor any disposition to committreason or excite Slaves to rebel or make any generalinsurrection. I never encouraged any man to do so, but alwaysdiscouraged any idea of that kind.Let me say also in regard to the statements made by some ofthose who were connected with me; I hear that it has beenstated 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 asregretting their weakness. Not one but joined me of his ownaccord, and the greater part at their own expense. A number ofthem I never saw, and never had a word of conversation with,till the day they came to me, and that was for the purpose Ihave stated. Now, I am done.________________________________________________________1. By whom was this document written or spoken?2. When and where was it written? Or, when and where did thetestimony take place? Do you think this was written during or afew days after the raid?