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The World’s Famous Orations, Vol 9
John Brown
His Speech to the Court at his Trial*
(1859)
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. It teaches me, further, to "remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them." 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—as I have always freely admitted I have done—in behalf of His despised poor was not wrong, but right. Now, if it is deemed necessary that I should forfeit my life for the furtherance ofthe ends of justice, and mingle my blood further 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 my trial. Considering all the circumstances it has been more generous than I expected. But I feel no consciousness of guilt. I have stated that 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.
Let me say also a word in regard to the statements made by some of those connected with me. I her 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. There is not one of them but joined me of his own accord, and the greater part of them 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.
*His last speech to the court (November 2, 1859) before which he was tried at Charlestown, West Virginia, his execution taking place on December 2 of the same year. During the night before the execution a company of soldiers, with their arms and accouterments, slept in the court-room where Brown had been tried, and it is a curious fact that one of these soldiers was John Wilkes Booth.
Chicago: John Brown, The World’s Famous Orations, Vol 9 in The World’s Famous Orations, ed. William Jennings Bryan (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, December, 1906), 188–189. Original Sources, accessed November 21, 2024, http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=E8281YAL57KGVZ6.
MLA: Brown, John. The World’s Famous Orations, Vol 9, in The World’s Famous Orations, edited by William Jennings Bryan, Vol. The World#8217;s Famous Orations, New York, Funk and Wagnalls, December, 1906, pp. 188–189. Original Sources. 21 Nov. 2024. http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=E8281YAL57KGVZ6.
Harvard: Brown, J, The World’s Famous Orations, Vol 9. cited in December, 1906, The World’s Famous Orations, ed. , Funk and Wagnalls, New York, pp.188–189. Original Sources, retrieved 21 November 2024, from http://originalsources.com/Document.aspx?DocID=E8281YAL57KGVZ6.
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