第46章在法庭上的最后陈述(1)
LastStateme
约翰·布朗JohnBrown
约翰·布朗(1800—1859),一位狂热的废奴主义者,约翰·布朗起义的发动者,生于康涅狄格州的托灵顿。
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&hefollowingarticlecarefully,ahequestionbelow。
Agtotheauther,whatisthemostimportantpointtothislaststatement?
Ihave,mayitpleasetheCourt,afewwordstosay。
IplayeverythingbutwhatIhavelongadmitted:ofadesignonmyparttofreeslaves。Iiohavemadeagofthatmatter,asIdidlastentintoMissouriaookslaveswithoutthesnappingofaguherside,movihroughthetry,andfiheminada。Idesigohavedohingagainerscale。ThatwasallIintended。Iereasoiooexciteslavestorebellion,ortomakeiion。
Ihaveaion,andthatisthatitisunjustthatIshouldsuffersualty。HadIihemannerwhichIadmit,andwhichIadmithasbeenfairlyproved—forIadmirethetruthfulnessanddreaterportionesseswhohavetestifiedinthiscase—hadIsointerferediherich,thepowerful,theiheso-calledgreat,orinbehalfofanyoftheirfrieher,mother,brother,sister,wifeor,oranyofthatdsufferedandsacrificedwhatIhaveinthisiwouldhavebeenallright。EverymaninthisCourtwouldhavedeemeditanactworthyofrewardrathertha。
ThisCourt,aowledges,too,asIsuppose,thevalidityofthelawofGod。Iseeabookkissed,whichIsupposetobetheBible,oratleastthe,whichteachesmethatallthingswhatsoeverIwouldthatmenshoulddotome,Ishoulddoevensoueachesme,further,torememberthemthatareinbondsasboundwiththem。Ieuptothatinstru。IsayIamyettooyouhatGodisaerofpersohattohaveinterferedasIhavedone,asIhavealwaysfreelyadmittedIhavedone,inbehalfofHisdespisedpoor,Ididn,butright。Now,ifitisdeemedhatIshouldforfeitmylifeforthefurtheraheendsofjustidminglemybloodfurtherwiththebloodofmyandwiththebloodofmillionsinthisslavetrywhhtsaredisregardedbywicked,dus,Isay,letitbedone。
&mesayonewordfurther。IfeeleisfiedwiththetreatmentIhavereytrial。galltheces,ithasbeehaIfeelnoessofguilt。Ihavestatedfromthefirstwhatwasmyiion,andwhatwasnot。Ineverhadanydesignagaiyofanyperson,noranydispositiontoittreasonoriorebelormakeanygeneraliion。Ineverencedanymantodoso,butalwaysdiscedakind。