Chapter 605 Why Fear Death?

Chapter 598 What's to fear about death?

The story of the Gilead Confederates attacking the Harpers Ferry Ferry, destroying the plantations near the ferry, liberating plantation slaves, and detaining local gentry and celebrities spread, and soon caused an uproar throughout the United States.

Especially after the telegram sent by President Buchanan to the Virginia authorities and Robert Lee was leaked, it aroused strong indignation among the people in the North who supported abolition.

Major newspapers in the North criticized the Buchanan government for defining the Gilead Confederates as rebel forces and John Brown as a rebel leader in the telegram. Instead, John Brown was praised as a freedom fighter and hero.

The reputation and support rate of the Buchanan government thus dropped to the freezing point, and both the North and the South lost trust in the Buchanan government.

After learning that the Virginia authorities were about to try 34 captives including John Brown and his youngest son in Virginia, major cities in the North broke out in large-scale demonstrations.

In order to cater to public opinion, the governments of the northern states also sent telegrams to put pressure on the federal government and the Virginia government.

They asked the Virginia authorities to escort John Brown and others to Washington for trial by the Supreme Court instead of in Virginia.

The Virginia authorities turned a deaf ear to the protests and demands of the North. They still decided to try John Brown in Virginia.

Republican Lincoln knew what it meant to let a court composed of slaveholders try a group of anti-slavery fighters.

Lincoln rushed to Richmond by train at night and asked to serve as John Brown's defense lawyer.

The Virginia authorities refused to allow Lincoln to serve as John Brown's defense lawyer on the grounds that Lincoln was not familiar with Virginia state laws.

Lincoln had no choice but to ask for a postponement of John Brown's trial out of humanitarian concern on the grounds that John Brown was seriously injured.

The result is naturally self-evident. The Virginia authorities knew that this was just a delaying tactic of Lincoln and John Brown, and rejected this request again.

John Brown's attack on Harpers Ferry ferry made Virginia lose face. Before that, no armed force had ever dared to take the initiative to invade the South.

Whether it was for the sake of saving face or for the sake of deterring other radical abolitionist armed forces in the North, the Virginia authorities and even the entire South would not let John Brown off easily.

John Brown's fate was doomed from the moment he was captured by the North.

On March 7, 1860, an unprecedented trial kicked off in Virginia.

Before the trial of John Brown, Virginia had already tried John Brown's accomplices, that is, his companions.

Many of the accomplices who had completed the trial took the initiative to plead guilty.

The court of the Virginia Supreme Court was solemn and solemn. Everyone's eyes were focused on a man in plain clothes and covered with wounds in the dock. He was John Brown, who was hated by Virginia and the entire South at this moment. He was the focus of today.

John Brown glanced at the presiding judge William Hughes with contempt, and looked at the court composed of slave owners in the court with disdain.

There was no regret on his face, only firmness and determination. His body was upright, as if he was a solid reef on the seashore, unafraid of the invasion of strong winds and waves.

The prosecutor stood up first and began to state the charges against John Brown in a sonorous voice. This prosecutor was none other than Charles J. Phillips, the current speaker of the Virginia State Assembly.

Charles J. Phillips accused John Brown of treason, murder and other felonies, and asked the court to impose a severe sentence on him.

As for John Brown's defense lawyer, since he was arranged by the Virginia authorities, the defense lawyer remained silent under the benefit of the Virginia authorities and gave up the right to defend John Brown.

Soon, the prosecutor Charles J. Phillips showed the ironclad evidence of John Brown's crime in court again.

These hard evidences are nothing more than the weapons used by John Brown in the attack on Harpers Ferry, the landowners near Harpers Ferry, the civilians accidentally injured by John Brown in the attack, and the families of the civilians who were accidentally killed.

These people tearfully accused John Brown of the crimes he committed against them in Harpers Ferry, and asked the court to sentence John Brown fairly to comfort the victims.

William Hughes showed a smug smile at the corner of his mouth, and his voice echoed in the court: "John Brown, you and your accomplices are now charged with treason, murder, kidnapping, public disorder, and attacking government facilities. What is your defense for being charged with treason?"

"If you want to accuse someone of a crime, you will find a reason. If the court allows, I have a few words to say." John Brown's face was as calm as water. He had long put aside the trouble and smiled indifferently.

The slave owners in the courtroom began to whisper to each other. John Brown faced several serious charges, and they were all inside and outside the courtroom. He could not escape the death penalty anyway.

For a dying man, these slave owners generously decided to give him a chance to speak to show their tolerance and generosity.

"After deliberation, this court decided to give you a chance to defend yourself." William Hughes announced.

“First of all, I deny all accusations except what I have always admitted, namely, that I had a plan to free the slaves.

I do intend to eliminate slavery altogether. As I had done the winter before last, when I went to Missouri, where I took away the slaves without firing a shot, and finally settled them in the North or in Canada. I plan to expand the scope of this operation. That's all I want to do. I have never attempted murder, treason, destruction of private property, or encouraged or incited slaves to rebel or riot.

I have another objection, that is, it is unfair for me to be punished like this. The facts I admitted in court have been fairly well established, and I admire the truth and fairness of most of the facts given by the witnesses.

But what if I act on behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-called big shots, or on behalf of their friends—whether their parents, brothers, sisters, wives, children, or any of them? All will be well for the benefit of any man, and therefore the suffering and sacrifice which I have suffered in this matter. Everyone in this court believed that my behavior was not only unpunishable but worthy of reward. "

John Brown admitted all charges except freeing the slaves, and believed that the reason why he was now being sent to a Virginia court to suffer an unfair trial was simply because he did not side with the American powerful. The action did not receive the support and permission of the northern dignitaries.

Assuming that he is on the side of the American elite, or even that he is an American elite, his actions will not be punished or judged, but will be rewarded.

"You are being tried in court today, not because of your humble background or wealth, but because you have committed a serious crime." William Hughes interrupted John Brown, "You are still stubborn and unrepentant. , you are really hopeless!”

"Are you Christians?" John Brown glanced at the scriptures in front of William Hughes and said.

"Yes, I am a Baptist." William Hughes said impatiently. He did not expect that the country bumpkin in the dock could be so eloquent. He now regretted speaking to the country bumpkin to defend himself. s right.

"I am a Puritan, and since you are also Christians, I think this court also recognizes that God's law is valid." John Brown pointed to the scripture in front of William Hughes and said.

"I see here a book that you guys have kissed. I think it's the Bible or at least the New Testament. I'm a person who doesn't like to read. This is one of the few books I've read or listened to. , it taught me: I should treat others how I want others to treat me; it also taught me: remember the people in prison as if I were imprisoned with them.

I strive to live by this precept. I was too young to understand that God could show favoritism. I believe that what I have been doing frankly for God's poor people is not wrong but right.

Now, in this nation of slaves, millions are deprived of their rights by evil, cruel, and unjust laws, if deemed necessary. I should sacrifice my life for the purpose of implementing justice, and shed my blood, the blood of my children, and the blood of millions of people together to resist these cruel injustices and awaken the ignorant people. "

"This is a fair court! The laws of this state have always been fair! All the citizens of this state have always been enlightened!" Charles J. Phillips refuted John Brown, "John Brown, you are here to make trouble for our court. What is your intention in putting the Bible above the laws of this state? Presiding judge! I request that the defendant’s right to defend himself be taken back!”

"Please let me finish my last words. Do the Dukes of Virginia still fear the words of a dying man?" John Brown straightened his back and said loudly.

"I am completely satisfied with the treatment I received at this trial. Taking into account various practical reasons, this trial was more lenient than I expected.

but! I don't think I'm guilty of anything. I have said from the beginning what is my intention and what is not my intention. It never occurred to me to destroy other people's lives, to commit treason, to incite slave rebellion, or to start a general insurrection. I have never encouraged anyone to do this, but have always discouraged any such thought.

Please also allow me to say something that people who are related to me have said.

I heard some of them say that I induced them to join me, but the opposite was true. I say this not to hurt others, but because I feel deeply sorry for their weakness. Not one of them has joined me voluntarily, and most of them have joined me at their own expense. Many of them I had never met or spoken to until the day they came to me, and that is for the purposes I have stated.

Now, I have finished my words. "

When John Brown finished speaking, there was silence in the courtroom.

The slave owners in the court looked at this thin man with very complicated eyes, including hatred and admiration.

However, these complex emotions could not affect the outcome of John Brown's trial. In the end, John Brown was still sentenced to hanging, which was scheduled to be executed within a month.

It wasn't because of the generosity of Virginia's leading slaveowners that they allowed John Brown to live an extra month. But Virginia law stipulates that the death penalty can only be carried out one month after the outcome of the trial is announced.

If the law allowed, these slave owners in Virginia would have executed John Brown immediately without hesitation.

Lincoln, who was waiting outside the court for the trial results, felt heartbroken after learning the expected result. He bluntly pointed out that the unfair trial of John Brown by the Virginia authorities was an unprecedented shame in the American judicial community!

The Virginia authorities were unwilling to give John Brown even the most basic procedural justice.

April 7, 1860, was a clear and breezy day.

At the Virginia State Prison in Richmond, reporters from southern newspapers who heard the news, as well as a few reporters from western newspapers, had set up cameras in front of the prison gallows to record this precious and cruel moment.

Considering John Brown's influence, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, the Virginia authorities did not choose to execute John Brown in the square or the market, but executed John Brown near the prison.

Even so, many people chose to come to the execution ground of Richmond Prison to watch the execution.

John's wrists were tied tightly behind his back, and his steps were a little heavy, but his eyes were still firm. He walked to the execution platform without fear. Beside John Brown, the guards were on guard, ready to deal with any unexpected situation at any time.

Since the northerners had been denied the right to watch the execution, the onlookers who came to the execution ground to watch the execution were all southerners, and a few westerners. The onlookers looked at the martyr with different eyes, some with disgust and anger, and some with admiration and sympathy.

Soon, the executioner in charge of the execution began to move and put the noose around John Brown's neck.

John Brown closed his eyes calmly and prayed silently in his heart. His thoughts flew, recalling his life and the hard years of fighting for freedom and liberating slaves. It seemed that all these past events happened yesterday.

The gallows began to fall slowly, the rope was tightened, and John Brown's body was suspended in the air. For a moment, silence enveloped the execution site. The scene was very quiet, with only the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the American flag behind the execution ground.

Collins, the chief photographer of the California Daily, pressed the shutter to capture John Brown's face, which remained calm and without a trace of fear at the moment of death. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "What a man."