John Brown’s Last Speech I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say.In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted, — the design on mypart to free the slave. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of the matter, as I did lastwinter, when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on eitherside, moved them through the country, and finally left them in Canada. I designed to have donethe same thing again, on a larger scale. That was all I intended. I never did intend murder, ortreason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion or to makeinsurrection.Summarize:I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had Iinterfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admirethe truthfulness and candor of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified in thiscase), had I so interfered in behalf of the rich, the powerful, the intelligent, the so-calledgreat, or in behalf of any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, orchildren, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, itwould have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy ofreward rather than punishment.Summarize:

John Brown was an abolitionist who worked hard for ending slavery in the country. He used violence…

Summarize: I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say. In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted, the design on my part to free the slave. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of the matter, as I did last winter, when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, moved them through the country, and finally left 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 murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion or to make insurrection. I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been 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 any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment. Summarize:

Summarize: I have, may it please the Court, a few words to say. In the first place, I deny everything but what I have all along admitted, the design on my part to free the slave. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of the matter, as I did last winter, when I went into Missouri and there took slaves without the snapping of a gun on either side, moved them through the country, and finally left 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 murder, or treason, or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite slaves to rebellion or to make insurrection. I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty. Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been 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 any of their friends, either father, mother, brother, sister, wife, or children, or any of that class, and suffered and sacrificed what I have in this interference, it would have been all right; and every man in this court would have deemed it an act worthy of reward rather than punishment. Summarize: