Andrew Hunter, Prosecutor, at the Trial of John Brown, October 31, 1859

Contended that the code of Virginia defines citizens of Virginia as “all those white persons born in any other State of this Union, who may become residents here;” and that evidence shows without a shadow of a question that when Brown went to Virginia, and planted his feet at Harper's Ferry, he came there to reside, and to hold the place permanently. True, he occupied a farm four or five miles off in Maryland, but not for the legitimate purpose of establishing his domicil [sic] there; no, for the nefarious and hellish purpose of rallying forces into this Commonwealth, and establishing himself at Harper's Ferry, as the starting-point for a new government. Whatever it was, whether tragical, or farcial and ridiculous, as Brown's counsel had presented it, his conduct showed, if his declarations were insufficient, that it was not alone for the purpose of carrying off slaves that he came there. His “Provisional Government” was a real thing and no debating society, as his counsel would have us believe; and in holding office under it and exercising its functions, he was clearly guilty of treason. As to conspiring with slaves and rebels, the law says the prisoners are equally guilty, whether insurrection is made or not. Advice may be given by actions as well as words. When you put pikes in the hands of slaves, and have their master captive, that is advice to slaves to rebel, and is punishable with death.

SOURCES: Franklin B. Sanborn, The Life and Letters of John Brown, p. 575; “The Virginia Rebellion. Trial of John Brown.” The New York Times, New York, New York, Tuesday, November 1, 1859, p. 1 for the date only.