介绍:
1859年发生的约翰·布朗起义，是美国人民群众试图用武装斗争消灭黑人奴隶制的一次英勇尝试。约翰·布朗是这次起义领导人，故名。1800年，布朗出生于康涅狄格州一个白人农民家庭。其父为废奴主义者，布朗从小受反奴隶制思想的熏陶。1856年曾参加堪萨斯内战，赢得胜利。1859年他领导美国人民在哈伯斯费里举行武装起义，要求废除奴隶制，并逮捕一些种植园主，解放了许多奴隶。他的起义最后被镇压，他被逮捕并杀害。大部分历史学家对他持肯定态度，包括作家爱默生及梭罗均称赞约翰·布朗。
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 admittedthe design on my part to free the slaves. I intended certainly to have made a clean thing of that 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(叛逆，叛国), or the destruction of property, or to excite or incite(激动，煽动) slaves to rebellion, or to make insurrection(起义).
在这法庭上我只想讲几句话,首先,除去我一直承认确实有计划地要解放黑奴之外,我否认一切其他指控.我确实有意完全消灭奴隶制,去年冬天我就到过密苏里州接运黑奴,双方未发一枪就将黑奴运出,送至加拿大.我曾打算扩大这行动的规模.这就是我想做的一切.我从未图谋杀人,叛国,毁坏私有财产或鼓励,煽动奴隶谋反作乱.
I have another objection; and that is, it is unjust that I should suffer such a penalty(处罚). Had I interfered in the manner which I admit, and which I admit has been fairly proved (for I admire the truthfulness and candor(坦白，直率) of the greater portion of the witnesses who have testified(证明，证实) 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 friendseither father, mother, brother, sister, wife or children, or any of that classand 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.
我还要提出一项异议,那便是：我受到这样的刑罚是不公平的.我在法庭上所承认的事实已经得到相当充分的证明,我对于证人提供的大部分事实的真确和公允是很钦佩的.但是,假如我的所为,是代表那些有钱有势,有知识的人或所谓大人物的利益,或是代表他们的朋友,父母,兄弟,姊妹,妻子,儿女或他们所属的阶级其他任何人的利益,并因此而受到我在这件事上所受到的痛苦和牺牲,那就会万事大吉.这法庭上的每个人都会认为我的行为不但不应受罚,反而值得奖赏了.
This court acknowledges, as I suppose, the validity(有效性，合法性) of the law of God, I see a book kissed, which I suppose to be the Bible, or at least the New Testament. That teaches me that all things whatsoever(无论什么) 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 doneas I have always freely admitted I have donein behalf of His despised(轻视) poor was not wrong, but right. Now, if it is deemed necessary ends of justice, and mingle(使混合) 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(邪恶的), cruel, and unjust enactments(设定，制定)I submit(服从): so let it be done!
我想,这法庭上也承认上帝的法律,我看到开庭时你们亲吻一本书,那大概是《圣经》吧,至少也是《新约全书》.这本书教导我要以己所欲,施之于人.还教导我“要想自己也被囚禁那样,不忘身陷囹圄的人们”.我曾努力实践者训条.我要说我还太年轻,不懂得上帝竟会不公平待人.我相信,我一直坦率承认曾为上帝穷苦子民所作的事,并没有做错,相反,完全正确.如果为了伸张正义,我必须献出生命,必须在这个被邪恶,残暴与不义的法制剥夺了一切权力的蓄奴国家里,把我的鲜血和我的几个孩子以及千千万万人的鲜血留在一起,就请便吧!
