ed for judgment on Gibbs, in the same
manner as in the case of Wansley, and the Court having addressed Gibbs,
in similar terms, concluded by asking what he had to say why the
sentence of the law should not now be passed upon him.

_Charles Gibbs_ said, I wish to state to the Court, how far I am guilty
and how far I am innocent in this transaction. When I left New Orleans,
I was a stranger to all on board, except Dawes and Church. It was off
Tortugas that Atwell first told me there was money on board, and
proposed to me to take possession of the brig. I refused at that time.
The conspiracy was talked of for some days, and at last I agreed that I
would join. Brownrigg, Dawes, Church, and the whole agreed that they
would. A few days after, however, having thought of the affair, I
mentioned to Atwell, what a dreadful thing it was to take a man's life,
and commit piracy, and recommended him to "abolish," their plan. Atwell
and Dawes remonstrated with me; I told Atwell that if ever he would
speak of the subject again, I would break his nose. Had I kept to my
resolution I would not have been brought here to receive my sentence. It
was three days afterwards that the murder was committed. Brownrigg
agreed to call up the captain from the cabin, and this man, (pointing to
Wansley,) agreed to strike the first blow. The captain was struck and I
suppose killed, and I lent a hand to throw him overboard. But for the
murder of the mate, of which I have been found guilty, I am innocent--I
had nothing to do with that. The mate was murdered by Dawes and Church;
that I am innocent of this I commit my soul to that God who will judge
all flesh--who will judge all murderers and false swearers, and the
wicked who deprive the innocent of his right. I have nothing more to
say.

_By the Court_. Thomas J. Wansley and Charles Gibbs, the Court has
listened to you patiently and attentively; and although you have said
something in your own behalf, yet the Court has heard nothing to affect
the deepest and most painful duty that he who presides over a public
tribunal has to perform.

You, Thomas J. Wansley, conceive that a different measure of justice has
been meted out to you, because of your color. Look back upon your whole
course of life; think of the laws under which you have lived, and you
will find that to white or black, to free or bond, there is no ground
for your allegations; that they are not supported by truth or justice.
Admit that Brownri