_Mason._ But you killed some people passing along the streets quietly.
_Brown._ Well, sir, if there was anything of that kind done, it was without my knowledge. Your own citizens who were my prisoners will tell you that every possible means was taken to prevent it. I did not allow my men to fire when there was danger of killing those we regarded as innocent persons, if I could help it. They will tell you that we allowed ourselves to be fired at repeatedly, and did not return it.
_A Bystander._ That is not so. You killed an unarmed man at the corner of the house over there at the water-tank, and another besides.
_Brown._ See here, my friend; it is useless to dispute or contradict the report of your own neighbors who were my prisoners.
_Mr. Vallandigham (who had just entered.)_ Mr. Brown, who sent you here?
_Brown._ No man sent me here; it was my own prompting and that of my Maker, or that of the Devil--whichever you please to ascribe it to. I acknowledge no master in human form.
_Vallandigham._ Did you get up this document that is called a Constitution?
_Brown._ I did. They are a constitution and ordinance of my own striving and getting up.
_Vallandigham._ How long have you been engaged in this business?
_Brown._ From the breaking out of the difficulties in Kansas. Four of my sons had gone there to settle, and they induced me to go. I did not go there to settle, but because of the difficulties.
_Brown._ We came to free the slaves, and only that.
_A Volunteer._ What in the world did you suppose you could do here in Virginia with that amount of men?
_Brown._ Young man, I do not wish to discuss that question here.
_Brown._ Well, perhaps your ideas and mine on military subjects would differ materially.
_Mason._ Did you consider this a military organization in this Constitution? I have not yet read it.
_Brown._ I did in some sense. I wish you would give that paper close attention.
_Mason._ You consider yourself the commander-in-chief of these "provisional" military forces?
_Brown._ I was chosen, agreeably to the ordinance of a certain document, commander-in-chief of that force.
_Brown._ I would not have made such a remark to you if you had been a prisoner, and wounded, in my hands.
_A Bystander._ Do you consider this a religious movement?