Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-07-08
VIRGINIA ARGUS.
Richmond, L,ty 8, 1915.
observation-disclosures.

We are enabled to lay before our readers ire
traSable proof OF ille inhunan conduct of capt-
Shorthand There is no necessity for any COM
nenti the documents speak for themselves
II VIII be recoilected that 4 i. paragraph has been
going the rounds of the papers, Stating that MIR
hng and SIR. Larpent had been apponted to m
vestgate the affair, and some editors had deter
mined 10 hoduP theropnons until they learned
the result ut their mvest ga4en. The prisou-
ers do not appear altogether satisfied w III Mr.
Mugs cohdact they say, though we would
not hastily peeludge Mr.. Kings report, we
deem 1t necessary 70 siate, that our antcipa
tons OF 1t are not OF tue most fvorable natIrc
from ms not appearing 10 take that interest m the
altar which the injuries has c0untrvmen bad re-
ceTed demanded, as far the greater pare of
Their time was employed IN taking the depositi-
ohs OF Shortiand's witnesses, most of whom were
implicated with HIM IN guilt. onlearnmg RI.
fNlhg was about leaving the depot, we ADDRESSED
a note to nm, stating, whose dispositions we con-
ceVed would be OF Importance, and requested
MN TO have them taken I'VE received to thlsnote
no answer, and he Immediately ett the depot.-
ihe particular points on WHICH those depOs.tions
Woulo nave borne, related to picking the hole in
the wall and breaking the locks ofthe cate lead
ms INTO the market square-they would have
eNoherated the PRISONERS generally from having.
any snare IN those acts, or even a knowledge OF
tbsir having been committed. As these were tbs.
Two prIncl3ai points on winch Shorthand resi- e,f
ms plea % Justification, We deemed il highly ne
ce3sary that they should have been placed in q
proper point of veyy.'
From Mr. Beasiey's letter of the t4th fNo. 10 :
it would appear that an official statement o. the
affair had reached him from Shortland's side nj
Tie question 1t is not az all improbable ,l.at "a I
oihclal statement, upon which Mr. Beasley found
Ell has letter, IS similar to the official accounts ot
the altar ofthe Little Belt, Guerrero. Java SC
| aud from thence we infer that rigid adherence
| to truth does not constitute It's most prominent
feature.
We are forcibly struck with the astonishing IN
stance OF magnanmlty and torbearance displayed
by cur sealnen towards an unfortunate person who
had accidentally got within the prison during, the
Preparation OF tle massacre-We conceive II I,i,-
! e1dalied IN the annals of History. We giveit ny
the eloquent language of the Committee
When the brutal sodierv were
following the prisoners into the wards, stabb ne-
and hrinS IN among them, lamplgh;er who had
coae III few moments previous, ran into No. 3
prison to escape being murdered by his own colln-
/ tymen; on being recognized, rope was fixed
tor hanging him immediately. in tIIs moment
| ofrritat,on, when their slaughtered and bleeding
counIymeR lay grooming around them IN the ago.
mes OF dlssoluton, such an act of vengeance, al
that time, would not have been deemed singular,
but on its beng Represented TO them, by some III.
| uential characters, that such n deed would stain
| the Ainerlcan name, TO Their honor be it record
| cd, that humanity ufunphed overyengeance the
trembling wretch was released, and told 10 90 -
We disdaiR TO copy after your countryinen, and
murder you al this advantage-we will seek o
more noble revenge"