Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1816-12-05


of an Interpretation, which Providence
has engraved in livin.. letters on every
hHman heart. Yes, ifthere be one among
you blessed with a daughter, the smiles
ofwhose infancy still cheers your memo
ry and the promise OF whose youth illu-
inmates your hope-who has endeared
the tolls of your manhood-whom YOU
look up TO as the solace of your declining
years-whose embrace alieyiated the pang
of separation-whose glowing welcome
hailed your oft anticipated return. Oh,
n there be one amongst YOU, TO whom
those recoIleciions are dear, TO whom
those hopes are precious--let them only
fancy that daughter torn from his caress-
es by the seducer's arts, and cast on the
world, robbed of her innocence and
then let him ask his heart (" vhnt money
could reprise nm" The defendant cannot
complain that put it thus TO you. lin
place OF seducIng, ne had assaulted this
poor girl-if ne had attempted by fierce,
what he had achieved by fraud, his life
would have been the forfeit: and vet how
thrilling IN comparison would have been
the parents agony He has no right
then TO complain, If you should estimate
this outrage ut the price of his very exis-
lance. am told, indeed, this gentleman
entertalns an opinion, prevalent enough
in the age of ieudalism, as arrogant as If
was barbarous, that the poor are only
species of property, to be treated accor-
ding to interest or caprice; and that
wealth isat once Il patent for crime. and
an exemption from lis consequences. Hap
PLY for this land, the day ofsuch opinions
has passed overit-the eye Of purer fee
ling and more profound philosophy now
heholds riches but as one of the aids of
virtue, and sees inoppressed poverty on
ly an additional stimulus TO Increased
protection A generous heart cannot
help feeling that in cases of this kind. the
poverty of the injured is dreadful a%gra-
vation. If the rich suffer, they have
much TO console them; but when poor
man loses the darling Of his heart-the
sole pleasure with which nature blessed
him-how AFFECT! how cureless is the
despair of his restitution! Believe me,
gentlemen, you have not only solemn
duty TO perform, but YOU have an awful
responsibility imposed upon you. You
are this day, in some degree, trustees for
the morality of the people-perliaps offhe
whole nation: for depend upon If. if the
sluices of immortality, are once opened a
mong the lower orders ofthe people. the
frightful tide, drifting upon its surface all
that is dlgnifIed or dcar-will soon rise e.
ven to the llabitatIons or the higeest. I
feel, gentlemen, have discharged NV du-
ty-l am sure YOU will do yours. re-
pose my client with confidence i'm your
hands: and most fervently do hope.
that when evening shall find you at your
happy fire side. surrounded by the sacred
circle of Your children, you may not feel
the heavy curse growing at your heart, of
having let loose, UNPUBLISHED, the prowler
that may devour them. Gentlemen, we
will now call orr evidence assure YOU
| have stated this case far less strongly
than my instructions would warrant me
but even so, cannot avoid warning You
to take no word of mine for granted. and
TO decide solely according to the testimo-
ny producedto YOU
There was yirdict for the Plaintiff, of
e $500.