The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1817-03-17

SCH tuS scuuCers gong eytn 50 lar as
to throw. gravel up at the windows OF
the defendant; yet lord Peterborough
refused to disturb the verdict
Thus, you may see rest not on my
own proofiess and unsupported dictum !;
rely upon grave decisions and yenera.
BILE authorities not only on the indig-
nant denunciation of the moment, but
on the deliberate concurrence Of the
enlightened and the dispsssionate.
l see my learned opponent smile.
tell him, would no, care if the books
were an absolute blank on the subject.
1 would then make the human heart my
authority. ] would appeal TO the bo-
som Of every man who hears me whe-
Their such a-crime should grow uppu.
nish ed into precedent-wbetker in.
nocence should be made the subject Of
brutal speculation. What damages
should you give here where there is
nothing TO excuse-where there is ev-
cry thing to aggravate : The seduc-
ton was deliberate, it was months in
progress, its victim vas almost child /;
it was committed under the most alluf-
ing promises-it was followed by a
deed OF the mosi dreadful cruelty but
above all il was the act of man COM
missioned by his country, and paid by
this, Tor the enforcement of the laws,
and the preservation of society. No
man more respects than i do the we'll
earned reputation of the British army.
% 1t is school
Where every principle tendingto honor
Is tasghi-if followed"
But In the name Of that distinguish.
ed army, here solemnly appeal a..
gainst an act which would blight
its greenest laurels and leave its
trophies PROSTATE in the dust-Let
them war, but be it not on domestic
| happiness--let them invade, but be their
| country's hearts inyiolate-let them a.
chieve triumph wherever their ban
ners ey, but be it not over morals, inno-
cence and virtue. know nor by what
palliation the defendant means TO miti-
gate this enormity-will he plead her
youth il should have been her protec-
ton. Will he plead her levily deny
the fact--but even we're it true, what
is it to him? What right mas any man
TO speculate on the temperature of your
wives and your daughters, that ne may
deGle your bed or desolate your habica-
tions wall he plead poverty never
knew seducer, or an aduIterer, that
did not. What! shall the sacrea seal
of filiai obedience, upon which the Al
mighty Parent has fixed his eternal fat,
be violated with impunity by blasphe.
nous and selfish libertinism
Gentlemen, if4he cases have QUOT.
ed, pallia,ed as they were, have been
humanely marked by ample damages,
he should have considered that before.
But as poverty an excuse for crime
Our law says, he who has not purse
to pay for it, must suffer for il in per-
son. 1t is a most wise declarations.
and for my part, never hear such a
person plead poverty, that my first e.
motion is not thanksgiving, that Pro.
violence has denied, at least, the instru.
mentality of wealth to the accomplish
ment of his purposes. Gentlemen,
see you agree with me- ! wave the
topic, and again tell you, that if what
I know will be his chief defence, were
true, il will avail him nothing. He
had no right to speculate on this
wretched crcainre's levity, to ruin her,
aud still less to ruin her family. Re-
member, however, Gentlemen, that e.
ven had this wretched child been in
discreet il is not in her name we ask
the reparation--no, it is In the name OF
the parents, her seducer has heart
broken--it is in the name of the poor
helpless family he has dcsolated--it is
in the name of that misery whose
Sanctuary he has violated--it is in the
name OF law, virtue and rnorality--it is
IN the name of that country, whose
fair fame foreign envy will make res.
ponsible for this crime--it is in the
name of natures dearest, tenderest
sympathetic is in the name of all
that gives yogr toll an object, and your
ease charm, and your age hope, l
ask from you the UaIae effhe hoor man 8
child.
When Mr.. Phillips bad concluded, a
burst of applause proceeded from the
auditory in which the bar and court
warmly joined.
Catharine Creighton, the plaintiffs
daughter was l6 years of age on the
sth Of this month she was the female
seduced and the only witness examin.
cd for the prosecution. The plaintiff
was a slate merchant, he had lately
been in embarrassed circumstances,