Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1818-01-15
TIIR ryl.lIlrINN

GETrYspCRG, Jau. T.--m pursuance ofthe
sentence OF the court, the execution OF JAMES
HUNTER, for the murder OF Henry Neasy,
,0uk place on Saturday last, about the honr Of
I O'Clock. Several thousands were there as
sen!bied as witnesses OF that awful event
BetwIAt the bOnrs OF II and ~, tile prisoner,
ciC;nCd IN his Shrord, aud bound with the
fatal rope, the Instrument OF his death. was
contacted from tiie prison 10 the place of ex-
ecutiOu WHITTIER, agresably TO his own special
request, nc was permitted 10 walk, accomPS.
MED hy the sheriff ANA siy' the clergy RESIDING.
in town aud in its vicni,y. During the whole
procession his soul $ cmed occupied with
deeply felt reiterated and continued importu
mites with Eeaycu, in relation To his APP
preaching fate. And when the decisive peri
cd had arsi> I'd, after prayer offered up Ly one
Of the clergy who accompanied him, he with
great apparent fortitudc and resignation, and
in expression OF hope founded only on the
merits of the Son OF God, yielded up his lite.
lie had heen confined in prison about six
months previous to the day at execution. a
great proportion OF that time appeared TO be
devoted To religious cares. The visits of the
clergy and other pious persons, were thank
fully received, and frequently solicited-tlio'
from peculiarly reserved constitutional cha
racter Gas we believe lie did not seem 10 teel
nor TO reveal his feelings as freely as was desi
red. He often did confess and professed TO
lament, his having given too much Indulgence
to angry passions his inattention TO parental
instructions-andh his general neglect of reii-
siOh- liz liiSi diiCl hlN CpHnbSnltUI
in prison, having been deeply convinced of.
and distressed for his lost condition as "A sin-
ner; he sought, and as he hoped, had found
mercyat tue Throne of Grace-tllat sin had
become the object OF hIs abhorrcnce-GOdan and
his laws, the objects OF his delight that
Christ was his precious ami only refuge-apd
tIe salvation III his soul his most heartfelt
concern. OF the fatal deed for wlch he died,
he always spoke in the same mamner:-that
though he had pre- viousiv been greatly offend.
- bn lnrp l
the matter as all over, and had no malice TO-
wards HIN, nor design OF injurin,s him-that
the act which took away bis life, was mad,
thOughtless and inpetuouS--that he knew not
at the time " hat he was doDg-and could ac-
count tor that desperate deed IN no other way,
than by aScribing il 10 partial arrangement,
produced by intoXicaiiOn, together with the
sudden instigaton of the devil.
when under the galiewS, he was specially
Intercepted as to some things stated into
confession made on the night previous to his
execution, and afterwards neutrality-suspicious.
larly the two last paragraphs, in which lie
speaks of having always adhered, as strictly
as IN ms power, TO the laws of morality, except
occasional intoXicatsn" and having lever
cherished the most entire confidence and be-
lei 10 the truth, purity and efficacy, of the
doctrines OF Christianity" He declared, that
by these expressions he did not design TO jus-
lily his former life--nor to convey the idea,
tiiat he considered himself as having always
neen religious man and true practical be-
Iever-but merely that, with the exception of
iintoXcaton, he had through his former life
been in general what is called moral man,
thodsh without real religion aud that he had
always in speculation been persuaded of the
diviAe truth and doctrines of Christianity
though he had not until since he received sem
teuce OF death been brought to know and feel
their truth, purity and efficacy on his own
soul, leading him TO abhor his sins, rely on the
mercy, and devote himself to the will of God
lie Tor some time before his death uniformly
protested strong hopes of future happiness,
and always declared that these hopes were
founded on Gods great mercy, and gracious
promises in Christ Jcsus-and that his comfort
was obtained, from persuasion that God had
gracionsly wrought in him the penitonce, faith
ven.