The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1819-06-22
cHARLEsTov. Is. C.l 1--WE !

CHARLESTON, e. c. JuvE5-
On the 28th nit. melancholy and interesting
scene was witnessed by many Of the inhabitants
Of this city. To deliver over 10 the awards ~
eternity fellow mortal. who has forfeited his
I life to the laws OF his country, though ndces-
] sary, must be a painful and solemn task II ~
the righteous decree Of Heaven that. sfloso
sheddhh nlds's blood BE- man shall his blood BE-
shed" The Execution OF MARTIN TooHE1, for
the murder Of our worthy and much lamehted
fellow citizen, Mr. ]. w. GADsDFN, was sbec-
tacle which excited no common interest. and pro-
duced emotions Of no common character The
scenes Of that awful night. in which an inrotent
and unofending man fell victim to the passion
and fury Of the murderers, whose reason was
Orer porered by infsmpsrance were an brought to
our lively recollection. While at the same mo-
ment, we could not bat drop the tear If sympathy
over fellow-man, whose awful fate ought to
prove warning, aud afford solemn and affect
ing lesson as TO the fatal effects Contemporaries
It is hardly possible 10 determine, whether the
situation Of the criminal, who suffered for this
offence or Of the brother, who for the same crime,
has been driven over the face Of the earth who
Is endeavourng to flv from the face Of God" Is
most eligible or most deplorable. While Martin
expiates his offence to society, at the expense
Of his life. we car commit him to the disposal of
a sovereign and merciful God hut to Michael.
the vaeabond and fugitive. there IL an agonizing
sentence which ne is compelled to acknowledge
As just $ nv punishment is greater than can
bear" for the " blood ofmy fellow man crieth
unto me from the ground" As Christians and as
men. we ought to weep over the sorrows and ca
lamies Of orr fellow-cTeatures thew hefal the
best Of US. But IN This instance. we have to re-
cur with painful sensihilities TO the cause Of the
unhappy event of these unfortune men. Had
reason preserved her throDe-had not conscience
been stifed Nv intemperance--and had those ra-
tionsl and rejecting powers. with which God
has blessed man. been kept in proper exercise.
this melancholy catastrophe would never have
occurred. either to soriety, or "a themselves.
But intorication, that fell destroyer Of al that
is dear to man. and Identifying to his nature, Il
the source to which we are TO trace these evils.
over which we NAV heave our vain complaints
These two unhappy men have soleulnlv declared
that they were so much under its influence as
70 he unconscious Of the preparation of this muir
der. Does net this circumstance speak ? Ian
guage, which every Incorporate man oughtlto
hear with solemn attention? u the drunkard
never to eturn to his senses, that Ne nav learn
his folly ard his DANGER, Is he to rnsh AZ step
Nv step, with a blind inpetuositv. tin he incurs
that degree Of guilt which viii i1vnlve him IN
hopeless Desnair either In this world or III eter-
nitv, and very probably in both VI he stiles
conscience-ifhe Nisregaris duty--If he despises
the admonition of friends--if he becomes in diff
ferent to his own fame or usefulness--or to the
interests Of family around him, will he not
pause, and anticipate the possibility yea, the rro-
liability. Of being far left to himself one day or
other. as to fall victim TO his own folly? Tfhe
ispreserved from embrueing his hands in The
blood of fellow man, yet he is his own DESTROY
er-ifjudement NAV he deferred. II overtakine
him in this life vets Drunkards shall not lnhsr-
1t the kingdom Of Fscv~q."
Iii said, that g facts speak louder than
words" Much has been said % arrest the pro.
gress of this fatal evil MANY evidences are
adduced 10 shew its fatal effects. This case i
not the least striking, nor convincing. Yet thi.
evil progresses. The drunkard is not reformed
He reels TO and fro through the streets. an OBJ
iect Of pity DISGUST, and contemplate returns
TO the bosom of his family, nuisance, p curse.
and disgrace. His wife weeps over him, be
waiting his infstuation, and anticipating with
horror. the destruction which he prerare. for
himself. His children loathe him, and turn
away from him, as the object which sickens
their hearts and h'ghts al their hopes ofrespec-
! liability or usefrlness-Yet he is unrnoved-he
remains impenitent and obdUrate-he stalks on
his way despised--h he dies unlamented--he sinks
into hell.