The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1819-02-24


sibiliy generally shewd thowards those whose
lives ase forfeited by the laws, that IL there
are any ameIiora,ing circun, stances in the
case, the power whose preroga,ive IL is 90
pardon, 10 sssaiIed from every quarter Wit
humble petitions and enueaties for mere.
Many think this feeling has been too Mt ch
induIged in our community, and that elem
cy has too often bce2 shown to criminals, hut
we are not Of this opinion. This pny TO the
wretcbed and gully, these strong feelings OF
abhorrance at the frequency OF public execu-
tions, are proofs Of public virtue, for much
OF patriotism and purify Of morals grow oa,
Of tho affections. dead tho symps-
thies Of the heart, and TIE head is but mis-.
erabie guide. Generous sentiments, often,
in she abandoned, counteract erroneous ress
oning aud prevent bad deeds. Whatever
may be the necessity If cutting off the Of
fender the public should never be outraged
by tho msDncr. The deiicacy Of public ieel-
ing should bo preserved at almost any ex-
pence, and therefore no unnecessary form Of
,gnomy or disgrace should accompany pub
lie execution for the mind, Disguised with
pity from the late Of the sufferer, snd vents
its indignation at the wantonness and barbara
~ Of power.-There has not been an execu-
tion ia this Commonwealth for many years
that the public mind has not been so porfect-
iy satisfied with the justice of the condemna.
tion that 10 guard was necessary. Every
spectator felt as II he had sat in Judgment
upon the offender, and was perfectly convin-
ccd that the sentence was just. No murmur.
ings, no hissipgs at apoblic execution eye'
disgrace the people here. They generally
20 out to SEQ the dismal spectacle with sub
dued aud religious felings, and they retnrn
deploring the hard necessity that any Of their
fellow beings should so sbsmefuIly die, still
reverencing the justice which decrees the
expialion These men were ready TO die,
aud earnestly hoped their dea'hs would be a
solemn wsroing to others. They were hum-
BILE, pcniten, and resigned, full of conirition
at their deeds Of wickedoess, but wanted no
mercy Of man they had sougb, it with p sy.
ers and tears at the source of Eternal Mercy,
and indolged the hope that they were heard
They acknowledged, with graliiude, the kind
tteatmen, they had received from the Mat
shal, the Keeper Of the prison and his alien
dants--but above all they were thankful for
the advantages they bad received fo' religious
instruction.
The Priest who attended them, was inds-
fstigsbic 10 his excrtions 10 bring them to Q
proper sense of their situation He labored
day and night to explain to then the nature
OF crime, the neces,i ,ily Of its being punished
by human laws, and the hopelessRess of the
criminal in another world without coGrition
and repentance, end eheered them with the
promises OF the gospel through Jesus Christ
il they were humble and sincerely pehitcnt
before God. He ins,llled in'o The m, day by
m has ia. lenu hA1
the happiness of seeing the obdurecy Of the
sinful heart yield, and he hardened disposi.
tion of the murderer soften. Never did
men pass through, in so shor, time,a more
thorough coarse of moral snd religious DIS.
eruption. IL was constant, pure, aud We trust
effectual. The good confesser oever left
them until they were launched into etetnlty,
and had the satisfaction VI Knowing, that
their frmness lasted with their b ea'h, and
that their last look on this worI0 was bt,ght
ened by well founded belief, in their being
happy beyond the grave.
Instead Of calling in q wretch stamped
with ignomy and sleeped in guilt to act as
exec ulioner, men of the rs, tespec'abili'y
perform that service herc.--Pubfic execu.
tions are considered as a dire necessity, and
when they most happen they are to be done
10 all deeency end 10 order The Marshal,
and Mr.. Bell the prison keeper, have treated
these unfortunate men with such kiudness
and delicacy having frequently fed them from
what was prepared for their owo tsbles, and
constso,ly attended to their reasonable and
lawful reques,s-so that they were ready to
kiss the hands that tied the fatal cord.
A public execution has, from the earliest
history Of our coaotry, been conducted with
solemn and religious rites.--The people here
have never denied the rsle from holy writ,
"that whose sheddeth mans blood by man
shall his blood be sheH'-but sull have
thought it solemn and deporabis necessity,
and have humbled themselues before God
whenever it has occurred.
~x:Oz;-
NATIONAL DOMAINS. =
From Q fair estimation which we have