Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-06-22

Il y
iapsnity, and the virtues Of civilization.
! IS not been stainedby any conduct of theirs
toward them THAT every act of tenderness
and compassion (Which the public safety
would permit) for their comfort and conve-
nience IN this world has been exercised to-
ward them, and all the counsel and consola-
ton bestowed on them, which might cherish
their hopes, and brighten their prospects, in
relation to that future state, on which they
are so soon to enter
A sacrifice of personal feeling, am sensi-
Bile. is due on this occasion-the safety OF
society requires offences so foul as those
which these criminals have committed should
receive the awful punishment that now a.
waits them. and though called third time,*
by my Office, to cause an atonement to De
made on the altar of public justice for MUIR
ders and piracies the most shocking. / DaU
not shrink from duty. Full well ] know,
that on the commission Of the first murder
which stained our earth "with brothers
blood" soon after the touch of that forbid
den fruit whose mortal taste brought death
into the world with all our woe"-.the de.
cree of Hin, "who is the same yesterday,
to-day and forever''--went forth-"From
the hand OF every mans brother, will in.
ouire for the life of man-whosoever she'd
deth mans blood, by man shall his blood be
she'd" The judgment therefore to be exc
cuted on these criminals, though pronounced
from an earthly tribunal. is in conformity
with, and 10 obedience 10, that divine COM
mand, which, like "the Star of Bethlehem. >
blazed forth to shew the course of duty for
succeeding generations.
And now, Fellow Citizens. seeing you en-
circle those Officers who came hither TO exc
cute 6 this judgment of God and man"
thereby I" to purify our land from the stain
OF blood me request, yes, earnestly
request Of youto abstain from every act of
levity-and with that silence and solemnity
so highly proper on this momentous occasi-
on, unite with the male factors, with your Of.
6cers, and with one another, in a fervent
petition to the God of all grace and suppl
cation, that he would be pleased TO cause
the awful spectacle Of capital punishment
now about to take place, to be sancti6ed for
the advancement of the morality and the Sc
curly of society, and then, il these criml-
nails do not receive mercy from man on
earth, yet, having repented of their sins
and possessing broken and contrite hearts,
they may, after they pass from time into
eternity, thro' the mediation OF him who
was semitic seek those who were lost be pre-
sented TO bis Father and their Father, to
his God and their God,' tn Hsauen TO par
take of Glory, Honour and blessed I'm
morality and with the redeemed of the
Lord, carol an unceasing hymn Of gratitude
and of praise unto the King eternal, immor-
tai and invisible, the only wise God,'
throughout the moments of eternity.
Tally-the Plahs6urgh Pirates-and
noz these three men.
The unhappy men had embracedthe Ca
tholic Faitb--th Confessor. the Rev. Fa-
tier Larascy, addressed the Throne Of
Grace in an appropriate and fervent prayer.
The Prisoners remained some short time at
ter at their devotions, when, at the instance
OF the Marshal, they proceeded to the upper
scaffold and the Marshal having perform
ed those necessary yet painful preliminary
requisites TO carry the awful sentence into
effect, the Priest left them, and about 2 o.
clock they were launched into eternity.
Although the number of spectators was
very great, yet the melancholy transactions
of the day were conducted with that silence
and soennity which were due 10 the mte-
resting occasion.
The Marshal rode in his carriage, accom-
panied by Gen. Austin, the Sheriff OF Mid
dlesex, who yielded TO request from the
marshal to assist him in the unpleasant du-
ties of the day.
The Surgeons followed in another oarri-
age. One of the Coroners OF Suffolk, tn.
Deputy Marshals. and Deputy Sherifs of
Middlesex aud Suffolk, attended on horse
back--and many of the Constables OF the
town were on duty.
The bell OF the Old South Church was
toiled from the time the prisoners left the
lall I'LL theY arrived AZ thn -. -