Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-20
EXECUTIVE CI.E,,ENcy


We feel it to BIZ our buunden DUTY, to make
lew remarks in relation to the interference
oi The executive ofthis state, at the instance of
number OF our citizens, in regard to the nc
groes Hoses and Dick, who had been con-
demned, by the hustings court of Petersburg
TO be hanged, for aiding and abetting in the
murder of Wu!i1m C. Royster sometime in
the month of Sept. last. This duty is urged
| upon us, rom the course we have pursued.
ana the tendency of the remarks we have
made upon the subject-remarks, indirectly.
but not desiGncdly, calculated to cast cens,,rc
upon the executive for the part they have act
ed m this unfortunate affair. We are furthe,
urged To make these remarks, from the excite
mem produced among our citizens, in con-
sequence OF the unconditional pardon of Mo-
SEES, aud the refusal of the executive. AS VET.
to pardon or mitigate the punishment of Dick I:
and also from a belief. that the few observa-
tons we have made, in relation to this I'M
pleasant subject have been misconstrucd bv
portion at least, of the executive council.
with these preliminary remarks, we shall
proceed TO offer concise statement of the
most important facts growing out of this mfor-
tunate transaction.
1t IS Unnecessary 10 recapitulate the evidence
produced on the trial OF the several persons
charged with aiding and abctting in The muir
der OF Royster. 1t was the same in sub
stance on the trial of the two slaves and
the four white men, and has been already de-
tailed.
Very little was said by the public, in rela
ton TO the trial and condemnation of the two
slaves, until the fate ofthe four white men
was ascertained. 1t was then the humanity
oil our citizens was excited they could not
reconcile IL 10 their sense Justice that the two
unfortunate slaves should be hanged for the
commission OF crime, i'm the preparation of
which, the white men were deemed equally
guilty. Notwithstanding the law mirht and
was construed favorable TO the white men. who
were only found guilty of murder in the Sc
cond degree, yet, from the state of our So
ciety, as 1t regards slayes, the law knows no
degrees OF murder; hut when slave 4" sheds
the blood oil man, by MIN shall his blood be
sheu' III was IN consequence of this ine-
quality OF punishment, produced by the law,
that our citizens were urged by their feelings
to interfere in behalf Of the condemned ne
groes. Petitions were in consequence drawn
separately for Dick and Moses, and indiscrin-
Inately signed by the citizens, according TO
their impressions and feelings on the subject.
Many refused altogether: and those who did
slsn were actuatcd by the purest and most be-
nevoicnt motives.
The petition in favor Of Dick, we are in
formed, for we declined reading or signing
III simply prayed for his transportation, as the
white men, who were concerned with him in
the MURDER were only sentenced to be con-
fined in the penitentiary. The petition in IA
yor OF Moses (which we also declined signing,
and never read until the day before Yesterday
after going much at large into the case. and
recapitulating the evidence, prays " that the
life a fellow creature may not be sacrifcedto
the strlctness Of legal construction"
No blame whatever can be attached to the
gentleman who penned the petition and the
individuals who obtained the signatures Of
the citizens, never once imagined that Moses
was to be Internationally pardoued. 1t was
not their wish that he should be, nor was il
the wish or expectation his master. They
were anxious to save his life, since the white
men had been sentenced 10 comparatively
mild punishment and their only object was
10 procure bis tranportati0n
Ihe whole business was conducted with
PrecpItacy,as the lime yvculd not allow DELAY
and It IS totlis precipifabcy al0nr is attributa-
BE The disproTVnionntc fdc Of the two UNI
fortunate negfoas. Very frw az ire citizens