The central gazette. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1820-1827, 1825-01-29
KENTUCKY LECISLArURE.

IN the case OF Isaac u. Desha. the SON. of the
Governor OF that state, charged with the mur-
der OF Francis Baker. We roget thai the
length OF this speech prevents it's being pub
iIshed IN this paper, entire. Enough, howe
yer. is extracted to shew the shameful corrup-
t;on which exists in the Legislature of that
State. and the depravi,y which unfituna ely
has been manifested by some OF its most veal
thy, and one might say, its most respected
citizens.
Some DAYS since I ohscrv ed the gentleman
tom Jefferson MIR Rowanl present the paper
STYLED the petition OF Isaac Is Dcsha: and at
ter it was read. on his own motion. it was
referred to himself ard others When he next
appeared with his measure I know not. hut
learn that he reported hill. which I after
wards found IN possession Of the Committee
on Courts OF Justice, to whom the . entleman
saws the bill was committed on his motion =
lie did this. he says. that that committee dis
tinguished for It's legal attainments, nIi.ht ma
turr The measure Strange indeed, this was
the object of the gentleman that he withheld
the fefaion Why. If he Wished TO throw the
responsibility on the Committee Of Courts of
Justice. as to the proprietv of removal. did he
refer them To the max ed bin2 No. Sir; that
gentleman knows too well the ,tgiis Of a
COMMITTEE, to saw, I'm so many words, that he
intended to leave the question orremoving the
trial OF Desha from the county of Fleming to
the decision Of the Committee Of Courts of
Justice. lie and his committee had decided
that themselves. They report the hill and
refer that bill, but take care not to refer the
Pe'Hinn with the bill The committee he we'll
knew, could only amend OF. eport his hin. I'll
up the blanks for him, and do some other lit
tie Jobs towards facilitating the removal: hut
the great, the impO,tint GueStion, was Desha
entitled to be removed out OF the hands of
Justice INTO those Of his friends, the 'ncut eman
will not say that the committee was at liberty
to decide. Why then does the gentleman talk
about this case having heen before the Com
mittee of the Courts OF Justice? lie knows
what was before that Committee. He knows
what he INTENDED To refer to that com mittee
On entering the committee room (said Mr.
Wick'iffe) took my seat, and in a few mi
nu'es ] observed the gentleman from Mont
geometry mir. Sho,tidge) enter the room. and
with him to my astonishncnt, his Exccllcncv
the Governor make his appearance, and pre-
sently took his seat near the gentleman from
Montgomery. with whom ! observed him to
speak several times; soon after this that gen
trman moved to take up this bill. IL was
now.easy to account Cor his EXce'lency's pre-
-sence. and the occasional conversations to
which have referred. Other gen! lemen have
rcprohated this intrusion of the Governor up
on the Committee as indelicate and improper
do not think it necessary To give vent 10 nv
feelings upon the subject He Il I'd 10 influence
"pOn my course. When the hill was read, !
cnqui'ed howit got to the committee and was
answered by the Chairman, thu ough the order
oil the House. ! inquired it the petition or
evidence in support of it was also referred ?
This was answered in the negative Il AS
said that the bill alone was referred that il
was our business TO make bill not to decide
IPi he oh h.. fol.
Fl ON the officers OF justice or not. then oh.
served To the Committee. that the bill as re-
ported by the gentleman from Jefferson Mr.
Rowan) was so radically detective, that il,
would not do, nor was il possible in nv opin-
ion. to amend it, but with substitute. Of
that opinion | think was majority OF the
committee, and the preparation OF the subs'i
tuie was Submitted 10 the chairman. who an,
'old requested the gentleman from Nelson
Mr. Hardin to prepare it. This is the last
and all heard o. this business until 4 Srua
tor reported the bill with amendments, when
on inquiry, learnt that the gentleman '-or,
N elson had, the morning after we were hmm,
ed toi'k his ErceAcncg's pie enrr IN The COM
mi tee room. reported The tH;uw | hold in my
hand and that this Honse had passed It Nv
dispcns ng with the constitutional provisions
| and the rules of the House, in a few minutes
| after IL was handed to the Clerk and that the
| with the constitutional provisions and rules of
| the Senate, and iun it through their house
| and then that a grave Senator had run with it
| 10 this House Quick work said MIR. Wick
| life n time los, in either House in leeislating
| a Governors son ont Of the possession Of the
officers of Justice charge Of murder II
| is nc great aEsir-oniy robbery and murder
| Nothing but mans thu oat cut for his moncy !
! And why should we spend timer Why hest
| tate to release the supposed robber and cut
, throat? Sir said MIR. WicklfFe, little hest
| iation little reflection might have ben ser
| viccablc No. no! Sunday pressed upon our
career and we were forced 10 stay the work
one day But scarcely has Mondays light
| been shed upon us, before the gentleman from
| Jefferson is up and doing. The orders OF the
| day must stop--the mornings business must
| lie ,er-thc Governors son is in danger
Justice may oveitake him. Sir, said Mr.
| Wick life, do we owe nothing to decorum in
| this affair? Seal we forget that the ewes OF
| The people are upon us? That tie cue of Hea.
ren Is too m u.s. Remember Sir. this forms
an epoch in our legislative career; that We
shall see ourselves, or our children will see us
| in history in this business. What will be our
| record ?--That a stranger in our land has been
| robbed; that he has been murdered: his thu oat
| cut the Governors son is charged with this
| crime the very mention Of which is enough
| to chill the blood and we are legisIating--,ue
| with the Governor, his fatkec, are passing
| Ia ws for his release. with prccipitancy with
out exsmple Will not the people of our SIS
te state tMississippi) require the blood Of her
murdered citizen at our hands? if I'VE per.
form this deed. will they not saw to the people
of Kentucky. your Governors son has muir
| dercd our fellow citizen, and your representa-
.