Delaware journal., 1827-12-11


md there, summoned the inhabitants to the specta
lie. Here was no laundering OF engines as in our
,ities--no bustng of fremen-for there were no
engines. no fremen, no ladders, no buckets and no
water The flames, as they burst from the roof, or
poured out from the iron grated windows, and curl
ed and fingered about the walls, making the whole
fabrick one bright mass of fire, rendered egible
every expression in the countenances OF the SUR
rounding crowd of men, women and children-some
with and some almost without clothes. 1t was not
pryate property that was making the brilliant bon
fire. Each would sustain loss, but the cummuni-
y Of suffering, and the exemption from an over
,.helming individual infction, was rather matter
# delight than Of terror and regret. Not breath
Of wind was stirring, except what gently inclined
the volume of flame, in the only direction, in which
it would endanger no other public, or private pro-
ery If from accident the fire arose, every one thank
I'd Providence, that the sacred sanctuaries OF do
nestle peace and happiness were likely to remain
anscathed. If the work OF an incendlary-of some
napess tenant Of the house of woe, trusting his libe
alton, less to the consciousness of his own inno-
aence than to the terrible agency he had invoked,
here was voice in the gentle wind that blew, that
allied in behalf of the culprit, for something like
forgiveness, and almost for emotion ut gratitude
1t was the morning of the Sabbath. That passed,
,he sterner duties Of the following day commenced.
Judges attorney general. grand and petty Jurymen,
all arrived from various parts OF the state and coun-
~ were seen surrounding the smoking ruins. These
are hard times, and the people who had been So re-
Gently called upon for the funds expended, in the
erection Of this building, were now again to be tax
I'd for its reconstruction Is wonderful that there
became Immediately associated, in almost every
mind with the rksome and unpleasant undertaking,
another and cheaper public work OF eYpia0n and
atonement Amidst such feelings, what spirit
what talents, short of superhuman, could have walk
I'd with and protected innocence herself, through
the ordeal that followed The humanity OF the
court assigned distant day, for carrying into execu-
ton, the dreadful sentence of the law. This short
interval of life soon passed, and apparently
passed with nothing of reentance in thepublic mind.
Tie voice of the multitude seemed still. most nexo
rably to call for the execution of this unhappy man.
The governor was supposed to taulter. and some
blood thirsty spirits-nO, not some, only One--a
law drunken beggar, who would himself have dis
sraced the gibbet, threatened TO erect galows IN
front of the State House, and to burn the governor
himself in eiigy. On what seemed to general e1
pectation the last day but one OF the poor Wretchs
life he in whose hands, on these occasions the law
has placed the issues of life aud death, arrived at the
seat of governe Mt. Never the exercise, not OF
humanity, nor of clemency, but OF stern duty, more
solemnIy called for TO have left this case where
the court and the Jury had left ito have permit
ted the law to have taken its course was, to all ap-
T pearance, to have gone on smoothly and safelys
, with the current of public opinion. On the other
hand to lenghen out the days of this man, was to
: resolve to stem a most furious torrent--to draw
down upon himself the execrations of men blinded
0 and nfuriated. Overlooking. nobly overlooking all
bearing of these matters upon himself, our Governor,
: with virtuous independence that did nm immortal
: honor determined to do what he believed ntrlnsl-
d cally right He stood firm and unmoved, amid the
angry coverings, which seemed gathering for his de-
struction; did his duty earessiy Of all consequences
It and as il Providence intended to reward his honor
i and Independence, it became, almost Immediately
afterwards KNOWN that strong and virtuous reac-
ton had even then, taken place IN the public mind.
g There had been, from the first small stili voice
IS raised against the execution OF this man-but was
no more than the coong of the dove to the roaring OF
the ocean, 1t was not the voice of friend or relative
fnr nor friend nor relative had he Better days had
= nassed over his head--but they were with many
e !. winters snow" 1t was from beyond the limits
of our own county, that the voice OF reason began
d first to make itself heard. In the Borough OF IL
minpton whose citizens no less distinguished
for their enlightened good sense, than their we'll re-
guIated humanity, meeting was called, and a me-
mortal in favor of pardoning Greeny, was signed by
n considerable number of the most respectable peo-
nile of the place. In the cities Of Philadelphia and
q New York, where our public journals had carried,
d amid the news of the day, the intelligence OF our
n disaster and of the doom passed upon the cuiprlt
), from behind the counters OF their merchants-from
the work benches of their mechanics, the citizens
= and traders of our county, had to endure homes
i which sent them home with juster views and more
. uenernus feelings. s.Whatn' said they to peo
Ene." build your gaos, in spirit of mean parslmo-
: nv, with temptations to your prisoners to break
h them, and then hang the poor wretches who have
Il fallen into the snares you have yourselves set TOR
4 them Try them, too, amid the hot embers OF the
ruins. and hang them before the smoke has done rise
. ing to Heaven, in Judgment against you !! what
do YOU compare. in turpitude and deep crlmnallty,
the effort Of u wretch, to release himself from i'm