Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-05-31

ut would have 0een ifnpossioil .o"~'e
a more convenient witness than this Coi. ZIP
kin; and the committee seem SO sensible oi MS
merit, that we Ioath to part with hin. HIS VI
carious assumption of guilt on one point had
given evidence Of a zeal that would not SHRINK
from furnishing aid on others. he is therefore
made 10 d~elineate The outrageous conduct OF
the victims, and to convert their simplest move
ments into acts of violence and mutiny. In
this, too, he is confronted by the record. The
evidence, as there giveo, shows that the whole
offence committed. by these unfortunate men,
was their acting under an impression that they
were merely asserting their rights as American
citizens.
Where was this important witness--thls ready
Col. Pipkin,w while the accused were on their trial!
Why was he not there, 10 give a testimony that
might have furnished some slight iuslihcation
Of the SENTENCED! Bat is it to be borne in this
country, that a cruel and ignominous Death, in
hicted on our citizens, by which their charac-
tiers have been rendered infamous, and their
posaerity subjected to reproach, is to be usti-
ed by posthuinouse,idence when that evidence,
too, is directly ia the teeth Of the record? Shall
the characters and lives OF hundreds of our lei
low c~itizrns, because in humble life, be unce-
tremendously Offer up as an explatory sacrifice
TO the ambition Of one aspiring individual! But
hear one of the victisps himself, while standing
on the verge ofthe grave. The com Mite have
enabled US 10 give al least the substance OF Har-
ris's defence. II was as follows:
The prisoner states, in his defence, that he was to.
tally unacquainted with the nature of militia service;
that he had frequently heard his officer, SAY they knew
OF no law compelling militia 10 remain longer tran
three mOnfha and Ernun ths ,pinInn of other men nj
fesPectability and isfogmation, conceived his term #
service had expiredi returned his gun to his CAPTAIN,
under that impression took up the receIpl he had CIV
en- for1t, and departed from Fort jackson, conscious
of having discharged his duty.
Contrast what The prisoner here says, sup
ported as it is, by all the evidence, with .he af-
ter evidence Of Pipkin, and contrast it, too, with
the statement OF the committee, that this very
man, one of the ring!eaders Of the mutiny, al
ter conviction. acknowledged the justice of hi,
sentence. How The committee came to a know
ledge OF this fac,, we are not informed Did
Pipkin communicate this also? But suppose
he did acknowledge the justice of his sentence
Shall the extorted confession Of a dying man,
wrung from him perhaps by the delusive pro
mise Of pardon and of life, outweigh the cool
deliberate exercise o reason and Of judgment?
Whatever the prisoner may have acknowledged,
the facts OF the case most conclusiyely show that
his sentence was any thing but just.
Let the transaction be disguised as it may, it
is one Of blood; and, however the future historian
may seek to pallia,e the enormity, he must, as
he records it, confess that ii forms the bloodi-
est page in the history Of our Republic Let
the committee deck their idol as they may, this
deed Of darkness will cover him as with a veil
Brilliant as was the achievement at New Orle
ans, yet, in that solemn hour when earthly pa
geantry brcomes vanity, when the voice of Hat
tering thousands no longer sounds as music to
the ear of the hero, how will the glory Of that
day be eclipsed by the deep damnatinnHf this
deed. TRUTH