Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-07-28

superior to tue SLOW and often ridiculous forms OF law
l"hen these go to defeat the end fall ay-pubc Jus
ce' indeed the law requires formal complaint to be
'o'ged' before he who has been instrumental in taking
Tue lie oil human being, can be arrested That this is
one Oh Them, the loud voice of the public prcclas and
they who are so scrupuously, and formally aud ruri
tancay exact, in the forms of law while they nerlec,
Tue substance of justice, will perhaps have occasion 10
find
As 70 capt. Garter, we commiserate his situation
deeply If there of entire horror TO fel;oc
mind, his must be But his character no less than
that of the community in which We i've REQUIRES bs
investigation. That will suffer more by smoherino
This unfortunate transaction, than by an open enouiry
ana h's own reflection has persuaded him of this for
we understand he has demanded that enquiry which
our precise magistrates will by no means allow unit,
orma accusation is lodged. For our parts, we neither
know nor care, what the forms of law may be in such
matters-all we know is, that fellow creature has
come to an untnely end by violent means and bv :.
cruel and unusual punishment, and that those whose
duty 1t is TO enquire into the fact have omitted 10 do
SO. Violent excitement prevails in the public mind at
this state OF things. Two such shocking accidents of
banging human creatures, occurring al the same time
in our City, and announced 10 the world ut the same
moment, cannot fail TO make injurious and false inn
pressions of the state of manners and il behoves all
concerned 10 rescue this community from suspicious so
degrading, by at least en9uiring into The circum
stances.
The following was placardcd in the streets II is
strong, and we think in the MAN. last and LEGAL view
OF the transaction. We would soften some of the terms
we would not say that Capt Carter had committed
e'me-ont that he had committed what ought 10 be
enquired into:
10 Charles Hyde, Coroner Garland HAYNES and the
other Members of the Inquest the body of Charles
Negro Boy, the property of Capt. Carter.
call on you, in the name of your Fellow Citizens
to render the grounds of your Verdict in this
on are the StooIm ONiccrS Of the LatU.-Gn you is i'm
posed The duty of inqurng into the manner of every
unusual deati and ifhere be suspicion of crime or
Violence your Inquest is tie step in every criminal
procedure.-li the hand of man concerned in produ-
eng death, you to say so. and no more
You were bound III tins case, TO inquire simply Was
his death natural, or was IT deed of vioence'-You
knew this 10 be your duty-have you performed it,
or have you transcribed your authority:
You have, in the opinion of your Fellow Citizens
uSurped the privileges and the powers of Jury in this
case-f on have gone into a consideration OF the in
tenAon W ith which this act committed and have
thus sed an inquiry into the strongest circumstances
OF suspclon.-Wha distinguishes this case from that
OF Grace and the other men, who are now an Jail a.
waiting trial by the laws of the Country? So far as
Public, deny any man 10 shew single point of diff
erence-unless indeed as the standing of Carter in soc
ety,-his intelligence, and education ought TO have
been security against the commission of crime So
the influence OF his example will be more widely felt
and therefore more imperously demands the sricest
scrutiny and examnation.-Was the intention of Grace
inquired into by the Jury who passed upon his acf:
The same page in the public Print gives an account
OF both that which was crime in Grace, d,yiI,,
dies into distressing Occurrence when the name
OF Garter is involved, and indignation is demanded
against the whilst ympath!es are sought TO be
enlisted for the othcr-Wa this mere transcript nj
the finding by the jury had the ComDiler with the
words Freedom and independence in It's nouhl caught
your own eXcusing spirit and thought itself bound
10 palate, as an accident in Carter what il had lust de-
nounced as CRIME IN Grace? If there be differ
eDce between the acL~1l these men. the Public are
ignorant OF H-They presume that the grounds of
distinction were Iii pOssesSeD and that YOU prD.
cccded upon then.Ihese, they call on Won 10 disclose
III you obey not, there can be but opinoD.-
they must conclude, that You wRntony, wi!fnG!y be-
trayed the sacred trust ceDded you by the laws
of your ConHtry-'Fhey will conclude that in yopr
defence for ranif and station YOU forgot what was
due 10 violated law and TO hutpapty-t6at you were
awed into subserveDcy-tat you have courage TO ad.
minister the law only where the UctiBl too low 10 ex
cite yours tears-that you might have been impartial
had the fate OF the poor the weak, and the helpless
been involved, but that you meanIy shrun into tho
iGgaiIZed excusers OF crime, when the high and the
powerful were to s;aDd fall by Your sentencc-Wbal
they viii say, The all powerful motive that induced
]
virtues of this maDs former life plead so strongly in
his favour that you closed your eyes in pity on this
single traBsg ression,had his uniform regard for The
finer synpatbies, the tender charities of life been such
that the vengeance of violated justice TO be arres.
Ted in his behat?-Or if you found no rcdeernng spir
1t IN las history did the influence of vi.'.ous and
venerable nome, fas disa!r your orttudc that YOU
forgot, IN excess Of reverence TO rcspond IN t,e
obligation OF your oaihs?-These questions which
your Fellow Citizens have right 10 ask and on
which they will be answered.-It is a matter of vital
interest TO know, whether that body who by law can
only take the inciPlent step in public prosecutions
shall assume upon themselves, The powers ola jury
whether IT belongs 10 that body TO decide how far hu
man life may be made the sport angry aud revenge
ful feeling or to 'o|ut eztent the mild and zacrc;fl
punishment OF hanging may be inflicted With imLu,
nifty, on that helpless class of persons who have com.
mHted acts 'disGSrcenbien 10 their masiors.-Tbesc
are questions which belong TO higher tribunal than
yours to deternne;and fec! confident, for the bon
or OF The age and Country in which we live that Law
and humanity alike, would reprobate practice, ich
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