Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-02
PROVIDENCE

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PATRICK IL. DARBY. We copy. from the
Hartford Times, a weekly newspaper, pcb
lishcd at Hartford, Connecticut, ana edited
with signal ability by GIDEON WELLS, Esq.
man, as any that we have among us notwith-
standing he is a friend to Domestic manufac-
lures, and was a delegate to the Harrisburg
Convention how odd!--The object Of the ar
ticle, is to discredit, the testimony of Patrick
Henry Darby, Esq. who has recently testified
to the correctness Of the statement, made by
Colonel Binns, on proper authority, relative 10
the affair between Messrs. Jackson, Eppes,
and Commodore Stephen Decatur. That re-
spect, which We cherish for Mr.. Wells, the
Editor Of the Tines, constrains us to lament
that he should deem it necessary, for the at
tainment of any political purpose, to assail a
man SO shamefully abused. in fortune and In
fame, as Nr. Darby. But we will copy the
article referred to, and &c say our say after
wards.
every person rccollects the tragical affair
vi Ut Nv VI " = mar pc ulSO no uillOIth-
nate Beauchamp, and the part acted by one
Patrick H.. Darby. This man, whose chagac-
ter is represented infamous, by those who know
him, has been introduced TO support come Of
the charges preferred against Gen. Jackson
Darby formerly resided IN Tennessee, and I'M
til his character was known, was treated with
courtesy and respect. Having been admitted
in those days, INTO the society of persons who
were his superiors in honor, integrity and NOR
al worth, it was thought lie might now be pre-
vailed upon to injura a man who according 10
his own acknowledgment, had once been lis
benefacror. But, Darby is the light man for
thom he has abilities, and can make plausi-
bic statements, but he wants only to be known
TO be properly credited.
Tho Paris Advertiser, published in Kentucky,
a candid and we'll conducted paper, speaks of
Darby as ~ a man, rendered infamous for his
vices, who, for ms improper conduct, was ex-
PEELED from the B r Of Tennessee And fur
Their says, cit is generally believed, ana ia
fact, no vas charged by Beauchamp, ,inds-
the gallows, Of =. wing sworn to absolute false
hoods on his trial, in order TO fix the murder
Of the lamented Sharp on Bcauchamp, and
thereby remove the suspicious which rested
upon the public mind, that he was the nur-
derer."
From an acquaintance Of several months
with tho Editor of the Hartford Times, We had
formed an opinion too favorable Of him, TO
suffer us to suppose for a moment, that he
would descend to the course he has, to sustain
a cause already sinking, if not absolutely de-
p~lorablc.
To enab'e him to discredit the testimony Of
an individual who is a freeman, and a man of
UNREASONABLE reputation, and who has been
bascly and Indignantly sinnod against, he re-
wives a story which has heen proven to be
thrice false, and with the SPIRIT OF an unrelent-
ing prosecutor, harrows up the feelings Of a
whole family, and again introduces to the
world, q remnant Of the horrid story of Beau
champ, and the martyred companion of his
bosom's joys and sorrows.
1t will be remembered BY most Of our read.
ers, who have paid any attention to the hor-
rid Kentucky tragedy, in which tho blood
stained Beauchamp. and the p~crjurcd sharps.
were conspicuous actors, that whilst the deep
and ilnpenetrable mystery, which yelled tho
fate Of Sherp, was suffered TO exist, by an over
ruling Providence, suspicion rested on MI.
Darby, and rumor with her ten thousand
tongues, aided by some of the misguided
friends of the Sharp family, attempted to fas-
ten upon Mr.. Darby, the. crime of murder
Although no act Of that gcniloman's life, had
rendered him liable TO suspicion, still the fatal
curse fell upon him, and the Sha pa, finally
succeeded, in prevailing upon the imprisoned
murderer, Bcauchamp, to give out such inucn-
does, and limitations, as would lead tire world
to believe that Darby was in reality, the mid
nigh, assassin, who prematurely consigned Col
Sharp to the sopulchrc.
Though the Sharps, knew that Beauchamp
was the murderer, still, as they did not wish
his conviction because they knew. that such
an event would expose the infamy OF Col.
Sharp's conduct, they strovc to tasten the
guilt on r. Darby. But it so happened,-
al though tho Sharps, and their agents, had
promised Boauchamp an ncquittal provided lie
would swear the crime on Darby that tha,
misguided man, could not 10 prevailed upon,
{ even by the promise of life. aud an acqul''ai
? of tho crimes charged upon hIm,-to consent
TO tho wicked and horrid proposition that was
made him. Although Bcauchamr, 10 the lat
est hour Of his lifc, gloried in his having put
an end TO the existence Of the man, who had
| ruined the fair fame OF his wife, aud though
bo would havo lived longer. If he bad had
bis choice: sill, the love Of lie horc no com