Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-11-06

OF the deep. 1t is thought that about IS barrels
OF might be made from hem, worth 40 TO 1000 dol
lars One OF tho Dophin's had Il harpoon iii hi:
corcasc, which appeared TO have been there great
length OF time. The Inv OF the casc was that
every one should have what he could Kill. or catch
and SuCjrc.
WiTCHCRAFT
We extract tho following excellent remarks from
Judge Story's Centennial DISCOURSE:
There Is one other circumstance in the history o.
the Colony, which deserves attention, because it has
offered theme for bitter gTcsm urd harsh reproacI
and as the principal scenes of the tragedy took place
on this very spot, this fit occasion to rescue tn,
caIacter OF our torcdhers from the wnntOn alta cks
OF the scofcr and the satirst. aludc to The mono
rabe trials Of Witchcrat III this town in 1892 which
tcrmin1ted Ill the death OF many innocent persons
partly from blind crcdulty, and partly from oyeryylr
ming fraud. The whole of these proceedings exhibit
melancholy proofs OF the effect ofsupsrstiton in dal
cnlng the mind, and scClng the heart against the die.
tdteS OF humanity. Indeed, nothing has ever been
found nIorc vndlcve and cruel than anaticsin act
ing under the influence Of prcternaturuI terror and as
slnilng to punish offences created by its own gloomy
reYerlcs. Under such circumstances, it becomes it.
silt the very demon whose agency il seeks to destrnv
Il oHes sight OF al the common principles of reason
and evidence. II secs nothing around it but victims
Tor Sacrifice It hears nothing but tho voice of it,
own vengeance. Il believes NOTHING but what is mon
strous and Incredible. It cuniures Tp everv phopton
OF superstition, and shapes IL to the living form Of its
own passions and irenzics. In short, insanity could
hardly devise more rcfnements in barbarity or profit
gacy execute them with more MALIGNANT cooInrss-
In The Wcchct butChcrics of these time for so thew
IN fact were IL which law anl reason w!rc crraI
set at Defiance We have shocking instances of tpna-
tula conduct. We find parents accusing their chill
drch children their parents, and wives their husbands
OF q crime, which must bring them tothe scafIold We
ind innocent persons, Insied by the hope Of pardon
or wrought up 10 frenzy by the pretended snfcrnre
OF o'hera freely accusing themselves of the same
crime we lind gross perjury practised to procure
COM .alTlrg f1,,r- 7
sometimes from utter roc, cssness of consequences
We ind even religion itself made an instrument Of
vengeance. We find ministers of the cospcl and
Judges OF the land stimulating tho work of persecution
their iiresiGcs.
And yet, dark and sad is this picture it furnish
Cs no Just rcproach upon this ancient town. bcyonf
what belongs to 1t in common with all New England
and indeed, with all Christcndom. PIlify years be-
fore this period, there had been executions for witch
craft IN this and other colonies in Charlestown Bos-
ton, Springfield and Hartford It has been iustlv
observed by an Intelligent historian, that the ilnpor
lance given to the New England trials proceeded
from the general panic than from fine nnnhcr
executed, more having been put to death in single
county i'll England. in short space Of time than have
suffered in all New England from the first settlement
to the present time
'Our orefathers were sincere bc7cvcysi in the rca
~ OF whchcratt; and The opinion then prevailed
throughout all Europe. The possibility, nay the ac-
uai existence Of with evil spirits has had
III It's support the belief of many enlightened nations of
the world. Mr.. Justice Blockstone has not SCRUBBED
10 declare that, to deny il, is 1T iatly to confirm
dic the revealed word Of God in various both
OF the Old and New Testament | NEEDLE not with
tins matter of controversial divinity Rut il is cer-
tain, that from the earliest times il has been punished
as crime IN all Christian countries, and rcncrallv
rs mark Of peculiar horror and detestation with
death. Such was its punishment in England, at the
time OF the emigration Of our ancestors and such if
confined to be until the reign Of George The Second
HuTciy when VIC read Of convictions before so mild
ana enlightened Judge rs SIR Mathew Hale If should
excite no surprise that own Judges were not sll-
prior 70 the dolusoa; that thew POSSESSED nof
wisdom bc-ond the law, pov7crto resist tho re-
reTal credulhy. Ny Lord Coke in the simplicity Of
MS own belief loads witches with the most 6pprohr
GUS epithets, horrible, devjIiah and wicked often
dcT and the Parliament Of King James the First has
enumerated in studied detail divers modes Of comm
ration and cnchantment, upon which it has inflicted
the punishment of death. Lord Bacon has 1ent f,o
credit OF his own great name to preserve some the
wonders and o1ntTnCnts of witchcraft with slndr,
wholesome restrictions upon orr belief of their cca
~. And We have high authority for saying 1T be-
came science, every where mitch studied and cult
symptoms
1--WE may lament then, the errors of the tirncg.
winch cd to these prosecutions. But surely our an
ccgf1rs had no special reasons for shame in belief
Ehich had the unvcran! sanction Of their and oil
orneraTe5; which counted in its train philogophere
as wolas enthusiasts which was graCc6 by the lear
nnE prcIates well as tho codntcnance Of lirrs
which the Jaw supported by its mandates and the pu-
rest judges teH no comruactions in enforcing. Let
witch Fill remain forever memorable BY this sad ca
tastrophc, no. TO perPetuate our dishonor but as an
affecting, enduring proof Of human infrmty proof
that perfect justice belongs TO one Judgment Seat
o".-, tat which, }nicd to the throne Of Cod
From Inc .Nd'ion7I LafolEglacer.
NEYER'S CATE-(Iv V1RGrNrA1
Plough this proud trophy Of the ingenuity Of ma