Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-02-03

| BLAsrHEMY.--We believe trials upon the
charge Of Blaspbemy are Of very rare occur,
| renee in this coun:ry-it is 10 be hoped tina,
the offence against the laws are scarcely less
rare. At the late court Of Quarter Sessions
IN Lancaster county, a trial of this kind oc,
CURED. From the Lancaster Intelligeacer, we
extract the following.
"The most interesting trial was that of Sa-
muel Sharp, for blasphemy. The words
charged in the indictment, as spoken by him.
were OF such nature, and so vile and abomi-
nable, that it would, We think, be improper 10
publish them. The word. spoken were proved
by several respectable witnesses, though most
OF the witnesses believed that the prisoner was
under the influence of intoxicating LIQUORS at
the time he SO expressed himself.
"Mr. w. Hopkins, for the defendant, called
several witnesses 10 prove that defendant was
occasionally, or in some degree, deranged
"Mr. Champneys, on the part Of the prose,
cu'ion, opened IN an elegant and interesting
speech; showed the evil tendency of such ex-
pressions, both in a religious and in moral
point of view.
"Mr. Hopkins rsxt addressed the Jury on
the par, of the defendant, with an eloquenoe
worthy Of a much better cause-relying, 2rin.
cipsliy, on he defendants incapaci,y to COM
nit crime, he being, by the act of Providence,
deprived Of the power of reason, or discrimi-
mating between right and wrong.
The case was concluded in short speech
from Mr.. Parke, The attorney general, when
judge Franklin, with his usual ability, address
ed the Jury-stated the nature Of the charge,
gave the definition Of B.asphemy, and dwell.
upon The Nervousness Of the offence, both in
moral and religious point Of view, and as at.
feeling the essential interests OF civil society.
He said, tia, wilfully. premeditatedly and des-
pitefully TO blaspht me, or speak loosely or pros
fanely, Of Almighty God, Christ Jesus, the Ho.
iy Spirit, or the Scriptures Of truth, has been
a sta,u'able offence in Pennsylvania for more
than l28 years; that there was nothing in our
manners or institutions, which should render
such law, and the punishment denounced by
II, less necessary now, than when il was enact.
ed, since we stand equally in need now as for.
me!ly, Of all that moi al discipline, and Of those
principles Of virtue which help 10 bind society
together. That 4 the words were spoken in
the manner laid in The Indictment, they import
ed malice, and were punishable without more,
unless il should be proved that the defendant,
was so far deprived of hisrsason, as 10 be una
bic to distinguish right from wrong. That
defence resting solely on the ground Of insani-
~, is to be strictly scru,rized, and should be
clearly proved. That The judgment Of the il"
ry mus, be made up from the facts adduced in
evidence, and not from The opinions of witness
es, unless accompanied by the facts or incidents
on which those opinions are founded, That
criminal acts done by man, in temporary
state Of derangemrnt are not excusable on that
ground. il the arrangement be occasioned by
in,oxio alton, and that want of intel
lect canno, be recognized as defence, unless
it be such as to render the party incapable Of
good from evil"
The Jury returned verdict of"guil,y," and
the man was fined iwenLy-six dollars and COSTS