Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-08-21

No good man can say mat tntir fcruiS' 10 "o.
a correct and proper one. Had they convicted
him of the intent to kill, we should have no AL
tentative but 10 send him 10 the State Prison
for long time; and now, Gaines, you must go
to the Penilentiary. We adjudge you to be
imprisoned in the Peni,entiary Tor two years
and six months.
At the conclusion Of the above remarks, Mr..
Lacy observed, that il as his intention to move
the Cour, in arrest of Judgment. He wished
to prove that il the man was slave, ne had no
will of his own in the presence Of his master
and if free man he had right to defend him.
self,
The Recorder, at some length, went into the
law that cover ned the case and overruled The
motion.
Mr.. Lacy observed that question would
be made Of this case which involved some i'm
ian, coints, and either would be brought up
by the Governor Of louisiana or the friends OF
the prisoner
The case here closed, and the prisoner was
removed from the court.
Philip Henry Ashton S'i,h was next put to
the bar. His appearance was very different
from that which he presented DUNG the trial.
The bold, unblushing front and contemPuous
look, were no longer 10 be seen. Nhrn he
entered the dock he cast a hasly glance upon
the spectators, then sunk upon The seat, and
clasped his hands in visible emotion. When the
Clerk asked him what he had TO say why Iudg
ment should no, lie pronounced against him, he
arose, apparently under considerable agitation,
and replied in feeble and tremulous tone:
81 have nothing to say. The case needs no
observation from me, and hope the Court will
think it suffi, to adjudge M without COM
ment. l solicit you 10 pass The sentence unac-
companied with remarks. To dispel from
your mind any prejudice that you may nave
imbibed, I think it proper to state tina, regret
having used any blasphemous language.
could not-I did no,-pronouncc it from my
heart. was wrong My better judgment
now conviGces me Of my error; ard as the as
serions were publicly made, so / publicly re-
tract Them"
Stith, on the conclusion Of the above, took
his seat, and while the Court were consulting,
observed, Had bu, believed,
never should have seen this day" In few
minutes he was again ordered to stand up, when
The Recorder thus addressed him:
S,i,h!-You have been indicted for and con-
vic,ed of grand larceny. You boarded al the
Eastern Hotel, and availed yourself Of midnight
to commit 'hs robbery. In fact you commits
ted two robberies; for i, was shown thd you
entered a room where two gentlemen were
sleeping, and stole certain bills from ,heir pan.
falcons. For this robbery you have now TO
suffer severe and ignomInious punishment
Your connexions are mos, respec' able, and
ought 10 have been remembered by you before
you allowed yourself TO be led into crime. 1t
would have been mercy to those connexions
TO have heard Of your death, la,ner than 10 as
certain your disgraceful situation. You have
oil, bap
well brought W; and your department and APP
pearanee, one would naturally suppose, had de-
signed you for far Gifferen, situation. His
Honor here went into an examination Of The
evidence. The proof was full aud conclusive.
The Jury could not raise an objection in your
favor; for the evidence was OF such a descrip-
ton as left them no room for The exercise OF
mercy. If this Cour' yielded 10 lis feelings as
men. il would be doing The community great
injustice. You are surrounded by powerful
friends; one family have been your strenuous
advocates; but if we listened TO their wishes,
the public would accuse US of dealing out JUS
tice with an uneven hand With regard to the
expressions that you uttered, | hope and am
willing to believe, that you honestly express
your regret. But those dreadful expressions
have had no weight with the Court in The sen.
tence that we shall pass. We regret, on your
own account, that you ever should have spoken
in so shocking manner. For any man 10 say
that there is no God-to deny the existence Of
Heaven or the horrors Of Hell,-secms so at
war with what we see around US, that i, cannot
oe wondered that the Court should have been
Prisoner-(In an under tone)-I am sorry;
now know that was wrong.
Recorder oCk at ourselves: look at man;
his reason, intelligence, and discoveries. Look
at him diving into the depths Of the ocean, cal
cula,ing the eelipsrs Of the sun and moon, and
making the elements subservient 10 his inre. SITS
and his wants. LOOK at his capacities; review
the ten thousand arguments that daily, nay,
hourly, arise, and then tell me il there is sha.
dow Of doubt that God-a re,ribu,ive God,
does rule the whirlwind and direct the storm.
You, S,i,h, now stand in disgrac eful situation.
You have much 10 undergo, aud i assure YOU
that its severity can Only be allevia,ed by finn,
unmoved, and inAexihle belief in God and a iu.