Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-08

part TO them the full benefit Of that british, and nob,.
principle oil the common law, which considers every
man innocent till his guilt is proved beyond N reason
able doubt whose rules apply alike 10 every one ac
cused, high or low, rich poor, good or bad Every
security which the Constitution or laws have thrown
around innocence, possible me ans of defence
which could have been allowed 10 individuals of IN.
most nnblemi.hed reputation or most exalted stations in
society, nave been accorded to you. Able counsel
LOT Witnesses time Tor preparation an impartial
intelligent, upright jury free from legal cepon OF
moral mputation. instructed TO acquit YOU, il they
doubted OF your guilt soemniy cautioned 10 ac, under
no influence, which did not rise from the evidence and
uy auNiseu oil their power TO the law,
OF your fellow citizens have, under the most sole mn
ooigations which man to his fellow men or his
rol' pronounced you guilty. But the humanity of the
law mas not stopped here; a motion for a new trial.
your cause has been before the Court az aim ON its
u.s. and on motion in arrest OF Judgment on the form
vi 'he oihcla accusation presented by the Grand jury
1ad the able arguments and laborious researches of
your COUNSEL or our own reflections, led us to
rational doubt OF the CORRECTNESS. of any opinion we
oppressed during the trial. in charge the Jury or
even as to the form OF the Indictment YOU would have
had the full advantage Of those doubts nv ne w trial
bn no doubts have couded your case; no shadow wa.
thrown over the minds Of the Jury, which was con-
neI'ea w'h the evidence; there existed no legal or
technical subtlety which would Justify the Court in
setting aside or arresting the Of their ver
dict We had only TO de eide ether YOUR trial should
terminate IN the vndication If the offended laws of the
nduon or the triumph of acknowledged guilt ring
the close oil your sad career, for the commission some
ae OF sun bIacker and more complicated arocity, the
thought OF which, humanity shudders.
your counsel have declared that they have no fur
hcr reason 10 offer why the sentence of the law should
not DC pronounced upon you and exists in the mind
OF the court The safety of our citizens requres-pub-
nc Jusuce demands, Judgment awful and dreadful as
IL Is; our duty and our oalhs compel to render it,
he humanity of the law has reached its end its doors
oil mercy are forever closed TO YOU this court; your
oays are numbered and you must die the death of
eions unless there is found elsewhere an arm stretched
iorth to save you from fate which we cannot avert
a nope which we most soemny caution you not to in
dulgc.
Much as we admire the mildness of our criminal
code opposed as we are TO capital punishments where
te peace OF society and the security the lives of our
cZens do not imperiously exact them we should have
tionai Legislature, if, in their opinion such scene as
mas been disclosed your trial. did call FOR the high
est punishment. An arocious crime deliberately plan
ned deadly weapons cody prepared for its executions the
crime committed in the dead of night; the public mail
robbed and piundcred; the life of the driver threatened
with pistols directed at his person. and i'm the hands of
men ready TO execute the most horrid purposes pre-
sens case at which even the enthusiast in phanthro
Ply must pause. Even murder may have its palliatives
when committed under the excitement OF passions which
the laws may condemn, but for which, those who adj
minister them may be excused the indulgence of some
eelng oil commseraton; but for those who i'm cool blood
resolve desperate offence under the instigatien of
no passion but for plumber reckless of the innocent lives
mat lis gracaton may COST false humanity alone has
tear. Ii Is wise and Just law that dooms such Offend
ers TO atonemcnt by their lives-they Justly forfeit life
by such offences, and so the laws have ordained Our
only remaining duty is obedience TO its commands.
Our sentence, therefore, is that you be taken hence
20 prison, whence you were brought and there safely
confined till the day appointed for your execution when
you shall be taken TO the place OF execution and THERE
BE HANGED BY THE NECK UNTIL DEAD;
AND MAY GoD HAVE MERCY ON YOUR SOULS.