Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-30

u ''o 'oa'is vi investigating the subject, which
am, sir, your friend, &c.
WIN. II. CRAWFORD
CHARLES JARED INGERsoLL. ESQ
Among the prisoners brought before the Now
ork city Court of Sessions on Saturday last 4,
receive sentence, was named John Thomas
aged about % years. On being asked why sen.
tence should not DC pronounced, he read the follow
ing from paper:
may t please your Hon,rs
GU see before you truly wretchcd and misera
ore nia'' VINO mas drunk out of the cup of human
aflc'ion even to its very drcgs Brougb, I'M in n
state OF responsibility and aliincnce bv m;scar,n,
have been reduced to the most AFFECT poverty.
ana from my own imrrudence alas, am brourht 10
state of the greatest human degradation NAV
perhaps attribute my recent misfortune to nv hav
ing been taken up by the Police OF the civ SOM,
10 months ago, and to the Pcnitentarv gu
days, which was the first time was i'm prison in
my lie. Since that time have allowed intcpper-
ancc TO get the upper hand of me- and whom mn,
intoxicated L know not what l am about az
was the case in the present instance: neither havoc
any recollection of what occurs, being perfectly
deiirious, owing TO two wounds which l received
In my head several years since and tho marks IF
which arc still peseeptSio. do not however, al
icge TINS as an excuse. No, en- the contrary drunk
ehness 10 an aggravation, rather than a mtipa,ion
and Dug hit tic DO punished. No man when am
sober, detests drunkenness more than do nor
none has suffered from it's barefu effects: and
should survive the present difficulty, feel detor-
i
may truly say it has brought me to miserv Inst
4th OF July stole Il hat in drunken frolic which
can conscientiously say, was the first article T
ever purloined in my life. / was Immediately de-
tected ana semitic the Penitentary for four months
In coming out was cast adrft on the world lit
orally naked without money, friends or home and
very weak. The weather being very cold and NV
health not very good, L was induced to drink
ttle alas that caused me to drink more and nt last
got completely intoxicated in which state I com,
h1itted the iatal act which has brought here,
ana Tor winch shall suffer the but just PEN
atty of the laws This is the second theft that I
have ever committed, and determined it shall
be the last. now my las: folly in clearer
light than l ever have done before This has
learned me a lesson which hope L shall profit
by.
L now address your Honors on the subject of
mitigation of punishment. I am aware that
nave no claims upon your Honors, and feel that
a.. an III judged mercy to the guilty, is cruelty to
the innocent; and if you allow my crime to 90
unpunished, you encourage it by the prcccdcct of
impunity. Still | am induced to hope That on CON
sideraton you will be of opinion that the miIdcr
sentence of the law will be sufficient te satisfy the
demands of justice; punish sufficiently and eff
feet the desired end, that of convincing a human
being OF past and restoring to society long
lost member. If your Honors will permit me to
go with two years l may possibly survive it and
yet become Il sober, useful and nonost member of
society; but should you deem it necessary to pro-
nounce harder sentence l afraid, alas. from
the present state of my health, never shall live
through it. BE merciful with me beseech you
entreat you allow the natural goodness of YOUR
dispositions so far to predominate as to extend
your we'll known feelings of philanthropy towards
the unworthy object before you-Allow not
appearances to weigh TOO much against me; des-
pise not my humble suit because | am poor and
iriendiess; but what am L saying? know that it is
not In your nature to DO cruel, and that you will
show yourself the poor mans friend I cannot
charge myself with being actually vicious; and al
though must acknowledge that have zone far
very tar astray from the path of rectitude, yet
would fam indulge the hope that there yet remains
IN my breast, some principles of virtue, and some
seeds OF honor, which never will .bc eradca
ted. never have been in the habit of frequent
ing any OF the haunts of vice, with which this city
abounds. L have had any desire TO DO So
L do not think myself TO be incorrigible often
der, entirely lost to all sense of shame and ope
| never shall be. Oh! thon have mercy on me- deal
as lightly with mo as you possibly can. assure
you, that never will you have reason TO repent your
lenity.
Mr.. Plat, who pleaded guilty to an assault on
Mr.. Everett at Washington Hall, appeared to re-
ceIvo Judgment. The Recorder Observed, that
he was sorry to see Mr. p. in that situation-ha-
ting violated the laws of his country No doubt
the aggravation i'll the article contained in the
North American Review, against his father though
he knew not that Mr.. Everett was tho author was
considered and so indeed the assault on Mr.
H. a gentleman of high character, from Boston
Mr. T. begged TO know whether, from the pecu-
liar emphasis laid upon the word Boston, it was
meant as an aggravation of punishment, because
Mr. r.. was from that place.
The Recorder replied lie meant that nc was a
stranger. Mr. Everett had been degraded by blow.
and was now even in that situation. The Court
had received Mr.. Ps affidavit, stating his ignorance
OF Mr. d. being clergyman.
MIR. Piatt begged, before the judgment of tho
court was pronounced, to say a few words. He did
not wish the idea to go abroad that if no had offend
cd the majesty of the jaw, lie had directly or ind-
recty, sought for mitigation; if he had deserved
punishment, let the axo fall.
The sentence of the court was a fne Of 1880
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