Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-08-13


prayer.
II is custom in this country, at
public executions, for the preachers 10
address the people on the solemnities of
death and the terrors of the grave that
opens before them: but on this occa-
sion We were impatient TO hear the
prisoner, and the cxhortations OF the
clergy were dispensed with: so, when
the hymn had been sung and the pray-
or concluded, the prisoner rose: AT
this moment, the eyes Of ten thousand
persons were upon him, We had seen
and conversed with him in prison. and
alike wondered at and admired his
uncqualled couragc,-he had alluded
20 ms execution and spoke Of the gal
lows without terror.-still we expected
at this dreadful moment, some slight
sign OF fear, some trembling of the
limbs, some quivering of the lip.-but
we were deceived; he returned their
gaze undaunted, and looking ara;1 and
again upon the immense crowd around.
with smile of most unaccountablc
expression, began his defence.
The engro5slng idea of his mind, du-
ring the course of his speech, seemed
To be to defend his character from the
ignominy which his execution attached
to 1t. He began by asserting that he
was morally innocent Of the crime for
which he was about to suffer; that he
had committed the deed he had no
doubt, but he declared that he had no
remembrance of the murder or of any
OF the incidents that transpired that
week. He complained not &C the JUS
hce of the law, but believed he had
been arraigned under such circum-
stances that the prejudices of the peo-
pie had influenced the jury at the trial:
and II was to remove these prejudices
that he attempted tn speak.
II had been asserted that he had mur.
dered before: in ailusion to this he
said-"Once before my single arm shed
human blood, but | was justified by
The rules OF war. On the shores of the
Lapiata ] was separated from the party
OF our ships and came in contact with
mounted Spaniard; we were enemies
IN war. He fired two pistols at rnc and
missed; returned his fire, but his
horse was prancing and missed too:
he attempted to ride me down as he
ought to have done,-I cut the rcins of
ms bndie, and as his horse galloped of
he dismoun,ed and began to load again:
preferred fighting With The sword and
rushed upon him; at the first pass he
made | saw his life was in nv hands:
todd him to surrender, but he came
upon me with Iedorhied fury. IL my
sword had broken my life was forfeited:
| ran him through and he fell dead al
my feet, and buried him there. and |
wept over him for he was brave
man."
1t had been said he was man who
did not believe in a God: In answer 10
tins he remarked,-"This foolish story
began about thing so contemplate
that don't like 20 speak Of il: vet to
do myself justice must explain IL. Nv
wife belonged To a church here and 4,
was said would not let her 90 10 class
meeting: this Is not true; IL she had
wanted to goi, would have been a COM
Tort to me, for she was disconnected and
unhappy and this might have been of
service oher. ] always did believe in
God and never in my life was goin ?
into any imminent danger, that / did
not pause and give it thought"
" had been rumorcd he was pirate:
TO this he said, - never was a pirate;
Il is true was a seaman and served
seven years in foreign service. but |
never fought for money and never
cared forit IN my life. Itook 40 arms and
fought battles, and fought bravcIy for
the rights Of man, and ! returned home
TO tel my countrymcn what blessings
they enjoyed in the laws they had. -
Much more he said, which wc canno,
remember.
The conduct Of the prisoner through
out his speech Of about an hour length
was characterized by the same ooolne..
and courage With which he commenc.
ed. lie repeatedly alluded 10 the 81.
penOrity Of our laws over other pa-
lions spoke with all a sailors attach.
meat Of the American aag. combaiicd
with energy the IDEA that be would
have violated the law on the pcrsop ~
a woman. cowardly and urm inly a. n
ga, -ihatso Car from 10. uudrrf. com.
mand be- would have enforced a.
dictates vi'h the poin, 1T ,hc hayo-
nci 81 che fsuhcst cx'rcnily a The
globe; snd finally declared e. belief
that m ica ninuirs b. woMi ho an.
loyins happier eyi.fcne. m ite .rc.
scncc ol the God who ona'gei hon al
lhat moment % iTiun.'. %, cr DE eiars
before him
Altogether % was ihc most wonderful
exhibition We have ever Wiinessed
there wa that consistency and incon.
sistency that rrason and want OF rea-
son which len Us at last utterly in a
doubt as 10 the character Of the man.
A murderer and about 10 be hanged he
ex:olled the justice of the law. and A.
gainst the established doctrines Of re-.
ligIOn and opinion of al chrtsf.au,