Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1838-08-21


Miller After brief rrcapitulaien o. the eviaepesh
ssAcd uheer he had say thing - ssy Why ssaienes Of
death should not b. pron,annrd on hm Anst
Pausiar few moments. b. spoke in hae nsloi,'as
voice 10 Substance a. follows
MY Lord
Your Iofash,p has asked whether hsvc .ny thing
offer, why sentence OF death should not be pfrrcsh
eed sga,nsi me. shall. with the permission 81 Yuur
lotdship offer few rcmsrss NJ, however with hohef
that shall be able bv nnv hiag that AIT say, TO
turn aside the Impending fate hat awaits me
I'm reference % the statute under which have been
tried, am under the full conviction that u - unccns
tui,onal, and in this opinion believe am susain't
BY some of the legal gentlemen now present am ot
opinion that statute affecting the life of an indsa
ual whether subject not, be considered the law
o. the land until Il shalt have received the sanction q
the sovereign. thnaw. NV lord. that under lids
others have suffered and . have to suppose
that ms Flcadng its pnoonrtuinnsliiy viii be any bst
10 the awful fat which is about to fall from the lips OF
yout lordshp.
81 am indeed. asked why sentence Of death shall not
now be passca uron lf had done deed worthy
Of death, would cay, let ii but | declare 10
your iodshp, that according to the dictates OF my own
Judgment, deserve neither death nor bonds.
Il havs not been guilty Of the death of any one.
have taken from ,ha, which not my own.
came no, into your country 20 destroy its form Of
vcrnmcnt. came not upon its borders with arms IN
my hands Young and inexperienced as am, was
led into the error for which now stand convicted by
the advice of others Had truth aud justice prevailed
should not be called 10 stand before yont lord
ships IN peril Of my life.
II say stand convicted -hut what evidence has
my conviction been obtained Upon that Of the per
jured Doan, who has become evidence Cot tho
to save his own life. True, there has been some other
evidence against me, from persons who believe lnen
ded TO speak the TRUTH but they in No doubt
they were led asray from the necessary confusion Of
the moment
"When became sensible Of my error when found
that It was better for to return TO my home was
told that the lines could not be passed and that for
sock my party, death would be my portion. Thus sit.
! ulfed. no for m
al appeal my lord. TO the lancers, whether did not
use my best exeons TO stay the hand OF the assassin
appeal to every individual who was present at the nj
tack upon the ancers 10 say whether did not do eve
ry thing in power TO prevent the death Of any one
| or the loss OF any property.
"l am here, before your lordshp, convicted fell
on but appealing Ia tiny conscience, avow 10
your lordship and 10 this whole court, that cannot
consider myself guilty Of ielonious oct-yet If it is
my fate 10 suffer death | must bow 10 thc mandate
which DEGREES it,
The judge asked the other three the usual question
and nothing being said he proceeded TO pronounce the
sentence. pfeacing il with pe,nen, remarks par
uenlafly addressing himself TO Miller He said 1t was
apparent that his education should have led him TO a
different course than to bs found with band Of ndl
viduals, and with too, whose aim 10 snbveH
the government Of country with which he was no, con.
necicd, and one which al peace with the United
states, of which he a ctizen--that the view he
had taken Of the cons,itutonsty of the law he had
transgresscd not sound, and that it was as much
the law Of the land as any under which The province
was governed
The Judge then ordered Iucius Wilson Miller, Geo
Cooley, Norman Mallory, and William Reynold, to be
taken to the jail from whence they came, and tina. on
Saturday The 18th day of August they be taken 10 the
place of execution, and there be ranged by the neck
until they nte dead
Mr. Solicitor General Draper then moved the Court
hat sentence be passed upon the following persons,
convicted Of high treason Samuel Chandler, Benli-
min Wait, James Gamble. John Grant, Murdock Nc.
Fadon, John James McNuy, George Buck, David
Taylor, james Wagner, Garret Van Camp John Yes
non, and HezaRd1r .NcLeod
The Judge urged upon them all the importance Of
preparation for another world and then pronounced the
following sentence, offer calling each BY name y
hat you, and each of you be taken 10 the jail from
whence you came and that the 2oth day OF the pre-
sent month OF August, you and each OF you be draon
on hqTde 10 The place If e1ecntion and that you be ct
ha"ged by the meek until you dedd that your bodies
are 10 5e quaTteTed and may God hare merry yo'
s9ids"
To this last expression, there several who res
pended amen One Of the bailil stout fellow
who stood close to me- leaning his staff burst into
Hood OF tears, and assure you this soon became con
.agjous.
II was scene pray may never be oallsd again L
look upon-SiIfccR )et01o bangs iohom earhiy Jdg
Ind hmifod IN ie Of three ,reekSi and these II
the prime of life, many Of them with the blood of youtt
coursng in their veins-their average age, think,
a not more than twenty-five.
One thing more, aud close my letter, already to'
I long Let the friends Of Miller, Of Cooley, Of MsIo
r ~, and Of Reynolds be he alert Let them apply
without moments delay TO Sir George Arthur in thei
y behalf and my opinion s, that their efforts will b
crowned with success II will be found that Sir Georg
rs not that blo1dtnrsy character some have been IN
d dgced 10 believe.