Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-08-25
CANADA NEWS.

Of the 1lth for the following news py correspoh-
dent at Toronto, under date of the 9th; from .
Which w. learn that sixteen persons were con- G.
damned tn he hanged for political offences. -Four 10
are Americans, and twelve British subjects The e
.;x.eeu prisoners, some of whom had been convict
ed. and others Of whom had plead guilty were then
brought into court for sentence. Some OF them N
xvere mere boys-ali were well dressed, Miller IN
black From the appearance OF no one OF them
would an unfavorabc opinion bc drawn as 10 char
actor.
After the crier had made proclamation for sail |
persons to keep silence while his lordship, the
queens Justice pr onounced the sentence of DEATH
Mr. Jones called over the names OF four American ;
citizens, who had been tried under the act OF the
last session Of the provincial parliament. The
first was Linus W. Miller After brief recapit-
uaton of the evidence, he asked whether he had
any thing to say why sentence Of death should
not now be passed him. After pnusin9 a few
moments he spoke IL fine meodious voice; IN
substance follows: i
NM Lord Your Lordship has asked whetherl
have any thing to offer why sentence OF death
should not be pronounced against me. shall with
the permission of your lordshp, offer a few re-
marks, not howev er, with belief that shall be
able by any thing that might say, to turn away
the impending fate that awaits me-
In reference to the statute under which have
been tried, am under the full conviction that IT is
uEeons itutiona and in this opinion believe am
sustained by some of the legal gentlemen now
present am of opinion that no statute affecting
the life Of an dvdnai, whether subject or not,
can be considered the law of the land until II
shall have received the sanction OF the overegn
know, my lord, that under this act others have
suffered, and have reason to suppose that my
pleading its unconsttutionality will be any bar to
the awful fiat which about to fail from the lips OF
your lordship.
am indeed, asked, why sentence OF death shall
not now be passed upon me. Ii had done deed
worthy Of death, would say, let it come; but
declare your lordship, that according to the dc
4 tt,1arfI IN
nor bonds.
have not been guilty of the death of any one
have taken from that which was not my
own. l came not into your country to destroy It's
form of government. came not upon It's oorders
with arms in nv hands. Young and inexperienced
as am was led into the error for which now
stand convicted, by the advice Of others. Had
truth and Justice prevailed, should not now be
called to stand before your lordsip IN peril OF my
life.
cav 7 stand conyic,ed--but on what ev idence
has nv conviction been obtained? Y pom that
of the periured Dean who has become an evidence
for the crown save his own life. True, there
has been some other evidence against me, from
persons whom | believe intended TO speak the
truth, but they we're in error No doubt they
wero led astray from the necessary confusion OF
the moment
When | became sensible of my error--when
found that it was better for me TO return 10 my
home told that the lines could not be passed.
and that if forsook my party, death would be my
portion. Thus situated, what way was there tor
my escape? 49,
/ appeal, my lord, to the lancers, whether did
moi use nv best excrtions to stay the hanc OF the
assassin I appeal to every indiv idual who was
present at the attack upon the lancers, to say
whether did not do every thing IN my power u
prevent the death of every one, or the loss OF any
property.
felou: but appealing to my own conscience, avon
to your lcrdship and to this whole court that cnn
not consider myself guilty OF feionions act' ye
iii is nv fate to suffer death, must bow to TIT
mandate which DEGREES it.
The Judge then asked the other three the usua
question, and nothing being said, he proceeded
pronounce the sentence, prcfaclnS II VILE som
pertinent remarks, particularly addressing hmse
to Miller He said it apparent that his edu
cation should have led him different cours
than to be found with band OF individuals, an
with arms too whose aim was to subvert the GOV
eminent of a country with which he was not cor
nected, and one which was at peace with the I
States, of which he was a citizen; that the we
he had taken of the conStitutionaiity OF the la
he had transgressed, not sound, and that
was as much the law of the land as any undo
which the province was governed. Inc Judg
then ordered Linus Wilson Miller, George Coole
Norman Mallory, and William i<eynoits, TO be u
ken to the Jail from whence they came, and thi
on Saturday, the 2oth day OF August, they be L
ken to the place OF execution, and there be han
ed By the neck until they dead.
The solicitor general then moved that sen,ent
be passed upon the following persons, convict,
ofhigh treason: Samuel Chandler, Benz Wait,
Gamble, John Grant, Murdock McFadon, John
M'Nulty, George Buck, David Taylor, James Wa
oner, Garrett Van Camp, John Vernon and Ale
ander M'Leod. The counsel for Wait moved tn
the verdict in his be set aside, as one of Il
jury which rendered it was not British subjee
The Court decided that it too late to ent
that plea; and the Judge proceeded to sentenc
He told the prisoners that to some OF them;
whom no one knew, mercy. would probably be e
tended; urged upon then: all the Importance Of
preparation for another world; and then pronou
ced the following sentence. (after calling each
nancy "That YOU and each of you be taken
the Jail from whence YOU came, and that Il
25th day of the present month, August, you a,
each Of YOU be drawn n hurdle to the place
execution, and that You be there hanged by Il
neck until YOU are dead; then your bodies
be quartercd; and may God have mercy on yo
souls"
That relic of barbarism, ''quartering." we a
hoo 10 han I'D