The native American., 1838-08-18

was adopted by more reputable class OF Irish
men, to ensure conviction. Not only was money
lavshed to procure extra counsel, but threats OF
| Irish vengeance were made 10 those who were
to try the cause, in case of an acquittal. For
eigners who had never been naturaliZed, were
intruded upon the jury, contrary to our law; and
a motion for new trial, on account OF this and
other Irregularities, was hardly listened to, and
contemptuously overrued. Is it any wonder that
all this succeeded! now ask unprejudiced men
to say whether, if the individual who fell had
been an american, or if no appeal had been made
to the wild and lawless passions of an Irish mob,
any higher verdict than MANsLAuGHTFR would
have been given. leave it to any lawyer in
the land, whether the facts, as | have narrated
them, and which, as | have before said, are the
same as were sworn to on the trial, warranted a
verdict of''WILFUL MURDER"
But to the article. The writer goes on TO state,
''that the family consisting of the father, mother
two brothers and sister, repaired to New
Orleans, with the determination of eiiecting his
rescue, or putting him to death with their own
hands," After my liberation from prison, and
| | scorn to notice here that violation of law in
my person which loaded me with irons and
placed me there, | did use every exertion TO Sc
cure for my brother fair and impartial trial.
And when | found that all my toll was in vain,
did make every effort to effect his rescue from
chains and Imprisonment. 1t required not alone
a brothers affection to do this. There is that
in mothers look, when the boy she bore
| lays pining in dungeon-there is that in a
sisters eye, which makes man-any man
dare all that did dare, and dared in vain!
But were the members of his family the only
individuals who manifested an interest in the
fate of Washington Whitaker? No; there were
Just and good people even in New Orleans,
where he was a stranger, who closed their ears
against alien clamor, and desired not to
american law prostituted to alien revenge. There
were Just and good people in the parish of
| West Feliciana, where he was born, who prayed
for a commutation of the disgraceful punishment
awarded, and solicited as boon that which
might have been demanded as the right of Justice.
There were Just and good people in the parish
of East Felicana, where he raised and had
his home, who petitioned in numbers not to be
disregarded, that their youthful friend and fellow
citizen might not perish on scafold to crafty
the wicked passions of an infuriate rabbe. And
the prayer of five hundred American citizens for
clemency, was apparently successful. Theirju
and moderate demand seemed for time to meet
executive approval. The Governor of the State
promised, and with every appearance of since
rity, to soften the extreme rgor of the law, and
to lay before the Senate, then in session, mo-
difed sentence for their approval. And hoac
did he keep his promise! But | want patience
mournful case, by that weak and vacllatng
man, | cannot do it, 1t sckens my soul tc
recall those moments of suspense and uncer
tanty-those alternate feelings of hope and fear
with which the conduct of EDWD. ID. WHITE
caused our bosoms to be agitaed! cannot think
on my poor old mother, and my dear departed
sister, in those hours of light and shadow, and
write at all, much less write calmly.
| But to exhibit in few words the utter want
of sincerity, truth and firmness, in the individual
who now presides over the State Of Louisiana,
/ it is sufficient to say, that to my mother and
sisters; to myself; to our friends, among whom
may particularly mention Doctor JOHN G. Will
L1AMs and WILLIAM TERRELL, Esq. of this pa
rish he constantly and uniformly gave assurance
that he would exercise his prerogatve III this case;
and, as have before stated, would lay commu-
tation of the sentence before the Senate Tor their
approval. In spite, however, OF all these proml-
ses; in spite of all these hopes held out to the
condemned and his care-worn relatives; in spite OF
all these assurances to anxious friends, and not
wihstanding a Governor's pighted word to the
contrary, the case was never submitted to the
cable, and the fatal DEATH WARRANT sIGNED!!!
81 am compelled to it," said the fase-hearted
coward, to respectable member of the Legisla
ture who was with him at the time, ''for shoulc
l interfere now, the Irish will destroy my proper
ty and tear down my house, Shame, where is
thy blush? Manhood, where thy frown? Citi-
zens of free and powerful State, look at your
GOVERNOR, sending native born citizen to
the gallows, for fear of foreign mob!!!
1t was the last day of the Legislative session, and
I was in the Senate chamber anxiously awaiting
the expected communication relative to my bro
theirs case from the executive. had ascertancd
that large majority of the members would ap-
prove of any modification of the sentence of death
which the governor might think proper to make,
and though every moment seemed an hour OF ago
ny, still thought that the next would end sus-
pens, and put it in my power to gladden. the heart
of doating mother with the news that her sons
life was safe. Let those who have hu'na1 hearts
Judge my feelings when, instead of the announce.
ment of the minister Of mercy, friend came hur.
rying to me with the news that the Governor had
refused that morning, for the first time, to inter
ere in the case, and had just signed the warran,
i for execution which was to take place Wthou