Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1839-08-27


know from what work the following terri.
bic passage is extracted. We find it in
the Albany Daily Advertiser. 1t bears
harder against punishment by death than
whole acre of homily:
The Hongman and the Jttdge.-"Dld
your lordshlp never attend killing time
at the Old Bailey? Ifnot, pray favor me
with your company not on the gallows,
but staying in the street, amid crowd that
always assemble when | am at work for
YOU and the sheriff. Perhaps it will add
to the zest, if you will come when have
young woman to stlffen, supplied by
yourself. Will the futtering other petit.
coat, as she swings IN the wind, produce
pleasant sound in your ears, my learned
master? Fail not to watch the people;
the men, women and children-good. bad
and indifferent-who have gathered to be-
hold the sacred majesty of.ihe law. You
viii see such flashing ofthe eyes and grind.
ing of teeth--you win hear signs and
groans and words of rage and hatred, with
fierce curses on Yourself and me; and
then laughter, such as it is, of an unnatural
kind, that they viii make you sick You
will feel--no--why should YOU feel any
more than your faithful iourneyman We
shall 90 to our breakfasts with good aP-
pettes. and firm conviction that every
hanging about changes many sneaking
pilferers into savage robbers, fit for muir.
der.
"a few years ago was called out Of
town to'hang a little boy whotad been
convicted OF killing with malice and afore-
thought. If guilty, he most have been in
the habit of going to executions. Ten
thousand come to .dabbe ~ the poor young
creatures blood. That be was the young
est fellow creature | ever handled in the
way of our business an0 beautiful child
he was too, as you have seen by the pa
per, with straight nose, large blue eyes
and GOLDEN hair. have no heart, no
feelings; who has in our calling? But
those who came to see me strange that
tender youngster have hearts and feelings
as we once had. Have !-no-had for
what they saw was fit to make them as
hard as your servant or his master.
They saw that STRIPPING lifted, fainting,
on 10 the gallows; hs smooth checks of
the color of wood ashes-his little limbs
trembling, and bis bosom heaving sigh
after sigh, as if the body and soul were
parting without my help.
This was downright murder; for there
was scarce any life to take out of him.
When began to pull he cap over his baby
face, he pressed his small hands together,
his arms. you know, where corded fast TO
his body, ] and he gave me a beseeching
look, just as a calf will lick the butchers
hand. But cattle do not speak, this crea-
ture muttered, spray, sir, don't hurt me-"
''My DEAR" answered |, "you should have
spoken to my master; I'm only the jour-
neyman, and must do as Pm Did," This
made him cry, which seemed to relieve
him, and | do think should have cried
myself if had not heard shouts from the
lamb !-shame! murder"
"Quick," said the sireriff.-"Ready," said
|. The Reverend gentleman gave me the
drop fcll--one kick-and he
swayed to and fro, dead as the feelings Of
the christian people of England.
The crowd DISPERSED; some swearing,
some weeping with passionate exclama-
tons some swearing as if hell had broke
loose; some laughing while they cracked
jokes on you and me and the
porson aud the dangling corpse. They
had come for the sight; they would have
come to see an angel murdered. They
had come 10 get drunk with strong excite
ment; they went back reeling and filthy
with the hot debauch. They had come
TO riot in the passions of fear and pity;
they went back. some in fever of rage,
some burning with hate, some hardened in
heart, like me, or you; oil sunk down in
their own respect, ready to make light of
pain and blood, corrupted by the indecent
show, and more fit than ever to make work
for us-the Judge and the hangman.
o wise law makers who think to soften
the hearts of the people-to make them
gentle and good--to give them a feeling
of respect for themselves and others, by
showing them sight like this.