Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-05-18


hding girl, Il cannot believe any evil OF
you.'
He retired sought the nature Of his
charge and to his inexpressible establishment
and horror, learned that be was accused
of the murder and robbery Of his friend!
In state little short of distraction, he re-
tined to his room, recalled with painful
minuteness all the circumstances connect
ed with the melancholy catastrophe, and
for the first time, saw the dangerous ground
on which he stood. But proud in con-
scious innocence, he felt to Withdraw at
that stage Of the canvass, might be constru-
ed into confession of guilt. He remain
ed candidate, and was beaten. Now, for
The first time did he feel the wretchedness
Of condemned and degraded man. The
tribunal Of public opinion had pronounced
against him the sentence Of conviction; and
even his friends, as the excitement Of the
party struggle subsidized, became cold in his
defence, and wavering IN their belief his
innocence. Conscious that the eye ofsus.
picion was open, and satisfied that nothing
short OF a public investigation, could restore
him to honor, the unhappy young man SUR
rendered himself TO the civil authority, and
demanded trial! Little did he know Of
the malignity Of man, or the fatal energy
of popular delusion! He reflected not that
when the public mind is imbued with pref
udice, even truth itself ceases to be nigh
ty. Many believed him guilty, and those
who. during the canvass industriously cir
culated the report, now labored with un-
firing diligence to collect and accumulate
the evidence which should sustain their
previous assertions. But arrayed in the
panoply of innocence, he stood firm and
confident of acquital.- The best counsel
had been engaged-and on the day OF tri.
al, Hamilton stood before the assembled
country-an arraigned culprit, in the pre-.
sence of those before whom he had walked
in honor from childhood.
As the trial proceeded, the confidence OF
his friends diminished, and those who had
doubted become confirmed in the prisoners
guilt. Tri1cs as light as air, became con-
hrmations strong MS proofs of Holy Writ TO
the Jealous minds ofthe audience, and one
fact linked to another in curious coincidence
until The chain Of corroboraiing circnm-
stances seemed irresistibly conclusive.
His recent intimacy with. the deceased,
and even the attention which friendship
and hospitality had dictated, were inge>
niously insisted upon as evidences Of a de-
Iiberate plan OF wickedness--long formed
and gradually developed. The facts, that
he accompanied the deceased on his way
that he lost the path in a country in
which he vas supposed to be familiar--his
conduct on hearing Of the death Of his
lrIend-the money--the knile-caused
the most incredulous to tremble for his fate.
But when the breast pin Of Hamilton,
found near the body Of the murdered man
was produced-and pistol known to have
been that Of the prisoner, was proved to
have been picked up near the spot--but
little room for charity to indulge benevo-
lent doubt. Nor was this all--the prose-
cution had still another witness the pale
girl who sat by him clasping his hand in
hers, was Unexpectedly called upon to rise
and give testimony. She shrunk from the
unfeeling call, and buried her face in her
brothers. bosom. Tha, blow was not an
ticipated-for none but the myrmidons Of
party vengeance, who had EVEN violated
the sanctuary of family confidence, in
search of evidence, dreamed that any
eliminating circumstance was in the pos
session OF the young lady. At the mandate
of the court, she arose, laid aside her veil,
and disclosed face haggard with anxiety
and terror. Inflow tremuloas accents, bro
ken with sobs, she reluctantly deposed that
the clothes worn by her brother, on his re-
turn home from that fatal Journey, were
torn, soiIed with earth, and bloody. An
audible murmur ran through the crowd,
who were listening in breathlcss silence
1.-The witness was borne away insensiole-
1.-The argument proceeded, and after an elo-
quent defence, the jury brought 10 ver-
dict of gully! The sentence of death was
passed.
! The summer had passed away. The
hand Of autumn had begun to tinge with
mellow hues the magnificent scenery Of
the forest. II was evening, and the clear
moonbeams we're shining through the
CRATES Of the prisoners cell. The unhap.
py man, haggard, attenuated and heart
broken, was lying upon his wretchcd
pallet, rejecting alternately upon the early
wreck Of his bright hopes, the hour Of igno
miny that was just approaching, and the
dread futurity into which he should soor
be plunged. TWAS the season with which
his marriage with Almira was to have beer
solemnized. With what pride and Joy h,
had looked forward TO this hour! An,
/ r. - II