Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-10-21

Of such creatures 80 M'Kenzie, and (ifl
possible) the still more contemplate vag.
abondsm Of Sutherland and his associates, |
who have had 20 other hope OF escaping
from the disgust which their cowardly |
couduc, on the frontier has inspired, but
the fiendish prospect Of embroiling two
great nations IN war. All they have to
do now, is to mind their own business,
and go TO work at some honest employ.
ment.
From he Mes York Courier, 7'hprsdoy Q P. ".
The CasE OF M.LEoD. case,
the resul, OF which has been looked for
with so much anxiety in every section Of
our country, and which has led to more
ill-ieeling and acts of popular tumult, than
any ever before tried in this country, has
al length terminated, and that too in a
manner, we believe, perfectly satisfactory
to all sensible, well-meanlng persons.
The acqulttal Of Mcleod removes one
great cause OF complaint on the part Of
Great Britain, and her first act towards
him will doubtless be one of compensation
for his long incarceration, and the trials
he has undergone since the charge was
first laid at his door.
The trial was conducted from the first
to the last upon the strictest rules Of law,
Though many persons were to be found
who condemned, as erroneous, the deci-
sion of Judge Grijley, which closed the
door against the admission OF the addition.
al evidence which Mr.. Hall wished to Of
fer on behalf of the prosecution. That
this evidence would have borne very hard
against the prisoner, may be very justly
inferred from the zeal with which the At
torney General pressed its admission, as
well as the pertnacity with which It was
opposed by the prisoners counsel. Our
Reporter, who conversed with one of the
witnesses, a gentleman Of standing and
character from Canada, states that the
evidence Of this person, which could not
by any possibility have been impeached,
would have had at least the effect Of de.
terrng the jury from rendering verdict
so readily as they did, and would materi-
ally have altered the complexion of part
of the case, by removing oil doubt as to
, the fact of Mcleod ever having boosted Of
his exploits on board the Inflated Caro-
line.
Judge Gridley also ruled out that por-
ton Of the defence which Mr.. Spencer
wished to interpose, Of Justification, but
IN this he only obeyed as he was bound
to do, the mandate Of the Supreme Court.
To many persons the Attorney General
appeared to be over Jealous, and more
: than anxious to secure conviction, and no
person has ventured to say that every
thing legal was not done to attain that
end, but from our knowledge OF that dis
tinguishcd gentleman, we are well assure
that at no time did he outstep the bounds
Of that duty, which, as public prosecutor,
he was bound to perform, and which he
E well knew was expected at his hand by
the country.
We had occasion during the progress
of the cause to remark upon the acerbity
Of feeling exhibited between the leading
counsel, but we are happy To learn from
cur Reporter, that those feelings had en-
trely disappeared before the close Of the
trial and the distinguished gentlemen were
p restored to that state of amiable inter-
, course, which should never for an instant
have been interrupted, and which, but for
the tarGiDess Of Judge Grdley in checking
their personalities, would never have taken
1 place at all.
On all hands it is admitted that Mcleod
: has had an impartial trial, and the mos,
disconnected OF the Patriots, who an,ci-
| patcd his conviction with feeling amount
; ing almost to certainty, and who looked
forward 10 that result as the acme OF their
I desires, have been compelled 10 acknowl-
, edge that human skill and human ingenu.
ity would have been exhausted IN vain TO
beat down the weight ofirrefragable and
unimpcachabie evidence adluced by the
prisoner.
As to TIE excitement occasloned by the
trial, il has been no where less perceptibie
than at Utica, where the case was tried,
, and our Reporter was assured by more
| than one of the leading Patriots, who were
. in attendance upon the trial, that after the
rendition OF the verdict, they would be the
first TO frown down and resist any attempt
at violence or even insult to Mcleod.
The charge of Judge Gridlsy was per
haps one Of the INST eloquent forensic
= uispidyS ever HtdTu VI CUuIt VI JUSTICE.
and the death.lke stiffness which reigned
during its delivery, and the eager attention
f with which every word was drunk in by
the dense assemblage, most OF whom were
ladies, was perhaps the highest compl-
ment that could be paid to the distinguish
ed jurist, before whom this all-absorbing
case was tried.
After the verdict had been rendered,
Mcleod, who throughout the whole trial,
had conducted himself with the utmost
propriety, but perhaps with too much in.
difference, whether feigned or real we do
not presume TO say, received the congrat-
ulations of his counsel and friends who
, thronged around him, and soon afterwards
he retired with them to Bagg's hotel,
where he remained during the night, and
|, probably the next morning or evening
started for England ria Boston.
Before closing this article, we will men
ton an incident, showing how well merit.
ed is the title Of Steam Judge" as APP
piled to Judge Gridley by the members Of
the bar here. Immediately upon the Of.
ficers being sworn TO attend the Jury to
their room, and before they had LET. the
Court room, he commanded silence, and