New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-11-21
Case of Col. Webb.


praying the pardon of James Watson Webb, now
ander conviction and soon to be sentenced for the
crime of leaving the State with the intent to re-
cevc challenge TO Duel, were circulated on
Saturday, and were very numeTously signed by our
Citizens without distinction Of party. We have
| heard that of the Grand Jury that found the in
dictment to which Webb plead guilty. every mem
Der either had signed or would sign such petition
| and that the Tammany General Committee will
| unite in the prayer We presume, therefore, that
he application for an immediate pardon will be so
general and urgent that Gov Seward cannot hest
ate to comply with it.
This petition is certainly sustained by urgent
considerations. In the first place, the law under
| which Col. Webb is held emenable to punishment
was in its Inception political mannuvre, and has
remained for the fifteen years of its existence till
now dead letter on the Statute Book. Meantime
scores have incurred its penalties with perfect
notoriety and impunity. One of them was, speedily
after his ofence-not indicted, nor any thing Of
that nature-but nominated for aw-maker, and
judge-a member of the State Senate and of course
oar highest Judicial Tribuna-polled the full vote
votes; the next year nominated again. and elected
~ some 1000 majority. All knew his offence,
ye, nobody called for his indictment or punish
aent, and he served as member of the Senate
md Court of Errors till he saw fit from personal
considerations to resign.
In the case of Col. Webb there are peculiar
ritigations. In the first place, he is Military
man, trained in the Military school of false honor,
md through life publicly acknowledging allegiance
20 its laws. Then he had had personal differences
On which his enemies had based an insinuation Of
cowardics, of willingness to dcvolve his per-
sonal responsibilities on his friends-an imputa-
ton fatal to mans character with any class of
the community, and which, though undoubtedly
false, had obtained so much credence that if he
had in this case avoided meeting with Marshall,
he would have been saluted with hiss of scorp
and execration from one end of the Country to the
other Even they would have reviled him who
nave been most anxious and busy to effect his con-
2iction--the Editors of the Journal of Commerce,
Tor instance. When the Cilley tragedy took place,
he Journal took the lead in blazoning to the pub
tic that DR.. Duncan Of Ohio considered Col.
Webb gentleman, the simple and only object
If which must have been to instigate fight.
What else
Col. Webb was the challenged party ia this
affair, and went out of the City upon the peremP-
tory invitation of Marshall. If he had refused, he
would have been attacked in the by M. and
| an ARRAY more savage, and probably more fatal
| than the Duel would have surely occurred.
All this does not justify him in fighting Duel
and his resolution not under any circumstances tc
cndsnger the life of his opponent only mitigates
he lawless aud guilty deed. Yet every fair mind
| must feel that after scores Of challengers and
blood. seeking duelists have been allowed to pass
| in utter IMMUNITY through the fifteen years life
| time Of the law, it would be hard to pounce 70.
The first time upon one who had been challenged
| and forced into duel and visit him with the full
vengeance Of the law. We trust, therefore thai
Col. Webb will be pardoned, but that hereafter
every offender, having now full notice, will be Wis
tied with the penalties of the act. 1t is high
| time a stop were put to this absurd and bloody
relic of feuda barbarism, the Duel, even though
| the severest measures be found necessary. Blu,
let them not be sprung upon any man as q surprise
A worthy citizen being asked sign petition for hi.
! pardon. replied will do it most heartily. Col. Webb
aiher, while officer in the Revolutionary Army under
Washington carried father, wounded and bleeding of
| the grouni AT the battle of Harlem Heights"
| ~ Proposals for building National Observatory or
Camp Hill Washington, have been solicited BY the Gov
ernmeu II is consist OF two departments, Astronomer
| dad Magnetic. The work will probably go on al the open
| ing Of Spring The plan, we hear is magnificent one
just should been entered upon by the ma
uon many long year ago. But better late than never.
lSlamm's Plebeian.
| % When JOHN Quincy ADAMS was President
and proposed National Observatory, he wa,
secuted aud rallied at for doing it. Jacksonisn
made itself exceedingly merry with the idea o.
| building &c lighthouses in the skies"
70 Mr.. District Attorney Whiting reports to
| the Common Council thar he has issued warrants
TO Sheriff Hart for the collection of Jurors Fines
Conslablcs' Fines &c, to the amount of t,centy,
three thousand eigh huadred and ta0entyJfre dol
lars, which amount it was the Imperative duty o.
said Sheriff to collect and pay into the City Trea.
sary We believe none of il has yet reached thai
cspacious and needy receptacle, though Alderman
Scoes says the Comptroller has often called for
We trust it will be forthcoming speedily, and no,
via Cape de Verbs.
10 NJ. H. McALlsrER, of Savannah. g
Southern aavices, has positively declined an cleo
non as . S. Senator from Georgia. This is sad
Mr. NJ is the eblest, likeiest Loco,Foco in III,
State.
" GOV. PAINE has appointed Thursday Dec
sth, as the day of Annual Tbenk.r;vipg in We,