New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1842-08-23

he will lind ere long that instead OF poStohihs, NC
only adds 6ercer fury the indignation they viii
pour upon his head.
| CoMMyTATfoN OF SEsTEscE.-Governor Sc
ward has committed the sentence of death passed
upon Thomas Topping, for the murder OF his wife
under circumstances of peculiar atrocity, to I'M
| prisonment for life in the State Prison. 1t was
satisfactorily shewn, by commission appointed
for tina, purpose, that he suffered some time since
q sun strobe, since which time he has exhibited
the appearance rather of an idiot than of rational
and responsible human being. We understand
that to Mrs. AHs S. STEPHENS of this city is due
the credit of having saved the life of fellow crea-
tpre. of 100 weak mind to be responsible for his
acts to understand the terrible nature of the deed
| he had committed, or of the punishment which
awaited MIN; ard too frendIess to secure in his OWE
behalf, by any interpostion, the cemencyt to which
he was entitled-Ineited by the extraordinary
circumstances of the case. this lady procured the
testimony of eight persons in this city, which con-
| vinced her that the man not In condition TO
| be responsible for his acts She went to Albany,
and read this testimony to the Governor, WAC was
thus induced to appoint the Commission OF In
quiry Their investigation discovered eight other
witnesses, whose evidence was completely decl-
| sive and would, upon trial, have forbidden the
| idea OF conviction. The report of the commits
sion was sent to Albany, and Mrs. Stephens soon
had the pleasure of receiving the commutaton from
the Governor.
| On being told that he was not to be hung, Top
ping acted like child-evincing great concern
lest they should phap him in prison. He was teld
that if he would behave we'll, he might perhaps at
some time, obtain release. He said he would,
| and thought that they would let him out in about
| FIVE weeks. This may show in what state OF
| wretched imbecility this man awaiting his ex-
ecutin
Had this wretchcd creature or his friends been
possessed Of bare hundred dollars, he would
| never have been convicted of this awful murder
for the simple reason that he was never, either
legally or morally, guilty Of it. Mitchell, who
bad cash and friends, without the slightest ground
could produce evidence almost sufficient to prove
him insane ; yet here is a wretched man who has
neither; on his trial his counsel whoever he is,
thus entrusted with the life of fellow being
calls on none of the Sa1teen witnesses who knew
him to have been insane, but allows his poor
client TO be convicted and sentenced to death for
the commission of crirne of which he cannot
oven form conception! Is this worthy admin.
islration Of that Law which is said to dwell in
the bosom of God Ito concern alike the highest
not being above its authority, and the lowest as
NOT beneath its cnre
90 The LIFE AND SPEECHES OF HENRY CLAY,
No. 3, is just published. 1t closes MIR. c. great
Speech on The Emancipation of South Ameri-
ca, contains all that on Gen Jackson's conduct in
the Seminole War and commences his long and
able Speech of 1920 in favor of the Protection
of American Industry which will just now be
read with especial interest. The work is well
got up and neatly printed, and we heartily COM
mend it to general perusal and patronage. Few
men are so well acquainted with our National His
tory and National Policy that they may not derive
,uluaGie pronaole instruction from the Speech
es of Henry Clay, which scarcely leave poin, un-
regarded, while they contemplate none without
throwing light upon it.
We observe in the Courier of Saturday a COM
municased attack upon this work, so evidently
dictated by interested rivalry as to require no re-
futation It's principal cavils are that the Journals
Of thirty forty years ago have been searched
to find epery thing that Mr. Clay has spoken,
whether on themes of permanent or of transitory
interest. Another objection is that Mr.. Clsy's An
ti-Bank Speech of 1911 reserved to be published
in connection with his counter Speech of 1882 in ia
var Of the Recharter of the late Bank The pro-