Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1843-02-08

|
"a youth of only Is or l9, that his life
would end 10 10 minutes2 "Spencer'
(says McKenzie) "seemed overcome with
emotion. He burst into a flood Of tears,
sank on his knees, and said he was NOT FIT
TO DE-" In the confusion of the moment,
with death staring him in the face. how
could be compose his thoughts and write TO
his father? Ii he tried he could not sue
coed, for as the event showed, Mckenzie in
few minutes returned to Spencer and ASA
ed him what message he had to send to his
friends. He said NONE. Tell them that
I die wishing them erery blessing and
hGppineSs.n He said "there was none
whom be bad injured who was suf-
fering obloquy on his account "bn,." says
he, a." this uiN kill my poor mother"
Thus suddenly was Spencer, in the sun
| shine Of youth, like a flower in blossom, cut
from earth, and sent without time fer pre-
paration, 10 the laud of spirits. !
Cromweli's last words were, TELL my
wife that die innocent; Idle an innocent
man, " 49,. :.@. .."a..
Alas nor wife nor children more shall he behold,
Nor friends, nor sacred home -: F..
! One solemn question remains for McKen-
zie to answer TO himself = TO his God. and
20 his country. That is, where was the
| necessity Of taking the lives Of these pris-
| oners at noon-d day without granting time TO
prepare for death? The prisoners had al
] ready been kept nearly five days without
The least attempt at rescue. When execut-
| ed, it was noon in clear day-the officers
all armed to the teeth, and the crew dis
armed. Was there particle of danger then
| in postponing the execution through the
afternoon ill sunset? Common sense an
swers, no. But this would not suit his
purpose. Having the opinion of his under
lings, and wishing, as be says, to get rid
of him. be had rather destroy both soul
aud body than to wait till evening. He
could not say of his victims as Macbeth
did Of Banquo II. ... 49,.
- /" Thy souls fight
If it finds heaven must find it out to-nigh IT."
! for be could not a1ait till night as did the
bloody murderer of Banquo. Neither could
| Mckenzie say -:....<.. -.
Il would not kill thy unprepared spirit,
| No, Heaven io'tend! would not kill thy SOUL
! for lie had no such compunc,ious viSitings
Of conscience TO stay his hand a moment
from the commission Of the bloody deed.
On the head of Alex. S. Mckenzie, his
aiders aud abetters, rests the blood and the
guilt Of the unprepared souls of Philip
Spencer, Samuel Cromwell and Elisha
Small! JusTlcE.
! P. S. Since writing the foregoing, the
New York papers have come to hand );
and among others the N. Y. Courier &
Enquirer, whose Editor enjoys the envi-
able reputation of being aviadictive blood
thirsty DueItist, says: = ..-- .-..
"N Is confidently stated BY some Of the
Nacat Officers in this city, that the Court
of f 1quiry for the trial of Commander
| Mckenzie. hare unanimously acquitted
him, and that a Court Martial IN the
case is deemed e.tilely unnecessary"
| quote The above as fair specimen of
the paragraphs to be daily met with 10
some of the ecould be leading papers in
n. Y. and some other cities; which, on
account of certain Influences strongly OPP
Grating upon them from the beginning,
have never let slip an opportunity ofland-
ing Mckenzie and denouncing the pre-,
tended mutineers by the wholesale, with
out stopping TO investigate the case, or
knowing the precise meaning of the Ian
puaqe used Who ever before heard Ola
Court of Enquiry for The trial O arg
}man? 1t merely enquiries into the facts
TO find whether man is liable to be tried
! And how can man be Unanimously
acquitted who has never been placed or
: hiam And who is it that so ''c0nfdent
4 Iy states that Court Martial is eatirelg
unnecessary! ?" Why, =" Some of ths
Nacat Officers in this city!!' thrust tht
people will not suffer themselves 10 be de
: ceived by the folly and ignorance OF wei
paid, corrupt, time serving Editors, wh'
are laborng hard at their old trade :
Manufacturing public opinion ~
-: Ill: ..>:.: JUSTICE.
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