New-York daily tribune., 1844-06-28
Sentence OF Dorr.
sellsit.

We hope it is not necessary Tor us to say tha'
,,e arc Ear from rejoicing IN the sutfcrngs or mis-
fortunes Of our fellow creatures; bat VIC should
be untrue TO the interests of humanity at large
and TO tho sacred cause of truth if we at any
time besited to stand up for the laws and institr-
tinns OF our country, TO denounce their violators
or to approve The moral courage OF the Judicial
mower which condcms and inhicts necessary pun
jshrnen, upon them. The victim OF the sentence
of Imprisonment at hard labor for life recently
p.sscG at Newport after an arduous and laborIous
investigation and trial, can blame nobody but him
selffor the calamity that has oycrtaken him and
although we shall be neither surprised nor sorry
to hear that there is probability OF his receiving
the clcmency OF the pardoning power, after
portion of his punishment has been meted out TO
him. yet we must regard the sentence Of the
Court as Just and righteous one. Our magistrates,
when on the bench, can know nothing of pity OF
sympathy Their duty is painful but 4 stern
and imperative one. tho instant they descend
from their post AS guardians Of the Constitution
and the Laws, that Constitution and those laws
are in danger, and destruction ihrcatcns on every
hand.
Mserably misguided by an unholy ambition
and blinded by The clamor OF a reckless but
really insignificant faction Of dcstructvisis who
gather about the sinks and purllcuS Of an over
crowded and nI.organized civilization ciyiiza-
ton. however, incomparably better than tho AN
archv and chaos they would nadiy Introduce
Nr. Dorr suddenly conceived himself enlarged to
the dimensions Of hcro--a something ior men
ia worship and TO wonder ata being endowed
with the strength and inspiration OF one whose
,rca, mission authorizes him, as ii were. 10 brcal,
through all forms of human law and Justice
This was well TO dream upon; but when per
,ormancc came how melancholy, how ptiiully
iudicrous was the spectacle Of indccislon, inlbc-
ciiitv, impotence, The seli-tanced god. dis.
ulayed How unequivocaliy did his own coli
duct stamp as counterfeit both his mission and
his authority to set at defiance the well settled
systems and regulations of ordinary times and
everyday men! How infinitely deficient in all
those mighty faculties and powers that kinde
peoples enthusiasm, that make Ambition vir-
tue, and sweep all obstacles from lis path, did
he appcar.. and what bitter lesson OF his own
insirniiicancc did not his own timid hcari teach
him. Let us be understood: Ii is not merely
because Dorr was unsuccessful that VIC condemn
him we alike dctcst the tyrant, the oppressor oj
his fellow men in heart, whether great or small,
whether circumstances or his own energies permit
him to carry out his plans successfully, or
whether they die smo;hered within his bo-
som. But we must not dare not deny that there
hare been wonderful and miraculous mcn--inin-
s,crs OF some great and sublime design Of the
Crcatnv-whoSc deeds on earth arc not 10 be
measured by our own standards, and who
hore in their mighty deeds and i'll their whole
career the seal of their Divine authority -somc.
times, indeed too often, hallowed by Their blood.
But was Thomas W. Dorr one OF these
We'll! The laws are win dicated-a conspi-
racv against the laws of the land the peace of
the nation, the sacredncss of individual life and
property that would have been TREASON had ii
ever risen to the dignity OF temporary success,
is for ever laid and the head and front OF this for
orn and desperate enterprise is IN the hands Of
the law OF that country hc would so toully have
outraged Let his fate be an enduring lesson and
q. warning 10 The restless, the dissatisfied and
reckless spirits OF the times.