Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-11-28
SCENES IN NEW YORK.

and Van S,eenburg TO Imprisonment ioI me-
In long and able letter 10 the shef'n' ne
plains The reasons for adopting This solemn re-
snonsib;li,v There is no doubt that they are re-
gally guilty of murder, in beng present. "''''~'
ana discussed resisting The sheriff, who was muir
dered and therefore parties 10 he commission u
the felony Bat there is no evidence 'na' '"e,
we're among those who fired upon The murdered
man-and their crime is, in The view OF the eo'-
ernor, separated BY hardly percep''ole l'he u
demarcation from that Of those whose miiuei 81
,ence of Efe-imprisoument has salisiiea Pu"'',
;,.,;ca and has accorded with the general
san,;men, of The community. Moreover, Inc
,urors who tried them strongly urge, upon
,bis ground HE Communication OF The sentence
"And it is upon this ground as uniformly
expressed, saw. Governor Wright thai 50 llia"S
OF The citizens OF The Stale urge 'ne Sa"'
intsrposi,ion. Upon his point there has cen d
harmony and strength OF expression, very SCI
dom witnessed upon a similar question. Inc
feeling seems 10 be almost universal, lna' WINE
so MANY were gully Of the actual killing OF Inc
lamen,ed Steele and so many more were piihci-
pals in urging on, commanding, and directing
those who were so guilty, punishment IN 'he
Stale Prison for life is sufficient degree oil Sc
yer;,v ~ he exercised towards those who stand IN
The second degre OF moral guilt as only pas''ss
10 the felony which laid the foundation tor Inc
murder"
Had these poor creatures been hung, the ex-
element would have been intense. As II IS, me
public mind will still be deeply agiaied. On Inc
whole, Governor Wright seems TO Us 10 nave
pursued a course, which while II is consonah'
with mercy and the kinder feelings OF humanity
will he better calculated 10 relieve The open viola
lions of law and order. We are opposed 10 The
numerous interpretations OF Executive mercy
which we see so often misapplied; and il is
dangerous experiment 10 step between geii'y
felon and the laws oil the country. In this New
Yorl, ease. moreover, the conduct Of The anti
Renters, subsequent 10 the conviction, IN arraying
themselves as distinct party against The enforce
ment Of the laws of property, was not calculated
10 ensure favorable hearing for their condemn
ed associates But, all things considered, Cover
nor Wreh, has pursued the dictates OF sabstan-
tial Justice and wise policy, in changing one form
ofpunishmen u.a another which, to most human
creatures. is not less awful and terrific We are
no advocates Of the new school for the abolition
of capital punishment; but death" should be re-
served FOR cases Of the most deliberate and ma
licious guilt
The New York Correspondent OF the Ma
tona Intelligencer says
"On this act OF his Excelency there will proba-
bly be some severe animadyersion The policy
is very doubtful. But The motive Of the Cover
nor is, beyond controversy pure. He cannot hope
10 Gain friends By this measure, and he will pro-
baby lose some of those whose feelings are
greatly excited.
The Wings ale sorely puzzled where 10 place
Mr.. Calhoun on the Oregon question. They
would fain array him in open opposition 10 the
administration, bur the evidence is 100 stubborn
10 be moulded TO their purposes, and their efforts
are OF The most bunglng character An anus
ing specimen is 10 be found in Thursdays Ma
,ional In,elligencer. In the same paper there Up
pear letters from New Orleans and New York
The former gives sketch OF Mr. Calhoun's
views on Oregon. After stating that Mr. c.
thinks the question can be easily settled BY com
mon prudence and discretion in our public coun-
ellis, in way honorable and satisfactory 10 all
parties, and without sacrificing an lola Of our ma
nonal rights and honor, il proceeds:
"Mr Calhoun returns 10 The Senate where his
presence will be otihe highest importance in the
present stale OF affairs, ard where | am sure he
will be found in opposition 10 the course which
the present administration appear TO have chalk
cd out FOR their foreign policy
on The contrary, the New York Correspondent,
commenting upon a Washington letter 10 the
Journal OF Commerce thus defines Mr.. Calhoun's
position
"He is for adopting, according to the letter re-
ferred TO- "a ac,se and mastery inaeiry or, II that
cannot lie observed, then, al all hazards, mi 10
ued one inch Of that territory 10 The British clam
"But mark The language of the Washington
letter. Ii asks, What was the course of Mr. Cal.
houn in The Cabinet on The Oregon question:
InjsI am 1reA prepared 10 state. He was deter
mined no. 10 yield one inch Of that territory 10 the
British claim. In making this statement Iuse ms
o,cn 1rords, as often expressed 10 his friends who
counselled with him on the subject
sIie went on with the negotiation however, in
good faith, and endeavored 10 convince The Bri-
fish Minister that our title 10 the whole OF Oregon
was clear and unQuestionable.'
"'From this statement, however, il will be
easy to see which way Mr.. Calhoun will go upon
the Oregon question as Senator
"'He will take the stand that he has always ia
ken-neher reinquishing our title, nor pressing
il 20 a collision with Great Britain. Adopting a
wise and mastery inactivity he will leave the
claim 10 work itself out.
These brief extracts are sufficient for my pur-
pose. They are sufficient 10 show, that MIR. Cal
houn is TOR procras,naion, or for loar il procras
tination cannot be obtained. Fer all or none OF
Oregon Be il remembered, that MIR. Calhoun
repudiates every thing like arbitration What
then is TO be effected BY his diplomacy but war il
The British Government require an immediate
settlement, Of The question: will not pursue the
argument. | consider the Letter and lis develop
ments highly important. have no doubt The
writer is correctly informed as 10 the policy BY
which Mr.. Calhoun will be governed"
If this be true; if Mr.. c. is prepared mot 10
yield one inch Of that territory to the British
claim" he widely differs from The Charleston
Mercury, which pronounces our title 10 Oregon
perfect humbug'
From The above, il may be seen that the Wings
have no correct information as TO Mr.. C.'s posi-.
ton. The Union remarks:
"As 10 The course which Mi. Calhoun would
pursue we doub, extremely whether he is fully
prepared 10 express any definite opinion al This
lime, without having all The facts of the case full
" and explicitly laid before him.
For the Enquirer.
MEETING OF THE LEGISLATURE.