Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-11-11

We wish these things could always nave
the effect they should have, to make the
party cautions in the selection ftheir public
men. Democracy and the Democratic
party would always be in the ascendant in
this couniry.i:it we're not for such men, who
betray its principles, and bring upon it od-
UNI and temporary defeat.
EXECUTION AT Rock IsLAND.-Pursu
ant to sentence, the two Longs and Young,
were hung at Rock Island for the murder OF
Col Davenport, on the 25,h ult. We are
not in favor of hanging under any circum-
stances, and when men are hung as these
were, we cannot find words TO express our
deep horror. Col. Davenport was murdered;
and the community became deeply excited,
| in the midst of this excitement these men
were applehended, and tried. 1t did seem
as though, whether guilty or innocent, 1t
was determined to have their blood. They
were refused postponement of trial; refn.
sed time to procure witnesses; refused
change of vcnire refused every thing; and
hurried ON TO a sentence which appears 10
have been determined on before hand; and
after sentence, for fear apparently that their
innocence might manifest itself, hurried to
execution. How were the ends Of justice 10
have been jeoparded by delay? 1.-THE words
of dying man are worth any thing. hear what
he says with the rope around his neck.
John Long, after acknowledging himself
guilty, says:
"Behold nte-=a dying--a dead man.
And my dying words are that these men
are innocent. | here hold up my hands
and invoke the heavens to witness tina:
these men are innocent. Would that God
Himself would come down and convince
the audience Of the truth Of whdt say
You are about to behold, my friends.
sight which hope you may never behold
again-.wo innocent men hung. AS for
myself, gentlemen, l do not rant. All my
hopes lie between this moment and that,
(ponting to the rope.l Should | make
full confession, should implicate two hun
drcd men in this State, Indiana, Missou-
ri, and the Territory. Perhaps some OF
you think it is my duty, but do not. for J
have some feeling for their families. !
have confessed about Bonny. ! make no
other confessions. (Here he closed his
very lengthy speech, lifting up his hands,
and asserting with his last words the lnno'
cence of the men by his side
1t strikes us as very possible, indeed prob
able that these men were innocent. 1t is al
all events outrageous that they should have
been 50 rushed TO trial and execution as if
the crowd were athrust for their blood. But
ir this IS not enough to excite deep feel
ing of regret and Indignation, certainly the
details of the execution cannot fail to do SO.
public pageant or show was made Of it.
A spot was specially selected to accommo-
date the crowd, and we are told that about
"ten o'clock the Sheriff paraded the streets
with the guard and music preparatory 4" the
march from The Jail 10 the gallows." Wheth-
er The public crier went round with his bell
to invite the people TO draw near we know
not, but it is no great stretch of magma
ton TO suppose that he might have called
them as TO witness grand spectacle or
show; but perhaps it was unnecessary, for
we are told that "the evening before the
day ofexecution the people began to throng
the town, and our streets were thronged at
an early hour in the morning. We extract
from a paper published on the spot.
At about half past twelve, the guard
formed in Elk stree; near the Jail yard I'M
der Capt Becher, in large hollow square
consisting oil upwards OF one hundred and
thirty men, well armed.
Precisely at one O'Clock, the mus took
their station near the head Of the square,
and the Sheriff, Lemuel Andrews, emer-
ged from the Jail with Jhon Long, followed
by B. J. Cobb, Esq. his Deputy. with
Aron Long, and Jacob Starr, Esq. the
Coroner, with Granville Young; the Rev.
Mr.. Haney of The Methodist Church, Rev.
Doct Galchell, Of the Cambcli,e Church,
Eldr Byron, Of the Babtist Church, and
a stranger formed in rear, and all marched
to the centre OF the guard. John Long
was dressed in blue dress coat and panta-
looms, light summer vest, thin boots, black
cravat, and black hat. His dress and per-
son were exceedingly nea, and trim, and
he surveyed the crowd with as much nom
chalance, as if he were commander
Aron was plainly dressed, but was neat
and clean, and in tears, with his eyes on
the ground most Of the time. Young was
dressed in bottle green frock coat, blue
pants, thin shoes, and straw hat. His
manner was that Of extreme distress, and
he seemed to be in great mental agony
throughout. He wept constantly.
At the word, the s'Grecn Mountain BOYS,
struck up mournful slow and solemn dir
&c, composed for the occasion by Geo. P.
Aabell, the Manager, which was so har.
moniously and admirably performed, as 10
convey the most dismal impressions of
death, gloom, grief, anguish, distress, pain,
and the grave.
The procession moved up Elk street
past the court house square to illinois street
to Deer street, thence on Deer street 10
the gallowsl around which the guard formed
in hollow square. The space around