Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1845-07-21
Skeletons.
From The Richmond enquirer, Jalg liM.
IMPORTANT QUESTION.


resolutions We're adopted, expressing snnp csnsurc It
the Executive Of the Commonwealth, on account Of
lis COURSE in suspendnl the execution of sentence o,
tsmmbll County Court, conGrmuiog two negroes 10
death.
There ia no duty devovej on the Executive Of ,nate
decacy and responsibility than that of supervising The
proceedings o the Courts OF Oyer aud Termner on the
lfial ri slaves.
This function is devolved on It by the law, aud ia M
inra aud extent established hy our course u prael
cal Interpretation of these ptovjs,nns.
II Is his duty 10 watch the administration VI tbia
nnfon OF the criminal law. II is his duty 10 interiors
either by pardon. rcpeve or respite, Whenever the eve
enlibh ol sentence would inlet punishment dlspto.
Eoioned 10 the ease whenever IN his Judgment there
Il no evidence Of guilt. or where The proof unslsi,c
tory materially detective.
Removed. by his position. from the Influence of local
rNeliemenlwilh full time lnr realm and di>pa ona,e ex
animation ni the testimony renlted by the law he 70
corded for liza nspeciion ~ at least far t. pte.nme
That lis Judgment may generally be relied uu aud oef-
iay lis action ought 10 be treated with respect uven
tongh !, may not ~ all instances be arrfdanre with
the popular sentiment of the cunly in which, the jndg
mrnt oi condemnation has been pronounced
II IA moi usual. is 1t To he expected that the Fxec.
nhse III cnses OF interference Ia prevent the extreme
tehce oi the law being executed. or ~ postpone H. will
enter lh'o discussion with popular meetings. aslo the
pfopriety o lis course or make public advertisement
o The teasonso lis action. Su less 10 be- required
that II should Incorporate into It's otdcr Of padnn ur ~,
rriese or respite statement of the reasons ch Undue
ed II 10 make the order.
II seems 10 bo taken iut granted by tho meeting in
Campbell thai as The Executive did nu lnC,rin the Jail
~ NJ sheriff. HE face OF the order given IN this ease
What We're the of the Executive that "ecl,
without any satisfactory reasons aud lts action Is there
fore vebemenily denounced as"uncard ir and uninst.
liable As 10 this last, OF /! matter of opn
ion-bnt as 10 The conclusion, that as the Executive
has gwen 10 reSsdne. he therefore had reasons ts
ioeieai accuracy mey be respectfully questioned II
bp uttlh t NJ h.ft
Campbell whether the Governor mus, okr care In ron.
vince JaIor OF Sheriff. u whom he seude an order 10
dsehafse convict. or postpone an execution. that he
has "ssl seco'y rtas"ns' for giving the order. Do
The good people OF tamrhrll think, that hettc CouI
orders Tia Clerk lo enter Judgment II should viva til,
aforesaid Clerk 'saisiuctory reasons" for lis Judgment
~or ihs the commander o army should not yputlln
10 "fder company or itoon "a perform any net Of
duty without furnishing the men with "salIelAriory
reasons'' iur the odetl
a lille more sober and cool reflection mphi peIhaps
satisfy The good people of Campbc county. WHO tuok
pat IA th'se p,0crgdnga THAI u Ia lHlle questionable
heher the Executive should have asked the opinion "a,
hr lailor, ~ shtri. OF even the people If Campbell ~
public meeting assembled, huw he should perform y
public responsible duty committed To his ella rre--or
whether he has justly exposed himself the mputa.
ton II having acted hUut reasons htcpuer by as MI
submitted any uf lht sppria consideration and oppfo
baiiun
As The assembly Aforesaid has thought rropef 10 axe
ihls mailer lhn Subject ~ an hdundta mFiap, end hN
general publication ain all the papers # the Siair,
To appeal 10 the whe Commonwealth apainsl the imrn.
led outrage el The Executive, II may be- well thai The
public sh uld be l!ile particularly informed Of The
facts ii the case.
Three neerocs-,wo men and woman--wcro cum
sleed bs 'he County CURT Of Campbell 81 an assault
with intent 10 kill their misiresa lady ut the counly ol
Campbell Ibe asgsGli was n violent aud dangerous
one, accompanied with II q unlcion Of several A,unds
with knife. characterized by murdemus intent, aud
circumstances Of malignant dellb, ration aud at.ucy
No "upd1T, lhfn, that the ppopLl NJ Campbell slpph
feel snsiuus that the extreme sentence IT The la should
BIZ Inflicted On the perpetrators 81 such crime and Just
as lltllo 10 be wondered al. # they sbonl, under the
nence oi the excitement naturally attendant upon The
commission "a Il, yield ,heir beel Of the pn ~ The
persons accused testimony which might be tdnal
~ as satisfactory TO others iavorably situated for
dlspnssionaie examination.
That the Executive properly appreciated The cnormi.
~ Of the crime, and was nat disposed. wiihu lea
iaclofy reasons," to interfere with RE Judgment ii the
court shown by the fact that as 10 one OF TN er
who was undeBlahly guilty, the law suffered 10
take its course. and he was tweca'd uu the very say
aud al the AGO where the public merllng whose pra.
ceedings have been published, VAS held. respae II
one month granted Ia The other by the Lieu
tenant Governor acting IN the nbs,nce of the Gu,rgnpr
j is unJreiooJ thai IN le Older oi respite in The let
Ter "a which IL euclused The Lieutenant Governor
requested the sheriff tn adnonsh the condemned. that
hey must moi racuale ~ ultlWate pardon IN
qnence Of tbs respite This is the head aud rant ID g
offending. No pardon has been given no repreyr r
iIansposat!ou ordered promised A respite for
one month is ALL l. is this which the good peoalc VI
Campbell, IN public meclng assembled, assume order
ed without any good reasonc daaonnce "uneaed to
and un5usdabe." and which they wish 10 have put in
all the papers of the State asa hing which -adaagess
lhr lives VI ti.rue,lges aad tiMlf families -
What were The precise views and reasons of the Tx
ccnllye for his interference. by respite Of mouth
is Of COURSE not known as the Executive has given