American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-02-14


in Congress-" will draw thousands into it all
over the country, who are not abotlonists,
and who otherwise would lend their influence
against abolitonsm. But if he is now reIeas-
ed, the voice of the whole North, with unlm-
portant exceptions, will concur in putting down
| any such camOr; and by meeting the people OF
! Massachusetts upon the grounds stated in their
| petition, we make them the most efectual VIM
dicators of our laws. Torrey's death in prison
will be food for abolitionism, his release, by an
act of magnanimty on the part of sIavehoId-
ers and other citizens, and an act of Gle nenCy
towards him, will secure the appreciation Of
our citizens throughout the country. We now
have an opportunity to show to them that we
Can and will vjndicate our laws, aud yet that
we can and will, when the laws are Vindlcated,
he magnanimOus, even towards offenders.
Below are the petitions of Mrs. Torroy, and
| OF the MASSACHUSETTS citizens.
VIII you concur in the request!
10 his Ercctency, The Governor Of ylIarytaad;
am a stranger to you, and can present no
apology for thus obtruding myself upon your
notice, save that humanity requires it. My be-
loved husband, Rev Charles +. Toney, is con-
| fined in your Penitentary, where he has been
| sentenced to six years Imprisonment Tor having
aided in the escape of three slaves from their
master. feel that in coming TO you with this
acknowledgment, | must meet you as magiS-
tTate; but, sir, trust you will also regard me
with the feelings of nan, so Tar as such ieel-
| ngs are not inconsistent with wise, Just and
humane ruler.
! There are circumstances in every govern
ment, both human and divine, when the exer
else of mercy not only benefits the subject, but
casts moral dignity and beauty over the Exc
cutive, and adds force and majesty to the law
| Permit me to mention one instance to this ell
feet. King David, who as you well know, was
| not stranger to the duties and feelings pro-
peIly belonging to, and becoming magistrate,
in addressing the King of kings, while inspired,
remarks, "There is forgiveness with Thee, that
| Thou mayest be feared. "-PS 1870, 4. With
| the fact before mo, that forgiveness does some
times cast dignity and force on violated law,
| feel emboldened to ask you to extend Execu-
tive clemency to my husband. There are some
reasons which appear to me to make his case
one Of those in which forgiveness would be a
benefit, rather than an injury, to your laws
/ Permit me 10 mention them.
la the first place, my husband admits that
h. assisted two slaves, VINO had previously run
/ away, IN their attempt TO 20 TO a free state.
But their runuiHg away was without any know.
ledge OF entlCement on his part. There is no
doubt the slaves belonged to MIR. HeCFrotte,
though my husband did not know 10 whom
they belonged at the time. An arrangement
has been uaao to satisfy Mr., He skroltc for the
loss Of those slaves by a compensation for
them Whatever my husbands or my own
views of slavery my have been, we do not,
and shall not deem it our Guty, III any uncOn-
sttuuona manner, to interfere with 1t. 1t has
ever been Il source OF regret with me, that my
husband thus took council of his feelings, IA
Their than his Judgment. have never appro-
we'd Of the Practice OF the citizens OF one state
visiting another, Tor the purpose OF lnterler-
ing with its laws; and should my request be
granted, | feel authorized TO give the fullest
assurance. both To you, and the people OF
| MARYLAND, that my husband will never visit
your state tor that purpose. The offence, though
a violation of your criminal code, in the cir
cum3tances under which it was committed, |
think you will admit, involves no moral guilt.
But it was Sudden, rash, and mpludent yield
ing to his sympaihics, regardless of the conso-
QuenceS TO himself or others. For this act, my
husband has already suffered six months incar-
ceraliou in your gaol, aud one years mprl-
sonment in Your penitentary. His health Is
faiing-hs mental faculties are impaired, and
unless mercy IS extended, he will die or be-
come maniac ere the term for which he is
imprisoned shall have expired
As magistrate now address you. When
the circumstances Of the offence are such, as
do not necessarily involve moral guilt, when
the injured party is satisfactorily compensated,
and when iull infection Of the penalty will
involve death or the destruction Of the mental
faculties, will not pardon do more to COM
mend the violated statute, to the respect and
obedience Of the community, than rigid in
Fiction of the penalty of the law? As "A aoite,
whose heart bIoeds with sorrow for one she
loves, and whose happiness is involved in his;
as mother, whose little ones by her side in
their innocent enquiries for their beloved father,
are constantly reminding her of her blasted
hopes, entreat you to grant me my request.
But if cannot prevail because as woman
:, | appeal TO your sympathies, rather than your
judgment, hear entreat you the voice OF the
Senators of Massachusetts. Give ear to the
voices of Ex-governurs Davis and Lincoln,
who have themselves been magistrates, and
who have by a suitable petition TO your EX-
cellcncy already testified, that they regard an
exercise ofyour clemoncy as desirable, not on
ly for my husband, but as an act which will
: tend TO inspire others, with groartcr leaE and
; respect for your laws.
y As you join your domestic circle, let my de-
ISOLATE hearth be remembered, and as a magis-
T trate, husband and father, decide my des-
tiny.
With my prayers for your welfare,
am your afflicted friend,
i MARY J. TORREY.
! To His ETce'lency, the Governor
ofihe State Of Maryland.