The Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1850-1852, 1850-07-11

A
deiiisrssc and nassr~sous murder would
he committed feT . sum Il esSs. by man
~hc. though cnh.srsscd q, the time. ss'
py.i ~ annual income II ever $4,000. to-
saae. an irregular bus ceos,derniae income
frrsn ehesmiral analysis, who, sorcorcr bad
literal aud wealthy friends. Who in the last
emergency would nod r., him l< ruined Tor
such sum, and whose property, whi' b then
sod plcdgcd fur s.oa, $500 WIS worth
nan, times that amount.
DR.. Wcl~ters property, which in No
,cn,,-r Int stood pledged 10 pr parkman
and ether Interested in The notes IL $500
consisted IL chemical apparatus and mate
ral. o, the college, which had cos, bun
s,Goo sricn,idc library Of 1000 sol.
u,n,.s musical hbrary, believed 10y him
90 H. Tie most costly in this country aud
hi, plate and household furniture.
IL j. highly improbable that a man II de-
cen, lie. mild aDiablc, and moving smong
~ the amenities. and refined associations
of - ,irtuous s,cicty. mud uf a family like
tina, Il DIR. Webster sympa'lnsjng to
rather All unusual degree. in the taste, and
~ feminine. that such a man would DELHI
craicly Ilan the murder Of another, and
cherish and mature his design for scicral
days, Aaa then, further, surprising that
he could and did prcmedi'a'c such plan,
aud intend to execute il, there is still great
or moral inprobaliliiy. that when the mo
men. arrived he should find himself able 10
execute il. \ man nay have no u oral
principle 20 prevent his concciving = muir
derous intent, he may conceive II and lay
all his plans for achieving it. and yet, | say,
if he is unaccustomcd 10 violence and blood,
with no ruifanly habits or associations, if
be Ec mild not 10 say a tiimid man, the
chances are hundred TO one that when the
time comes. he will shrink from the per-
Torrance, that he will not have the courage
and tliu nerve for if, that he will not be up
10 1t, liza, he cannot do it. SO there 10
then, an immense double moral improbable
iiy against the hypothesis that the killing Of
DR., Parkman was first prcmcdi'atcd, and
then done as prcmcdi'atcd. That hc could
devise such Il plan Of disposing Of the body
aud then GO through it with all the horiid
and disgusting operations incident to il, has
produced in all minds bad impression of
his character. 1t ought to he remembered,
less human body has not the sacrcdncss
which i, has to Others; to him i, is mere
subject to be handled and cut with no more
awe or scnsibility than the butcher has in
dealing with the meat Of the shamblcs
1t may Ike justly said that Dr. Wcbster's
intellectual and social advantages and at
tninments increase his moral responsibility
for his acts, and render it more fit that his
punishment should be severe. But this
idea should not he pushed too far. II must
b. remembered that the same punishment,
II Imprisonment for instance, involving in
fanny and privation, must he felt tcnfold
more kccnly than it would BIC by n man Of
Inferior culture anf position. And this is
Inference enough against him. without in
hicting upon him sentence, seyerer in terms
which the government have no legal or NOR
Al right 10 do. II is sometimes said, 10 |
hat reply, that " DR.. Webster must he cx-
scu.cd, according to his sentence, because it
will not do TO relax the rigor Of the law in
'avor of his position. lie must die, who
ever else may be spared" This is a cruel
sentiment, and subvcrsive Of every princi- |
Die Ct humanity and Of right. The magis-
rate must recognize no castles, and must |
axe care lest he become too conscious of |
hem, in his zeal to gnorc them DR.. Web
ter certainly ought not to have his sentence |
ni,igated because he is what is called, in
,ur loose social distinctions, a gentleman,
md as certainly his ease ought not to be
shut out from candid and mcrcful consider.
,tion, because he i. that 1t is neither
more nor less necessary or right that he !
.houll he executed on that account. Con-
alterations Of caste, however they may affect
! potion Of the public unfavorahly for him.
most ccrtainly will not affect the dclibcra-
ions Of the council, either way--but he
crushed aside as only fit To be entertained
By narrow and timid minds of one social
lass. or jealous and malignant minds Of
mother.
Punishment fails Of its moral effect up |
N community, and even produces a con |
rary effect from that intended, whenever it |
: felt to he disproportioned to the crime
Wien DR.. Webster statement shall have |
zone ont TO the public. if it shall lie belicy-
al, As We may expect it will be believed by
even by great majority Of the !
millions who have become interested in the
on account Of its consistency.
Is inherent probability and the circums,an. |
,cs favorable 10 truth under which il was |
Inst male /; and if. then, the extreme sen
encc If the law shouid lie executed uTnn
him, he vii! certainly he thought to have
teen dealt with With unnecessary rigor, and |
Ia have exIiatcl his deeds too severely
And then the public rymIa,hies, 10y an M
alicrahle law of the mind, must pass over
from the side Of law and justice to him, a.
a wrongcd man-wrongcd with that last
wrong, which is imneasurallc and irrcI,ara-
bic, And il it should he felt that tho in
ncoent and liscousolatc family Of the con
ys-,--the ir,os, distressed family, think, On
eath--had had their unelunlled anguish
one joi beyond the bounds Of JUS
Il +