The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-07-31
From the Boston Transcript Of Friday.
No Communication in Professor Web
ster's Case.


ster's Case.
The Committee on Pardons, com.
posed of Lieutenant Governor John
Reed, Chairman, of Yarmouth, Ir.
Luther V. Bell, Superintendent of
the McLane Asylum for the Insane;
Hon. Samuel Wood, of Grafton;
Hon. John Tcnny, of Mcthuen, and
Hon. Chas. M. Owen, of Stock
bridge, met at 10 o'clock this morn
ing and submitted their final report
in the case Of John w. Webster to
the Governor and Council.
REPORT.
1t seems to your Committc that
the sentence in the case of said Web.
stcr, having been passed by the court
after full and fair trial, in the
course Of which all the facts and cir.
cunstances which could then be
brought to light, were patiently and
thoroughly investigated and weighed
by the Jury, and having been fully
affirmed, after careful revision OF
the law upon trial, since had by a
full Court, on solemn argument on
both sides, there appears to be no
ground for Executive intcrposition,
except it may be found in the subsc.
quent confession Of the prisoner.
In this view, the only question, as
it seems to us, are, whether the state.
mcnts which said Webster now makes
in his Confession, of the manner and
circumstances of the homicide, arc SO
confirmed by other evidence, or so
in rinsically probable. that they ought
to be received as truth; and If true,
wether they justify tho Executive in
a Communication Of tic punishment.
10 these questions, the minds Of
the Committee have been most care
fully directed, and J. as theY trust,
with no nnwillinsnea pstE! their part
70 ceiae to. M aairmatige ipenrlnsioia,
il they could DO 80 consistently with
supreme 7'egu'd 10 truth and jus
ticc. But after all the consideration
which they have been able to bcstow
upon this confession, and under the
light Of all the evidence and the
comments with which it has been &C.
compan'ed and supported, they feel
constrained to say, that the effect has
not been such as to satisfy their
minds, that the position Of the case
is materially changed. In other words
the palliatins facts and circumstances
set forth in the confession, have not
been so confirmed by other evidence
and circumstances, as to form a prop.
cr and sufficient basis for Executive
Interference.
10 this painful conclusion the
Committee have unanimously come.
The Coalmittcc therefore respect
fully report, that they cannot con
sistcntly with what they conceive
their duty. recommend a commuta.
ton Of the sentence, in the case of
John W. Webster as prayed for in
his petition.
Nothing now remains for the Com
mittcc, in the discharge Of this pain
ful duty, but to advise your Excel
lcncy in determining upon time for
the Execution, and they name FRI
DAY, THE TlIlRTIETH DAY
OF AUGTST NENT, rs the day;
and recommend to your Exccllency
70 decide upon that day as the time
for the Execution Of John w. Web.
Stcr.
JOHN REED, Chairman.
Council Chamber, July 10 1850
After the conclusion of the read.
ins Of the Report, His Exccl'cncy,
Governor Briggs, read to the Coun.
ell the following
ADDRESS:
10 the Honorable Council. Tho
Council having considered and acted
on the case Of John w. Webster, a
convict under sentence Of death, it
becomes my duty, as the Chief Ex,
ccutivc Magistrate Of the Common,
wealth, to make a final decision on u
question Involving the life of the
prisoner. l feel the weight of its re.
sponslbiIty. But it is a responsible,
ty found in the path of official duty,
and am not disposed to cvadc it,
OF to shrink from it. For eight
months past this extraordinary case
has created deep and painful inter
est among the people Of NIassachu-
sets, and of the whole Union. It's
history is rs brief as it is terrible and
destructive; every new development
in sprogrcss has been more strange
and has increased that interest.
The Committee on Pardons, con.
Sisting of tho Lieut.. Governor and