Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-08-19
STAUNTON VIRGINIA. MONDAY, AUGUST 10, 1850.
THE SENTENCE OF DIR. WEBSTER.

II is impossible 10 imagine more miserable
condition than that OF the unfortunate victim OF
violent passions His last struggle for life has
ended and now with his death-warrant before
his eyes, he sits calmly down 10 meet the uphtt-
ed hand OF Death.
Yet Death, tc man Of correct feelings, is the
least of those evils with which the convict is ell
compassed Even the timd deer, long hunted
through the forest, the taying Of The hounds fell
lowing his footsteps and fierce eyes glazing upon
HIM through every thichet, might lie down i'll
patience and submit TO the death shot. The
convict W no feels that all mankind arehis enc
mics, who sees no friendly face in ali the world,
and in whose ear all nature seems to cry, ODE
part Henee,o may well sigh for the repose Of the
tomb, but for those horrid phantonas which ataad
upon its brink and point upwards 10 q more tsF-
| rble Judgment to come"
! Doubtless, as the unfortunate Webster gazes
through his prison CRATES, ne wonders that the
sun can shine pleasantly that the tide OF life
can flow SO smoothly that men can laugh, and
carouse, and curse and perform their daily toll,
Just as if almost there was not HE'LL, heaving
| with such waves CT woe as Dante never pictured
in his gloomlest flights and echoin9 with such
| hopeless walls as might melt even the rocky
walls Of a prison-house. Whittier can such a
man look for relief and consolation He turns
his eyes upon the PAST and its beauty distracts
him There comes up before him calm pic
ture of Il peaceful home; OF wife whose cheer
tul nature shed perpetual sunshine upon his path,
and whose happiness consisted in making him
happy of children whose useful endearments
refreshed his heart amidst the cares and tolls OF
life OF friends, OF admirers OF q worlds esteem
and good name. Not a year ago, and the very
Judge who sentenced him 10 death, received
him gladly as an equal and there was time
when leaning over the fires OF his forge, The
blacksmith whose noble energy has raised him
TO the executive chair Of Massachusetts, would
have gazed with admiration upon the learning
Of that favored son Of science whose death war.
rant he has just signed. The past how beauti-
full, how attractive 10 him now, as Eden mus
have looked to our first parents when the last
!, glimpse of ii, between the fiery sword Of the
Chelubim, fell upon their eyes. But how Ter.
rible the pang, that the gate of all this happiness
he has closed against himself in that fearful deet
of blood which folloWs him by day and scares
his midnight dreams His happy home desolat
) ed as by fire his wife and children heart brok
en- ; his friends all gone; his name by~worl,, o
nfamy his only home Jail his only hope o
liberty that which is brought BY shameful death
surely this man, if he has the ordinary feelings
Of man; must suffer thousand deaths ere tina
final release which the scatfold brings,
His case affords warning which men II
every condition will do we'll TO heed de
him who thinketh he standelh take heed lest be
fall'' A violent blow dealt i'll moment Of un
uovernable passion has brought down the fabric
ola formerly unsullied reputation, and iuvolyee
an innocent household in iufamy aud shame
1t is we'll to reflect that no requirements and lit
station can soften aud purity al evil nature, an,
that The education OF the heat is, even more ne
cessary to human happiness than the education
of the nlind.-Rlch. Rep.