Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-07-09
MISCELLANEOUS.
MORE OF THE WEBSTER CONFESSION.

NosF OF THE WEBSTER CONFESSION
The Boston Post, which TO hand yesterday, con-
.ir. ,be peon of Dr. Webster and the entire speech of
Mr. Putnam The petition is as follows
PETITION OF DIR. WEBSTER.
r. nc Erc,srcu the Governor da 10 the Honorable Erecu-
ti,e Council Of the Commonwealth Of Massdctusets
Jobn White Webster Il convict under sentence vi deatn
IN BOSTON mil in behalf of himself and OF his wife and ms
children respectfully petitions that the sentence AWARDED
against him the law be commuted 10 such o'nef less
horrible enuminous punishment as your honoraoie DO
iv NAV mrrciuly decree.
n-ti,joper fully admits tina, he tried before fair
md IMPARTIAL tribunal and that under the law as exists MS
ry composed il of honorable and hlghmnoeo men,
onId nave returned verdict other than they did Bu he
respectfully reminds your honorable body that The two great
moral ingredients OF the crime OF murder malice ana prene
Citation been found against hlm oy jury. ou
have been necessarily inferred By the arbitrary rules OF Inc
law from general facts which your petitioner WIN nor
eny hui the extenuaing details which, man In your
petitioner situation possess legal evidence 10
These details your petitioner has conhded 10 the eno "o
presents his petition with authority 10 state them 10 your
honorable body The hope that you will md therein rea
SON TO extend your petitioner and his family mat mercy
Of which the law has made YOU the dispensers
And your petitioner Will ever pray -, -.
Boston, June, lcou = W. 'ID'tLN'
The speech is TOO long 10 be given entire. II eabo-
ate attempt to explain away the circumstances which look
ike reconciliation on the part Of Dr. Webster and like the
aers statement elaborate to give the reader an idea
ha the confession is and frank We copy por-
ton of it as follows:
DR. Websters account Of the homicide should have the
dne6t OF the previous moral improbabiy That accompa-
nles the only rival theory that of pemedltaon IL hlgh-
~ improbable will be admitted that OF decent life,
and moving among all the amenities and refined assoca-
lions of vrtucus society, and OF family like that OF Dr.
Webster sympahsng 10 rather unusual degree In the tastes
and recreations domestic circle exclusively feminine
shat euch would deliberately plan the murder OF ano-
iher and cherish and his design for several days
Its not necessary claim for him much moral principle,
elevation OF mind 10 enable Us TO cav mat III extremely
improbsbe beforehand l, is improoablity that must
yield positive evidence bn, then requires snch evidence
10 overcome H. And then further supposng that ne couc
and did premedtate such pan and intend TO execute H.
still greater moral improbabity that when the mo
,nen arrived he should find himself able 10 execute H.
man NAV have moral principle 10 prevent him from con,
ceving murderous inenhe may conceive IT, and lay all
mis- plans for achieving IT, and yet say, he is rnaccus
somed TO violence and blood with ruhanly habits
sociaons-f he be mild, not TO say tlmid man, the
chances hundred 10 that when the time comes, ne
will shrink the performance; that he will not have the
courage and the for IT, that he will MOI be up 10 H. that
he cannot do it. Ii he does find himself morally above
there is the geaest probability hut he viii md himself be,
the poiu Vi aud a1hood at which such oeeu
can done suppose there mankind hundred
Inurderous premeditaons 10 one peineai'aed murder
So then there is Immense double moral imps"hably
against hypothesis that the killing OF DR. Parkman was
frst pTemedtaled and then done premcditaed That
impossbiv would have 10 Weld strong evidence, but
there such evidence great prepouderance Of II
conclusive testimony circumstances that cannot be ex-
planned among other ypoihesessuch evidence IN word
as IS found in The history or this case.
II from ali and circumstances OF The case credit
shall be given the CT Dr. Webster and the COM
itiee shall conclude that il is probable equally pro-
oable (for that would be enough that the homicide was
committed in the heat of blood and was unprecedented
ought the prayer OF the petitioner 10 Dc granted anu the
sentence committed?
Dr. Webster does no, pray fo full pardon from the
scutive His friends cannot claim for him. He is guilty
man. The homicide he has committed is not unsuitable
The provocaon though great, only in words and me
naces did justify the bows II the result OF
passion which he admits he ought 10 have under CONTROL
for the consequences OF which justly held responsible
Moreover his conduct Immediately after the homicide ag-
sravates the original offence. ANY man OF right moral
Tone with high sentiments principles would have rushed
OUT prompted within by right instinct or ey quick reason
ing and declared what he had done II is against him that
only the alternative which he did and act upon
As he had begun upon the necessity
concsang the and he body all the shocking details
that followed became necessary, indeed necessary that Is
upon the plan which he thought himself driven 10 adopt
That could devise such plan OF disposng OF the body
and then go through with all the hord and disgusting
eraous ncden, ii, has produced in all minds bad I'm
preston Of his character He complain that should
Nothing ever remove that impression There Is but
word OF abatement ard because there is ether ought
10 be remembered, this namely, ,lat medical edo
cation ieess human oody mas not the Sacrecness which
II has others Ai il is subject DC handled
with seEsib:it, than the butcher
dealing VITA the meat Of tn shameless s. the hab@s Of
medical college
The process OF dsmem5emen, is associated with all the
Jokes and eviies VI student ic and conversation, and
never him all the tns that il would be
other person Of greater moral principle feeling
His taking possession OF the notes with the signatures
erased-noes belonging not TO him. but 10 the estate OF the
deceased-has bad look and gives bad look 10 his whole
case II may have been done only for conceament and
aafey he says. For appears from his statement
confirmed important fact he deposng OF Peitecs
cheeky that did conclude upon his story OF having
paid TILL al saSt "a hours lleil,
treated the large note just he did III" small one although
he pretend 10 have paid H. and could MOI SO
pretend His reccectons about the act of taking and can
ceiling the notes given his statement, appear dim and
confussd very likely his thoughts about the time
So they well might be. But defend this and
should be vsrv sorry 10 paae il 100 much; NO true and
honest man done Il would suffice blast his
character for prob!iy II ali that known
against him. would be adudsed felony in court OF
law. There have been positive felon!oas intent
companying it. Ii one Of the facts OF the whole
dreadful history. IL aggavates the previous crime of which
il accompaniment consequence
But all bad facts about the disposal OF the body and
of the notes, putting the WORST Interpretation upon
them do separately collectively constitute the crime
of murder; prove that such crime had been committed
They ought be punished ratGer since there has been
verdict rendered upon them, they will naturally and pro-
nery 20 10 increase the punishment rightly due 20 the cr;-
nal which has been uiic!ay proved against him. and
which he himself con.esses
II nay belustly said tina, Dr. Wcbstels intellectual and
social advantages and aainm@nts increase his moral
possibility for his acts and render il fiji that his pun
ishmen should be But this idea should be push
ed too far II must be remembered that the punish
ment of Imprisonment for instance involving inamy and
prvaion must be felt teiod keeny than would be
by Of inferior culture and position And this is differ
enough against HIN, without infictng upon him a
sentence in terms which The government have
legal or moral right do. is said 10 that reply
that 1Dr Webster must be executed according 70 h sem
tence because will do 10 relax the rigor OF the law in
favor his position He must die whoever else
be spared" This is cruel sentiment and subyers~e of
every principle of humanity and OF right The magistrate
must recognize cases. and take lest h. become
conscious OF them through his strenuous efforts 10 ignore
them.
Dr. Wcbsters like every other must De determined
its merits, and upon other consideration what
ever Some Of his friends have all along believed that hs
has been seriously preudced by his social position
and that the anxiety not TO show him undue favor on ac
of has unconsciously operated deprive him OF some
portion Of the favor which might be accorded 10 criminals OF
different rank God forbid that this should be know i
is with regard the treatment he receives from the Of
hcers who have the custody OF his person.
Dr. Webster certainly ought not to have his sentence
mgaed because he is what is called in loose social
distinctions gentleman and certainly his ought nos
TO be shut from candid and mercul consideration be-
he Is that II is neither less necessary
hight that he should be executed that account Consde-
ra,ions OF however they may affect portion OF the
public uniavoably for him. certainly will affect the
dehoeraton OF the Council either waybut be brushed aside
as only nj 10 be entertained hy and md minds OF
social class jealous and malignant minds OF another
Happily Inc executive Is reduced the alternative OF
the sentence rs stands full pardon There another
mode of punishment, whca OF DR.. Webser's ha
bits and associations. vii! operate with severity sufficient
IL may be believed 10 satisfy those think that he is
the greatest monster OF deprsv,y whom the law
laid Its hands Making due discrimination among the
rous grades guilt mprisonmen, the State Prison would
seem be the punishment most appropriate the actual
character Of Dr.. Websts's offence.