The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-04-21

trde Of every white philanthrorqst Gen. Taylor's
cabinet have done their duty IN one instance, and
until san Domingo be conquered and annexed, tur-
ties and ALL the removal of the cabinet is, for the
present, postponed indefinitely,
Tvs BosToN TREATMENT OF PROFESSOR WEE
STEERS CAsE.--Malevolence seems TO be taking the
place, in Boston, of that dangerous local prejudice
that has resulted in the conviction Of Professor
Webster Scarcely day passes, that the news
paper press Of the Bay State does not give publicity
TO some'cruel fact, eventually turning out to be
mistake, or mere surmise which tells against the
condemned man in every instance, because II has
originated in wanton credulity, or in some positive
design against the prisoner. We now have the re-
port that the savings of Mrs. Webster were appro-
pEated to the discharge of the debt due 10 DIR.
Parkman. Should this be untrue, the currency
given TO the rumor will react against Professor
Webster, and will be recorded by those who have
NO question of his guilt, as another make-weight
against him. Thus, reports, built even on kind
hopes, become penicious. However, should the
report be true, ii is continuation, IN an important
degree, of the explanation made by the accused,
before Chief Justice Shaw uttered that singular,
anomalous, and cruel charge that secured the ver-
dict, and should have weight with those IN whose
hands Professor Webster's life now rests. And,
while we are upon this subject, we may as well
bring forward few other considerations appertain-
ing TO the trial and conviction of the prisoner, which
assured will be the sense and opinion of all
practical sound thinkers, and OF postery, when
local, sectional feelings and peculiar notions have
passed away. Boston should seriously contem-
plate the opinions of distant places, as mnch more
likely TO be reliable than those generated on the
spot where the alleged tragedy, il il SAID, has been
perpetrated. The telegraph has virtually sent the
evidence into clear-sgbted and dispassionate
fu,ure-for such do distant regions become in the
present age, under the moral force OF lightning.
which records facts and simultaneously awakens
whole nation to give verdict The time has been,
that Twelve men were deemed sacred-bu; that day
has passed, and hereafter, on all exciting topics,
the grand jury Of the people at large will cause all
petty jures TO tremble 10 PAUSE and TO reflect, be-
fore giving verdictihat the nation may net en-
dore as legal and correct.
We'll may we consider tina, the verdict given on
this trial is a great calamity IL has shaken the
public faith in courts and jures Our Wanted wis
dom our solemn formula and modes OF searching
testimony, are doubled. Degradation, infamy and
death hang upon plausible conjectures, and cir
cumstanccs which can be contrved; and the weak,
isolated prisoner, guilty or guiltless stands but liz
tie chance of escaping, while the ministers of the
Law, from the busy policeman 10 the chief Justice
are arrayed as enemies and accusers. We have
been taught that il is neither proper in theory nor
in practice TO believe a man innocent till he is
proved to be guilty. We have been taught that
hypothesis that s, Of guilt from circumstances
.huts out every other one-ihat the prosecuting
officer il not TO elevate the law and the State suppo-
sed pIofect the accused well the public but TO
display his own acumen and sharp practice, and TO
be worthy of chaplet for gaining a conviction,
in any way, and by any means. Official sophistry
hes produced what law and evidence never could
have accomplished. Facts were distorted by the
State, through il gent, who was armed with every
power and privilege, and whose assurance passed
unIcbuked, ayowedy stating that 1t was hoped that
the prisoner would ''be able TO show his innocence"
when the duty was on The other side to prove the
guilt II no part OF the duty Of the accused to
account for the body. 10 convict any one else of
the murder What he might have shown-what
he might have proved clearly, even down to the
tisl-hcoks, which, il is possible, he may have been
dcsircd to purchase for very different purpose
rhan the usc to which they were actually to have
been put, he did not attempt. He rested his canse
il without word, without any explanation. Ifcir-
cumstances had been thrown about him by the p
wicked designs OF another, who could have seen
how readily the money Transactions would involve /
oil other considerations, il was best Tor him 10 .
be silent Continuance could have DESTROYED him :
% powerfully and efiectually a. guilt. and .
not his words alone are TO be construed into evi- /
dcnccs against him. Somcbody said. on opening I
the channel vault, there Is nothing here" How \
was tia, knownl There were many skeleton 4
keys about, and Why not one 20 ii that doori II !
could net be 20; and yet. ON another occasion. I
such vault was opened. in another medical col \
lcgc, in another State. and somebody. il is said.
wac ready 10 throw body yet war; = into il for
seven dollars--a body that Was Afterwards proved I
10 have lost life hy foul means 80 easy Is il 10 l
give, OF to perveii, facts and circumstances But
then, the mortgage siarcs US in the lcc says ano-
'her. Why was il brought, il not to b. given up \
had stated the amount due and 20 bc /
paid 20 llr. Psrkmsn and the mortgage was in the Y
Of tho miesing man at the college For /
what To be given up on the payment of the i
sum stated by the accountant Ter nothing else
could il have bcen brought.
But we are not inclined to repeat. or TO add
largely to, our former remarks on this painful sub
ieci While We neither deny the innocence or
guilt Of Professor Webster, VIC still maintain. that