Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1850-07-26
Hanging of MISUNDERSTANDING and
judicial Observation-Disclosures mt work

The Governor and Council of Massachusetts,
at their meeting on the 10th inst for the consid-
GRAFTON of the case of Prof J. w. Webster, con-
cluded 1t was best to hang him by the neck till
he was dead. They appointed the 3Oth day of
August, at one o'clock P NJ, for the holy ritual.
Thus they can do with good grace, (now since
they have managed to get his confession,) what
they would not have dared to, upon the testimony
which the jury thought was sufficient to convict
him.
We never doubted Webster's guilt but we
have never seen the testimony that was suffi-
cieDt to convict him of murder according to Mas
sachusetts law; and if G. w. Goode had not
been capitally executed about year ago, ]. w.
Webster would not be capitally executed now.
It's as necessary for the Governor and Council
OF Massachusetts to make and sustain show
oil consistency in the executive character, as
It is for individuals to sustain character for con-
sste ncy in their private relations, if they expect
or wish to command respect from their fellows
In the world. We can imagine something of the
taunts and jeers which would meet the ears of
the Governor of Massachusetts, if he should let
;. w. Webster escape the halter. The first
sound that would greet their ears as they march,
ed from the Governors room to their homes. if
they had commuted the punishment of Webster,
would have been" Aha, you can commute a
rich mans punishment, ''--"you can't hang one
OF the upper ten,'-"you can save the neck OF
one who has moved in the aristocracy of litera-
ture. John w. Webster's neck was too good
to be broken, p" but you can hang, like dog,
Washington Goode, man whom the crimes of
social life had made vile--a mere victim of cir
cumstances--a man for whom society itself was
responsible for the crime he committed" These
would be some of the reproaches that would fall
upon their ears, if they had pardoned or commu-
ted the sentence of J. w. Webster.
Terrible have been the evils of our social
state, and terribly are they being expiated He
must have been stless spectator, indeed upon
the scenes around that Court House door, that
could not have seen the terrible judgment and
execution that awaited John W. Webster. AID
although almost every press out of the State
OF Massachusetts gave their verdict against his
conviction upon the testimony that was adduced,
yet not press in Boston conld be found to echo
that verdict, or reassert the righteousness of that
decision. If the Chronotype, the only free press
that ever spoke in Boston, had not been untime-
iy choked out of its wind, there would have
been one honest conviction uttered. That press
would have spoken untrammeed the unbiased
opinion of an independent editor.
No one out of the immediate vicinity of Bos-
ton, unless they are well acquainted with the par
ilcular character of its inhabitants can Judge at
all correctly of the influences which have been
at work, and which have finally triumphed in
this trial of "blood for blood" One must be
De well versed in the moral character of the cit
liens of Boston; he must remember that thew
are the children of the Puritans that their
grandfathers listened to the preaching of Cotton
Mather and other divines, who examined the
backs of youthful madens for the discovery of
hose marks which, though as natural as the
hair upon their heads, would be to them the
slgnet OF an ignominious death upon the gibbet.
You must remember that Boston is but 5 miles
from Salem lfyou have not forgotten this fact
In their history. you will do well to recolect the
deep Impression of their creed-riveted piety, and
with what tremendous opposition they brace
themselves to Withstand the efforts at liberalism
and reform which the radicals of their civ.
though few in number, work night and day 10
effect. The clergy have worked hard and zeal
ously to defend the doctrine of capital punish
ment, as of divine authority; and it would not be
giving them credit for the talents thew possess.
II we did not admit they had been successful in
matchmaking the church-going popuIace of the
New England metropolis in the faith they in
dulge themselves. And if you wish to add an
other feature to the picture, remember the posi-
ton and character of the murdered man. Re-
member that DR.. Par'iman was wealthy; and if
wealth is worshipped in one place more than an
other, that place is Boston. Remember that DR..
Parkman was one of the patrons and founders of
that very medical school in which Webster was
a Professor; and remember, also, the difference
IN Boston, between the aristocracy of wealth and
the aristocracy of literature. Dr. Parkman be-
longed to the first named class, and Prof Web
eter TO the latter; and you have only to discover
the difference between the two, to know that TO-
norant wealth can at any time Just tap at the
door OF the salons 'of the great and find quick
entrance; but literary poverty might grow seedy
IN coverings and the mrrored halls of the rich re-
Il
vertebrate again with the echoes of the knock of
the merely learned in science, while the gold
chains and diamonds of the wearers within would
rustic in collision with the earnestness of their
debate whether the position of families would
not be degraded, or fashion herself insulted. by
the admission of those who were unable to pur- |
chase the regaa with which she commands her
yotares to enrobe themselves.
In forming correct opinion of the situation |
OF the Governor and Council of Massachusetts |
IN making up their decision, the influence and |
clamors of another and much larger class of the !
citizens of Boston must be viewed in compare
son with the last mentioned-the wealthy aris-
tocracy We refer TO the Burgeoise-the great
masses of the middle class--the workers of
Boston. They were determined that Justice
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