Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-08-09
MISCELLANY.
THE SENTENCE OF DIR. WEBSTER.

!
1t is impossible to imagine more niisera-
bic condition than that of this unfortunate
victim Of violent passions His last strug-
gle for life has ended, and now, with his
deathwarrant before his eyes, hesits calmly
down to meet the uplifted hand of Death
let Death, to man of correct feelings,
is the least Of those evils with whichthe con-
Wet is encompasscd Even the timid deer,
long hunted through the forest, the baying
Of hounds5following his footsteps and fierce
eyes glaring upon him through every thicket,
might lie down in patience and snbmitto the
death shot The convict, who feels that all
mankind are his enerhies, who sees no friend
ly face in allths world, and in whose ear all
animated nature seems to cry, Depart
Hence may well sigh for the fcposc of the
tomb, but for those horrid phantoms which
stand upon its brink and point upwards to
moro terrible Judgment to COME
Doubtless, as the unfortunate Webster
gazes through his-prison crates be wonders
that the sun can shine SO pleasantly that
the tide Of life can flow SO smoothly that
men caa laugh, and carouse, land curse, and
perform their daily toll, just, aslif. almost at
Tib sGh .Hages nE Woe as T1ants ne1-al pis
with such hopeless walls as might mslt even
the rocky walls Of prison house, Whittier
can such man look for relief and consola-
ton turns his eyes upon the PAsT,
/ and its Beauty distracts him. There comes
MP before him a calm picture Of a peaceful
home; Of wife whose cheerful nature Shed
perpetual sunshine upon his path, and whose
happiness consisted in making him. happy
of children whose youthful endearments re-
freshed Ibis heart amidst the. cares and tolls
of life 5ofTfrieiids, of admirers; Of worlds
esteem and good name Not "a year ago,
and the. very Judge who sentenced him to
death, received him gladly as an equal and
there WAS a time, when, leaning over the
fires Of hisforge, the blacksmith whose noble
energy has raised him othe Executive chair
Of Massachusetts, would have gazed with ad-
miration upon the learning of that favored
son Of science whose death warrant he has
Just signed. The Past how beautiful, how
attrabtivcto him now, as Eden must have
Hooked to our first parents, when the last
glimpse ofht between the fiery sword Of the
! Cherubiul, fell upon their eyes. But how
terrible the papg, tat the gate. Of all this
happiness he has closed against himself in
that fearful deed Of blood which follows him
! by day and scares his midnight dreams
His happy home desolated as by fire II Ali:
wife and children heart broken; his friend:
/ all gone his name bye-woId Of infamy
his only home jail his only hope of liberty
that which is brought BY shameful death
surely this man, If be has the ordinary feel
ings OF man, must suffer a thousand death
ere that final release which the kcaffold brings
His case affords a warning which men il
every condition will do well - heed. lie
i him who thinketh he standeth take heec
lest he fall" A violent blew, dealt in
moment ofungovernabl passion, has brough
down the fabric Of formerly unsullied rcpu
tation,. ana involved an innqcent houseAol,
in infrnly and shame II isl well to renec
4 that 90 requirements and no station ca
4 soften AMI purify an evil nature, and tina
/ the education Of the heart is even more nc
cessary I'd human happiness than the educa
ton Of the mind -Ricb Republican.