Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1850-07-18

SooSO uoS DCCu SCiiOoS'y PtCluuiCt
l. by his social position-and that II
Il anxiety not to show him any undu
% favor on account of it has uncor
l. sciously operated to deprive him 1
S some portion Of the favor whic
r might be accorded TO criminals Of
e different rank. God forbid that thi
should be so. know it is not $
: with regard to the treatment he re
q ceives from the officers who have tn
2 custody Of his person. DR.. Webste
J certainly ought not to have his sen
: tence mitigated because he is what h
is called, in our loose social distinc
; tions, a gentleman, and as certainl,
his case ought not to be shut ou
from candid and merciful considera
ton, because he is that. It's neithe
more nor less necessary or right tina
|, he should be executed on that &C
count. Considerations Of caste
however they may effect a portion
of the public unfavorably for him
most certainly will not effect the de.
liberations of the Council either way
but be brushed aside as only fit TO
be entertained by narrow and timid
minds of one social class, or Jealous
and malignant minds of another.
Happily the Executive has not
the bold alternative of executing OF
Of pardoning the prisoner. May l
be allowed to suggest, that, in this
case Imprisonment will best answer
the public ends Of justicel
When DR.. Webster's attachment
shall have gone out TO the pub
lie, if il shall be believed by the mul-
titude, even by a great majority Of
the millions who have become inter-
eSted in the case,-believed on &C.
count Of its consistency, its inherent
probability, and the circumstances
favorable to truth under which it was
first made: and, if then, the extreme
sentence of the law should be execu-
ted upon him, he will certainly be
thought to have been dealt with un-
necessary rigor, and TO have expiat-
ed his deeds too severely. And then
the public sympathies, by an unal-
terable law of the mind, must pass
over from the side of law and Justice
to him as a wronged man-wronged
with that last wrong, which is i'm
measurable and irreparable. And if |
it should be felt that the innocent
and disconsolate family of the con-
vict-the most distressed family | !
think on earth,-had had their une-
4ualled anguish increased one jot be-
yond the bounds of justice and the
of the social welfare, the
public heart could hardly pardon
that. Let the punishment be grad
lated TO the guilt proved and believ-
I'd, and if the exact line of right
cannot be certainly found, let the
penalty fall little short oft, rather
han go hairs breadth beyond it,
{ the imperfect scales of public JUS
ice cannot be exactly poised, let that
n which the prisoners interests are
placed be clearly seen, to descend
hough the slightest possible degree
'f preponderance. Otherwise the
Example is lost, and the public feel
ng and conscience come into fear
ul antagonism against the admins
ration Of the law. Let compassion
nd charity follow the criminal in
is punishment, however deserved; S
ut take care TO keep all national
fast bound on the side of
aw and justice. G
The present question, interesting !
muliitudes, and unspeakably mo-
lentuous to few, is in the hands OF :
body, to whose wisdom, rectitude, /
nd clemency the public and the pris- :
ner look with equal confidence for 7
decision at once righteous and mer- :
ful; such a decision as shall have =
i'm debtor-though by ever so lit /
e, still a debtor-to the Common. .
ealih whose peace he has violated, d I,
nd at the same time shall uphold q
Ie law in its majesty, and make it a P
rror to evil-doers. 81
With these words DR.. Putnam
osed his appeal, adding only that if d y
10 Committee could report favora- s
y DR.. Webster was, OF course, most u
lxious that they should report as o.
on as possible. But he asked on his le
Vn part, that before they agreed on n
report not favorable TO the prayer o.
the petitioner, they would hear ar al
lments from others than himself at IT
lother sitting. al
THE PETITION FOR PARDON. II
The following is copy of the Pc al
ion of Prof. Webster, convicted of ~
9 murder of DIR. Parkman, TO the N
'vernor and Council OF the State, uI
hich he withdrew previous to the de
ltement above made: lni
III