Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-05-07
Comments of the Press

reader TO the volumes themselves.
Comments of the Press
ON THE VERDICT IN THE CASE OF PROF. WEBSTER
1t is thing to he regretted, in our iudg
mcni' that portion of the public pres.
should think II proper TO give currency tc
the idle and presumpliOus specuIaions o
every lmpertinent critic who chooses tC
comment on this verdict. 1t seems to II:
that an Editor might reasonably discover
it to be his duty to keep carefully out o.
his columns, everything tending to agilate
the community farther on this most pain.
full subject There are sacred interests to
The moral character and peace of the peo.
pie involved in the treatment of great
crime like this. Whatever levilv and
cOarseness and inconsideraieness there
may be III common conversation and every
day gossip about ii, responsible journals
should exhibit more delicate and scrupu-
lous principle, and, by Withholding as
well as teaching, seek TO beget healthier
tone Of sentiment. TO petitions, or even
remonstrances, addressed TO the only au-
thority that can now affect the criminals
fate, there can be, perhaps, no objection.
But why 60 back Of the decision of the
Court, and stir the people with silly ques-
lions about points FLAW which-so far as
the people are concerned, and in this case
are settled forever.
If Judges and jury and all the depart
ments of the judiciary have any function,
any powers, or any meaning, it is put be-
yond all further question that Prot. Web
ster is 10 be executed for the crime of de-
liberate murder. 1t must be brave man
that will venture TO place his individual
opinion or feeling above the mature learn
ing, profound wisdom, close discrimina
ton, and tender sensibility ofsuch aBench;
or above the accuracy Of jury formed as
this jury was formed, containing men that
are no friends of capital punishment, men
not thought by their friends TO be paricu
larly blood Misunderstanding in the Court
room, shut up to the evidence twelve days,
and made familiar, in a thousand ways,
with the force of circumstances that no
person outside can possibly appreciac.-
Quite enough has been said personally OF
the jury and their proceedings. We hap
pen TO know something of the composition
of that jury and we only wish the flip
pant censors of their decision at a distance
could have a direct acquaintance with the
character, biasses, temperament and moral
nature of tie men. We shall violate no
confidence in saving that one at least OF
the jurors-thcre may have been more
went upon the panel wholly inclined 10
consider the prisoner innocent-and capa
bic of being convinced Of his guilt only
by tue most irresistible testimony.
The discussion of principles is always
Just. But can the public mind be exPec-
ted to deliberate wisely on the treatment
of crime while it is precisely in It's pres
ent posture, heated with personal Predu-
dices, or preoccuPed by personal interest
or bewldercd by events so startIlng,so re-
cent, so unprecedented? We profess to
entertain due veneratiOn for the sacred
ness of human life and for the connec-
ton of the guilty party in this case we
feel what our readers cannot know, be-
cause no language is sufficien, to convey
it. But loyalty to Truth, Right, Virtue,
and the OrLer of Society, should stand
before any commiscratlon for any ndlVld-
ual. The vndcaiion of justice is lar
greater matter now than any single NOR
tai life, or rather its prolognation IN this
world. Were the terrible calamity TO O.
verlake us, of seeing near relative or
trusted friend lapse into any horrible
crime-we cannot affirm what our course
would be; but we hope and we pray that
we should be made strong enough to yield
him submissively to the impartial dealings
of the statutes, and the justin OF God.
(Bosfon) Christian Register