New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-30

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attempt to shake the testimony Of Littledold,
were compelled to pass in significant silence
the blasting testimony as to webster's pc
cuniary non-ability TO pay the note that he
pretended to have paid to DR.. Parkman
and as to bis possession not only of the
note he pretended to have paid but also
another and larger note Of like char
acter. Their only resource was the
testimony of three witnesses that they had
seen DIR. Parkmsz in the street after the
hour at which he was proved to have enter
ed Prof. Webster's apartments, from which
he was never seen to emerge, and which the
prosecution maintained that be had never
left alive. They made the most of this; but
what could it avail against the mountain Of
adverse testimony, including the disappear
ance of DR.. Parkman-the simultaneous i'm
murement Of Prof Webster in bis locked
rooms at seasonable and unreasonable hours
his purchase of fish hooks, &c. procure
ment of grape-cuttings, and large and
close tin box-the finding on his premises of
the unmistakeable remains of a single hui
man being, which were recognized and iden-
tilted by his dentist and measurably by
others as those Of DR.. Psrkman? The trial
closed with the conviction Of Prof. Webster
and bis sentence to death by hanging-a
sentence which will this day be executed un-
less anticipated by the suicide Of the culprit.
And here let US tender to the People Of
Boston and its vicinity testimonial Of our
hearty admiration of their conduct through
out the period intervening between Prof.
Webster's arrest aud his conviction. They
felt very strong conviction Of his guilt
for which they had abundant reason-aud
they were fully determined that his social
and professional eminence should not shield
him from punisbment-that he should be
treated exactly like any poor immigrant or
despised outcast who should be exposed to
similar suspicious. If innocent, no man
wished him to suffer; but if guilty they
were firmly resolved that he should fare no
better than the most ahect and friendle's
creature on earth. They have been widely
and harshly assailed for their course and
the spirit evinced by it, but we honor them
therefor, and believe their conduct has gen.
orally won the appreciation it deserved.
Prof. Webster dies to-day. We loa!he
the infection of death by human law, but
hold that, so long as the law of blood for
blood shall be upheld, it ought to be faith
fully adhered to. SaDguinary penalties are
pernicious, but capricious, uncertain, inter
mittent penalties are worse. To train
child with ahorsewhip will often make him
hardened rufian but to threaten chas-
tisement continually, yet never chastise, is
the way to Undue him with contempt for
your authority, and recklessness Of con-
troll perhaps even more pernicious. Let the
Law keep its word, but let it study human
ity, not in RENTING penalties but in modi-
flying them. We shall rejoice over the day
which sees the last gallows burned, but we
would have the Law Of the GsllOws first re-
pealed. Let there be no paltering with
criminals, but wise blending of frmness
with charity and mercy.
As to Prof Webster, we believe that his
conviction and punishment would exert a
more salutary effect if he were immured in
solitary cell for life than it now will. Hor-
ror for his crime will now be unwhole-
somely blended with sympathy for his iguo-
minieus fate and for his dreadfully afflicted
family. Had he been simply and securely
imprisoned for life, the most compassionate
must have said The man who could so
'treacherously take the life of his neighbOr
and bepefactor cannot be left at large; he
is dangerous wild beast; and the exam
pie of such impunity to murder would en-
courage others to revel in crime Had he
been imprisoned for life, thousands who
shudder at the thought Of taking their chill
dren to his execution would have taken them
to see him in prison, and said, My chill
dren see what crime cOmpels the gentle
'and the good TO do with the criminal, in
order that the innocent may dwell in rela-
tive security lie would have been salu-
tary lesson and warning for years. Now
lie will be cut off; the nine days horror will
pass away; and the Professor, his crime
and his fate, will be soon covered by the
waters of oblivion. Afewyears hence, save
BY the deeply interested few, the Boston
tragedy will be as though it never had been.
That the criminal should be pisied as