The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-08-04
on NeI York correspondenoe.

Messrs Editors
s The dread sentence Of the law was exc
cuted yesterday, at IL o'clock. on two OF the
wretched cilprits who participated IN the
murder of. Ravens, the second Mate OF the
Barque Gleln. y
Douglass wh had Throughout displayed a
revolving hrdihood and recklessness, main
tanned his bold bearing to the last; his con- /
duct even while he was standing on the
scaffold. vas that Of callous, unimpressed
snectatorl He minutely examined the grim
apparalusof death, and nodded, with an air
OF ,onchdtnce, TO crony, whowas confined
in one OF the cells which commands. "a view |
Of the execution yard. He made short ad-
dress to the spectators, in the usual style |
of gaIiogs orators, in which, while he ad-
.mitted ia general terms, that . the wages
of sin isdeath," and that he was justly meet
ing death, as the result of sin, he avoided
either denial or admission OF bis guilt OF
the particular crime for which he was about
to sufir; altboughhe exonerated Clements,
the convict who has been reprieved, from
the actual commission of the murder. His
voice was clear, and free. from appare mt emo.
ton and, as he had for some days evinced
a sor Of lmpatience for his last moment to
arrive, he died without struggle. He was
a mere youth--only % years old-endued
with considerable share of talent, and Of a.
poetic and Imaginative turn Of mind. He
occupied a large portion Of his time, during
his imprisonment, in stringing together
rhymes, and in preparing tale, which, ne
declared, contains u sketch of his own career,
with imaginative embellishments. He was,
fear, the type Of fearfully increasing class,
who prowl about our large cities, utterly
void Of all moral culture--the plague-spots
Of our boasted civilization.
OF bold and reckless disposition, he
served, during the Mexican war, as spy, in
which capacity, am told, he rendered val
liable assistance to Gen. Taylor. On the re-
turn of peace, the wretched youth, cast once
more upon the world, and ignolant of any
useful art or trade, prowled an idler round
the land, for many months, until, ultimately,
he palmed himself off as a carpenter, and
Whipped, as such, on board the Glenn.
The other malefactor, Benson, colored
mar, only % years of age, appeared to feel
deep contrition for the crimes of an ill
spent life but his department, though calm
and decent, was, 10 my mind, scarcely less
painful, though less revolving, than that of
Douglass /; for it was, fear, rather tina of
an illiterate fanatic, who, parrot-like, had
picked up few religious phrases, than thai
of a spirit clearly imbued with the pure
light Of Revelation. However, as he ex-
pressed himself prepared to meet his Maker,
lei us hope that the Judge of all may mete
out abundantly to him the mercy we all so
greatly need. !.
He also addressed few words 10 the spec
tators, denying his commission Of the mhr
der, though admitting his participation in the
mutiny. He also declared the innocence Of
the reprieved convict, Clements.
Prior to the removal of the prisoners, from
the Brooklyn Jail 10 the Tombs, in reply to
wish expressed by Benson, that they might
meet in a better world, Clements doggedly
said" scarce expect to have SO much luck,
there, as you will have
He received the announcement OF his re-
prieve, on Wednesday night, with utter in
difference; but, during the night, he was very
wakeful, and occasionally burst forth into
almost delirous expressions of joy. His
repiieye was granted.on the presentations
made to the Government by Rev Mr.. Hodge,
who tells me, that Benson corroborated the
ASSERTION constantly made b. Clements Of
his (Clements) innocence--a conoboration
which has been subsequently strengthened
blythe dyingtestimony OF Douglass, who, up
to that period, persisted in attributing the
firing OF the gun to Clements. Rev. Mr.
Hodge says, that he entertains little doubt
tbst the unfortunate mans sentence will be
commuted into imprisonment for life.
There is quite difference between a
writer and doer. One would have thought
thai De Toc9ueyille, who writes well on
Democracy, would have known enough to
8. let we'll alone," or, at least, until swell" !"
.coud be made C. BETTER" without a risk of
being made d" worse" in the attempt. Yet
M. De Tocqueville, in his official capacity
o( Chairman of the Committee on the Re-
vision of the Constitution of France, has
reported in favor OF a thorough revision.
However, M. De Tocqueyille is to be
pltied. His weakness is national as we'll
as al individual one, The French are the
best theorists in the world but they are in
capable of reducing to practice. their truly
philosophical conceptions. They can even
take what is called an eminently practical
view Of subject; but they can not, as a
nation, do, practically. So it is with indi-
viduals OF the nation especially those OF the
edu:ated classes. They act quickly and en-
ergttically; but they are more sanguine
thar nervous hence, they lack that intensi-
ty necessary to final and complete success.
The French never attain all they contend
for. Their leading temperament is sanguine,
ard their predominant chronological devel.
opments (Hope and Approbatiyeness) that
make them quick, hopeful, and courteous
rather than intense, firm, and persevering
. drive them, also, when under reactionary in.
! auences, to apathy, despair, and cruelty
Hence massacres-hence the vast number
Of suicides, far exceeding that OF any olhel
, civilized naiion--hence--b let us hope fo
, The best-the speedy return 10 monarchy, o.
Ialwofse despotism. toreshadowed by she un
l4wisc- report Of M. De Tocqueyille. Their
E are few boys of 20 years old, in practica
= America, that would not see, at glance, i
. their attention were directed to the presen
/ condition Of affairs in France, that it is bet
Y ter for the French Republicans, at present
. to abear the ills they have, than to fly to 9th
s eB that they know not of"-who would no
! see that, in a dozen years, the workings of
a Republican Constitution would have beef
i tested and triumphantly pointed out, an,
V thai true reform could then be made withou