Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-06-03
VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.
MONDAY, May 25.
Case ofJOrdnn Hatcher.

- HOUSE.
r. Case 0fJOrdam Hatcher. fr
The House. on motion ef Mr.. Bottom, took
up the following resolutions offered by him
some time since:
Whereas. Jordan Hatcher. slave. charged
with the murder of VIM. 2. Jackson. was tried
on the 18th Of March last by the Hustipgs
Court Of the city Of Richmond. found guilty.,
aud was sentenced to be hanged on the 23d
day of April. 1852; and whereas Governor
johnson did, on the 9th day Of May, commute
the sentence against the said Hatcher to "sale
anu transportation beyond the United States" "
and did on the lth instant in compliance with
the 5th section Of the 9Th article Of the Consri-
lntion. communicate to the General Assembly
his reasons for the said communications; There.
fore, ,,..-..4.... ,,.,.,,.
Be it Resolved. That while the General As.
se,nLly believes thu, Gov. J Johnson. in commu-
ing the punishment OF The said slave, was in
tiuenced by the purest motives. and acted in &C .
cordance with What he believed to be the die
taies Of mercy and humanity. after the most
careful examination of the testimony elected at
the trial Of The said slave. and after The most
deliberate consideration Of the req sons assig gned
by Gov. Johnson in his late message to this
House. for committing the punishment Of the
convict. the General Assembly of Virginia
feels constrained to express lis belief that this
act 81 Executive clemency was ill-aJvIsed, and
to uuer its decided d,sspprobstion of the rea-
sons for said communication
Mr. Bottom regretted very much the neces-
sity which impelled him to offer these rosolu.
tiops. because in doing 80. he knew that he in
CURED the displeasure of the Democratic party
in this House. some Of whom had rn,reaied
him 10 forhear from The agitation Of subject.
upon Which there would be found differences
Of opinion among members On subject OF
grave importance like the present, he felt that
the interests OF his constituents. as we'll - the
interests Of every other portion of Virginia.
required that he should pursue precisely the
course indicated by his resolutions. no matter
how the interests of this or that party might be
effected by it. The question involved in the
resolutions under consideration was too high
and imporan, to be evaded upon the grounds
OF party expediency; and for himself he should
not shrink from the stand he had taken, nor
nckno~ ledge his responsibility to any but the
constituents whom he Represented in the House
OF Delegates. The message Of Go. ernor ohm
son. assigning his reasons for committing the
punishment of Jordan Hstcher. lays down doc
trines, not only dangerous to Shareholders. but
actually suhversive Of the institution Of slave
ry itself The second message Of the Cover
nor. designed to he explanatory ofthe first. Mr..
b. said. in some respects, was satisfactory;
bur in this second message. the Governor leaves
unexplained and unretracted the most objec-
tonable portion Of the first. in which il is as
serted that the blow given, by the negro. and
the circumstances attending the death Of Jack
son. wanted the essential ingredient to consti.
tute murder, viz: intent or malice prepense-
and that lns execution, under these crcum-
stances. would have been against the spirit of
the age and Of our laws. as well as against
mercy sud humanity, which are designed for
the unfortunate and the guilty. The second
message while it rctracted every other ohjec-
tionable portion of tho first. failed to retract
the part 10 which he had just alluded: and at
this very moment he. Mr.. B., would like to be
Committing the punishment Of Jordan Hatcheri
The pardoning power. it 8 true. is lodged in
his handI yet " hen the exercise Of that power
conflicts with the best relations between master
and slave. it is time that the welfare and aafety
Of the people should be looked upon as para.
mount to every other consideration; and in
seeking to attain this important object we ought
to shake of party trammels. and act as became
Independent freemen, who know their rights.
and are determined to MAINTAIN them. Here,
said Mr.. B.. is case in point! A negro kills
his master under most ssgravssine circumstan-
ces. He Is triel for the offence. convicted and
sentenced to capital punishment. The Gov
ernor commutes the scntence.on the ground that
it would be contrary to the spirit Of the,age to
execute the slave for an act ofmurder commit
ted while he was under great suf' ring and ex-
element. What now, said Mr.. b., will be the
inevitable consequence from this mode of rea
sonlngl Every slave who is chasiised by his
master. may. under the suffering and excite
ment" Of the moment. commit similar act
wi,hou, any dread Of suffering death for the
offence; for his execution, under the circum-
stances, would, according to the doctrine laid
down by the Governor, be contrary TO humani-
~ and 10 the spirit Of the age. He did not
wish to see such doctrines az these promulga-
ted from the Executive Department, ~ithou,
receiving the stamp Of disapProhs,ion. which
twas the duty ofthe Legislature to put upon
them. . -..-s, " .,,ss,,.t. .,-'n-. a...-.f
Mr.. Wallace said he desired the most search.
ing and rigid examination that could be ins,itu
ted into this whole matter; but as the subject
was one nf magnitude and importsncs, he
thought il would best conport with the dignity
Of the House to refer tito the c0mmitfee OF
Courts Of Justice, where the matter could be
calmly and dlspassionaiely considered. What.
ever conclusion this committee might come 10,
would be reported here, and j, would then be.
come the House to consider tho propriefv Of
adopting its suggestions. No body had any
rassnn To dread such an investigation. least Of
all the Governor himself who did mot shrink
from any doctrines which he had promulgated
here The Governor in assigning his reasons
Enr committing the punishment Of Jordan
Hatcher. had employed language which some
gentlemen thought, subversive Of the relat ons
hetween master ssd slave; andthe moment ihe
Governor hears Of this, he comss ont prompt
" and disclaims bis intention of useaning sny
such ding. The eemmiitss of Court5 Of jas
tiee would not only exsmme The conduct Of the
G~~e-nn-. h-t wight rrrc-ss y n~c~s.sry. any