Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-27
General Assembly of Virginia.
DEFERRED PROCEEDINGS.
HOUSE OF DELEGATES.
MONDAY, MAY %.
CASE OF JORDAN HATCHER.


with the murder of VIM. P Jackson, was tried
on the 18th of March last by the Hastings Court
OF the city OF Richmond, found guilty, and was
sentenced TO be hanged on the Esd day of April,
1852; and whereas Governor johnson did,
on the 9th day of May, commute the sem
tence against the said Hatcher to sssae and
transportation beyond the United States"
and dtd on the .11th instant. in compliance
with the 9th section of the 9th article of the
Constitution, communicate to the General As
sembly his reasons for tho said communication ::
Therefore,
BE 1t Resolved, That while the General AS
sembly believes that Gov. Johnson, in committing
| thepunshment of the said slave, was influenced
! by the purest motives, and acted in accordance
with what he believed to be the dictates of mercy
and humanity, after the most careful examination
otthe testimony elected at the trial of the said
slave, and after the most deliberate consideration
ofthe reasons assigned by Gov Johnson in his late
| message to this House, for committing the pun-
ishment of the convict, the General Assembly of
| Virginia feels constrained to express its belief
! that this act Of Executive clemency was i'll
advised, and to utter its decided disapprobation
of the reasons for said communications
| Mr.. BORROW regrettedvery much the necessity
which impelled him to offer these resolutions, be-
cause ill doing SO, he knew that he incurred the
displeasure of the Democratic party in this House
|
the agitation of a 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 as the interests of every other portion of Viz
gina, requii ed that he should pursue precisely
the course indicated by his resolutions, no matter
how the interests of this or that party might be
affected by it. The question involved in the reso-
lutions under consideration was too high and i'm
| ho al II,
expedieney; and for himself he should not shrink
| from the stand he had taken, nor acknowledge
| his responsibility to any but the constituents
whom he represented in the House of Delegates
The message of Governor johnson, assigning his
reasons for committing the punishment of Jordan
Hatcher, lays down doctrines not only dangerous
to shareholders, but actually subyersiye of the in-
stitution Of slavery itself. The second message
OF the Governor, designed to be explanatory of
the first Mr.. b. said, in some respects, was sat
isactory; but; i'm this second message, the Cover
nor leaves unexplained and unretracted the most
Objectionable portion of the first, in which it is
asserted that the blow given by the negro, and the
| circumstances attending the death of jackson,
wanted the essential ingredient to constitute nur-
der, viz: intent or malice prepense-and that his
execution, under these circumstances, would have
been against the spirit of the age and of our laws
as we'll as against mercy and humanity, which are
designed for the unfortunate and the guilty. The
second message while it retraeted every other OBJ
jectonable portion of the first failed to retract the
part TO which he had just alluded and at this very
moment he, Dir. B., would like to be informed
what were the Governors reason fer committing the
punishment of Jordan Hatcher! The pardon ing
power it is true, is lodged i'll his hands; yet when
the exercise OF that power conflicts with the best
relations between master and slave, it is time that
the welfare and safety of the people should be
looked upon as paramount to every other conside-
ration; and In seeking to attain this important OBJ
ject we ought to shake off party tramnels, and
act as became independent treemen, who know
their rights, and determined to maintain
them. Here, said Mr.. B., is a case in point
A negro kills his master under most aggravating
circumstances. He is tried for the offence, con-
vcted and sentenced to capital punishment The
Governor commutes the sentence, on the ground
that it would be contrary to the spirit of the age
to execute the slave ior act of murder commit
ted while he was under great suffering and excite
ment. What now, said Mr. B., will be the in
evitable consequence from this mode of, reason
ing Every slave who is chastised by his master
may, under the suffering and excitement Of the
moment, commit similar act without any dread
of suffering death for the Offences for his execu-
ton, under the circumstances, would, according
to the doctrine laid down by the Governor, be con-
| trary to humanity and to the spirit of the age
| He did not wish to see such doctrines as these
promulgated from the Executive Department,
without receiving the stamp of disapprobation,
which it was the duty of the Legislature to put
upon them.
Mr.. WALLACE said he desired the most scar
ching rigid examination that could be instituted
into this whole matter; but the subject was one
of magnitude and importance, he thought itwould
| best Gomport with the dignity of the House to
| refer it to the committee OF Courts of Justice
where the matter could be cal,nly and dispassion-
atey considered. Whatever conclusion this
| committee mig ht come to, would be reported here
and it would then become the House to consider
| the propriety Of adopting its suggestions. No
| body had any reason to dread such an investiga-
| ton, least of all the Governor himself, who did
not shrink from any doctrines which he had pro-
| mulgated here. The Governor in assigning his rea-
| sons for committing the punishment OF Jordan Hat
| cher, had employed language which some gentle.
men thought, subyersiye of the relations between
master and slave and the moment the Governor
| hears OF this he comes out promptly and dis
claims his intention of meaning any such thing
| The committee of Courts of Justice would not
only examine the conduct Of the Governor, but
| might report, If necessary, any alteration that
would be expedient in the criminal laws of the
State This course would do Justice to the House,
| to the people and to the Governor himself But
| the resolutions of Mr.. BoTToM implied censure
| upon the Governor, which it would be hasty and
premature or. the part OF this House to express
just at this time. Let wait and see if we can
not, after cool and mature considerations reconcile
| the two messages of the Governor-the one of
the 18th with that Of the 10Th OF May. If the
object of the gentleman from Amelia can be effec-
ted, in the manner Indicated above, why should
we be in such haste to pass the resolutions which
| that gentlemen had offered! IT, however, his
object is mere bratum fttnen, designed to Gre
ate dscord and to inflame the public mind, then
| shall labor unremittingly to defeat his purpose
Mr.. LEWIS said that he was one of those who
| had earnestly entreated the member from Amelia
| not to offer his resolutions in this House. mas
tla di sinn which tha.r