The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-04-14

ter written ~ Reed to bis father iyEDslsnd, ana
svhichh.s heen published 1t the particular request
Of several Il Reeds friends. The Hatement g
which he alludes Is the one published BY nm let
month. and 10 which he has firmly adhered from
the commencement OF his trial to the present time
Az Reed is coon TO pay the penalty Of the violated
law. we subioin IL as matter Of some interest to
our readers. We are glad to see that Reed has
made such, apparently, thorough preparation for
that final doom which jury Of his peers and the
highest tribunals Of justice in the country have adj
Judged TO be righteous one. We were not among
those who from motives of sympathy and pity, and
perhaps of conscience, endeavored to secure the
pardon of Reed and Clements nor, in the few days
vet allotted them to life, shall we aid in similar
effort. because we believe that the duty which we
owe to our fellow beings-to society-so ourselves
| and to just God, demands atour hands hearty
cooperation in securing the falmens of those laws
which are alike the safeguard and protector OF
| every interest in the republic. When criminals
after fair and impartial trial. are found guilty,
becomes the lover of true liberty and impartial
Justice to carry out unshrinkngiy, and to the very
letter. the promulgated sentence. No emotion or
| feeling should warp the judgment-no miscon-
| struction of the testimony sway or influence the
! principle of action Believing then, that Reed and
Clements have been found guilty Of the offence
with which they stood charged upon clear and just
! grounds though the duty be painful one to ma
| ture-we yet yield our implicit concurrence with
the verdict OF the jury the sentence Of the judge,
| the decision of the Supreme Court, and the hnai
arbitrament of the President Of the United States
OF what avail are laws, unless they are faithfully
administered, and the penalties of their violation
| strictly enforced9 Annexed is Reeds letter
RICHMOND, Va, April 4tb, 1852
| NV dear and atfectionate Father 81 now redeem
my promise of sending you true ana accurate
| statement of the unfortunate affair for which am
| to suffer death ON the 9Th of this month, which
shall enclose in this my last and farewell letter to
you. My Kind and generous TREND ana scnooi,
presented my petition, together with several letters
of recommendatiS n to the President, for conside-
| ration and has returned without ray OF hope tor
| pardon. must say he has acted most nobiy and
generously in my behalf but without effect, and for
his kindness he has my heartfelt thanks. and which
/ hope, my dear father and brothers, you VIII re-
1 ward and remember. He comes here often to see
/ me, and in grief goes away. Before you receive
this my final state will be deter mined by the Judge
| of all the earth. In few days the Almost newt
able sentence of death will be put into execution,
that will either raise to the heights of happiness
or sink me to the depths of misery, and while you
read these lines viii be grooming under the ago.
mics of despair enjoying the peace OF the blessed
in another world. IL is impossible for me to des-
cribe the present disposition of my soul; the great
| uncertainty fear No words can describe my APP
| prehensions. Every fear would perfectly over
| whelm me- but for Gods declaration, which says:
| Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be mate
| as white as sEow," and in his great goodness and
| mercy in sending his only son Jesus Christ into
this wicked world to be cruciied an atoning
rifce for the redemption OF lost mankind. ! never
| rightly imagined my perilous situation until now.
During my mis- spent life always had wrong ap-
prehensions OF my nature; and my good God, how
have / employed myself, or what have been
DOING while the sun in its and the stars in
their courses have lent their beams, perhaps, to
light me to the world of woea Oh ! in what
folly have / spent my time since have been
here confined ,andin what m adness have spent tn
| years have passed at sea- Truly, have seen
| tle wonderful works of the Lord the mighty
deep. Many time have been preserved from
sudden death, in different shapes, which only
ed to make me the more hardened. have often
rejoiced TO hear the sound from each masthead,of
"there she bows'-and would jump into the whale
boat and laugh at all dangers; then rush furiously
and fearlessly alongside of the monsrous whale,
and, with undaunted courage, would dart the har-
poon or lance, whilst his fukes would be foaming
| or dancing over my head, when almost one touch
from him would have finished my existence
Scenes like these have often met, and with foolish
courage, dehed its terrors; nor had thought OF
any state beyond the grave, nor the great tribunal
to which must have been summoned. 1t is this
which makes death appear to me 2ow so terrible,
or could still mock at fear. 1t is not giving up my
breath at which shrink it is the terrible hereafter
the something beyond the grave-at which re-
coil never had just apprehension OF the
lemnity of death, until now and the short space Of
time which have now got to live, is fear far too
| short to make my peace with offended God; bat
| cast myself ON his absolute mercy, through the
atoning sacrifice of the Redeemer OF lost mankind.
| Ny dear father, you are already bent beneath the
load of years and grief; the tears OF anguish and
| sorrow for my dear departed mother have not
| yet been dried in our family, and now must they
again afresh. by the announcement of the un.
timely and undeserved death Of your prodigal
:. but let my blood be on their skirts, which have
falsely and cruelty SWORN my life away. THIS can
| say with clear conscience at my dying hour; and
! have done no more than any person would have
done If placed in the same circumstances, which
you can for yourself by my statement. Bro
Their James's and your joint letter of the 9th of
March answered forthwith. As yet have receiy-
ed no letters from John or Nicholas. | shall an
swer them as soon as received. At present do
not rightly know their address or would write
| them farewell letter. understand my friend
| M D. Intends getting my body from the
proper authorities for sale ln.erment but have
had no conversation with him myself on the sub
ject as yet; but lam fully satisfied he will do every
| thing that can be done for my safe interment for
| which hope you will wen reward and remember
Nj D. win write you In day or two aft1r
my execution and let you know all particalars.--
And now, my dear father, must return my heart.
feit thanks Tor your goodness to me since my con
hnsment. must now bid you farewell together
with my sisters and brothers, from this world of
Z taschooo duu Sahly, ana may De prepared to
meet you and my dear depa, ted mother sisters and
brothers, on the right hand of God on that great
day OF Judgment, where an erring verdict cannot
be given at that supreme tribunal and now cast
Il all my dependence upon the mercy OF God, through
the merits OF my Saviour and Redeemer Jesus
Christ. s'77 : -
"Affiichons though they seem severe,
In mercy Off sent
They stop the prodgars career,
And force him to repent"
Adieu. remain, my dear father, your unfortu
nate prodigal son, THOMAS REED Is
shall write James ON the 9TH or Sth
i II. S.-H either OF my brothers or yourself.
should wish an account OF my trial, and the deci-
Sion Of the Court against granting new trial, ed.
uress letter to NJ D., and be viii no doubt