Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-07-14
SPEECH


act cOmn1utinq tie punishment Of tie SlaVe
Jordan Hatcher, deliVsred before his con-
Stituents at the court Aowse of Harrison
County, July Court, 1859.
FELLow- CITIZENS
The Governor of the Commonwealth in
pursuance of the Constitution and laws oil
the State. and in accordance with the die
tates of his own conscience, at the earnest
solicitation of sixty of the most respecta-
bic and influential citizens Of Richmond,
thought proper TO commute the sentence
of death, pronounced by the Hastings
court of that city against slave, named
Jordan Hatcher, TO transportation for life
Beyond the limits of the United States.-.
1t was an act OF Executive clemency pro-
yided for by the Constitution and laws of
the State and all act, too, which l will
presently shew has frequently, with
out molestation or complaint on the part
at q city rabble, been indulged in by his
worthy predecessors, This was his Of
tCncc---
This very head and front of MS offending
Hath this extent, no more.
But for this act of Executive clcmency-
for this exercise of the attribute of consti-
tutiOnal and lcgalized mercy. as you have
seen from the public press, the Governor
OF your State was arraigned, insul!cd, and
condemned by heterogeneous mass of
human beings, claiming to be respectable
citizens of Richmond, who, in pursuance
OF an insulting and inilammatory notice
published in the city papcrs-thc Rich
mond Enquirer xcepled-assembled at
tho City Hall on the night of the 7th of
May. The published proceedings of that
meeting Shcw too conclus;vey that paSSi-
on, no: reason, held undiSPutcd sway over
is deliberations. Some good cilizens
were present; and, with shame let it be
said, by their speeches and action, coun-
tenanccd and assisted in innaming the un-
briIlrd passions of Il lawlcss multitude un-
Ill storm was raised which could not be
controlled by persuasive means. This
meeting adjourned amid shouts and
groans and curses from the congregated
rabblc. And as was reasonably expect
cd, from the indecent and intlammatory
notices contained in the morning papers,
the intemper0te speeches addressed to the
meeting, and the highly nhammatory
proceedings adopted, between three and
tive hundred OF those composing this
highly respectable meeting of the citizens
of Richmond, formed themselves into a
dirty, sccthing, luwless mob, invaded and
prolaned the Capitol grounds and assem-
bling around the gubernatorial mansion
with hcathcnish yclls and groans and his
scs and threats of personal violence, and
angry denunciations, and indecent Ian
guagc used within hearing of himself and
family, insulted your Governor, and out
ragged the honor and dignity of your Com
monwcalth. While we may love, and,
for his eminent public services, homer and
venerate the man who by the free and un-
solicited suffrage of his fellow citizens,
then and now occupies the gubernatoral
chair, and feel at the recital Of these
scenes deep and burning Indignation for
the wanton injury and injustice done the
man-what should be our feelings and
cmotions?-what patriot who loves his ma
ancient glory and renown, remembering
that in the Governor, the pride and glory
and sovereignty of the State were tramp
led upon and insulted by lawless rabble
and seething city mob, can find Ian
guage to express his everlasting, deep, and
damning condemnation of the unhallowed
deed, and Of those who openly or by in
direction rendered aid and comfort in its
commission? This scene so disreputable
to the homer of the State, occurred in the
city of Richmond, The meeting at the
City Hall was composed of citizens of
Richmond. And the five hundred rioters
who the Mayor of their city says in his
report to the city council, assembled
around the governors mansion were pre-
sent and participated in the meeting at
he Cl'y Hall, and went from there to the
mansion Some doubt has been express
Cd as to the degree of responsibility that
should attach to the city of Richmond in
reference to that mob. Now Let no coo
how that is, Indulge me while I rive
you some other items Of history connect.
ed with this matter The mob occurred
Friday night. The next day resolutions
were introduced into the House of Dele.
gates looking to the removal of the sea-
ofgovernment, and passed that body will
great unanimity; and at that time, with
out doubt, would have passed the Senate
TWAS charged in the House that the city
OF Richmond should justly be held re-
ssponslble for the outrages committed BY
the mob and that large majority of it;
population sympathised in its action. It's
delegates said not so: And that if an
opportunity should be given before the
passage OF those resolutions, a meeting
would be held condemning the action 81
the mob. For this purpose the resolu-
tions were laid on the table of the Senate