Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1852-06-04
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
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WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 2, 1852.

/ RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE e, 1882.
/ JORDAN HATCHER AGAIN.
Tho reader has already observed in Mondays Enquirer
two reports from the committee Of Courts of Justice,
the case of Jordan Hatcher That known Mr.. Robin
sons Is remarkable only for criticism upon the Cover
nors message Of the llth of May rendered unnecessary
the satisfactory explanations contained in ha, of The 18Th
In the report proper, the committee
"Dissens from the doctrines of the message of the lii
of May generally understood and Interpreted previous
message Of the 18Th OF May Ii expresses it's satsaco
the sentiments proclaimed in The latter message and il
concurrence in the legal views OF the Executive conaine
therein except far expires. opinion as to III
correctness of conclusion of the Executive
propriey Of the commutation Of The punishment of III
slave"
The resolutions proposed by Mr. Robinson are in sub
stance nearly the same disapprovins tho rs and approx
ing the second message: but without expressing opin
ion the conclusion of the Governor that Hatchers wal
a fit case for Executive interference.
In Mr.. Robinsons report it is said such farther e
gislaon may be deemed proper. will be embodied in
bill TO be reported by the committee" That the provisions
Of the new Code defective in relation the punishment
of slaves suppose there hardly be doubt The
lont committee TO examine the Penentary had prepared
bill on this subject long before the repreve of Hatcher
and without any reference to that II is but just
to the public, well the Governor that the law
well as the amendment proposed should be known this
tme Section Of Chapter 200 in the Code is the fol-
lowing Words
~ If slave plot consp!re to rebel make nsurrcc-
tion commit en- offence for the commission of which
free negro the time of committing same punishable
with death or by confinement in the Penientiary for
less than three years. he shall be punished with DEATH,
But unless II be offence for which free lchic person. il
he had committed it, might have been punished with DEATH
such slave instead OF being punished with death, may, at
the discretion OF the court, be punished by sale and
portaion beyond the limits of the United STATES"
The 9th section provides that when The offence be such
that If committed by free negro, he would be punished in
the penenary for less than three years. then the slave
shall, for the frs. time of committing 1t, be punished by
strpes and for the second time be punished with death or
al the discretion of the court be transported The 9th
provides the of transporting slaves sentenced by the
courts to that punishment.
BY section 10 of chapter IT. 1t is provided that "n the
OF slave under Of DEATH The Governor may
order commutaon of the punishment by directing that
such slave be sold and transported beyond the limits of
United Staes Here hen it will be seen that the
have power transport slaves for all oeaces, which, il
committed free ngTo would be punishable with death
confinement in the Penenlay for not less than three years
and which, If committed by free .ohite person, would
be punishable with deah and The Governor has also the
restrained power transport for all Offences where slave is
under sentence Of DEATH The latter provision has existed
for many years. but the former is provision Of the
Code. When slave s sentenced to DEATH the court
upon the record what in their opinion he ought to sell for
with knowledge of his offence; and the draws that
from the public treasury 1t should be observed also
that when slave is transported either by order of the
of the Governor he receives other punishment what
ever.
This SYSTEM ii is thought is well understood among
the slaves have the proper effect in restraining them from
kpOyy
der arsop poisoning burglary, robbery, larceny, and in
deed almost every crimes and for which, in the
Of things could heretofore be made public Under
the Constitution, it has become the duty Of the
executive 20 make them ru5c.
The Committee, understand, think that the power OF
Courts transport should be taken away and that they
should try offences strictly in reference the probability o
their being fully executed But that should be
their duty give the governor the legal evidence upon
which the conviction is oundcd and make statement Of
facts which make it proper 10 commute the sen
tence Stripes sale and transportation, IT. In their opinion
any such exists and not so in the record The
committee propose require the Governor Gf he shall re-
preye save) to order the slave be publicly punished with
slripes before shall be removed from his county or cor
poraon Under the present SYSTEM slaves committing
petty offences punished with severity than the
| largest portion of them for the high feonies.
The bill reported by the joint committee is very Short and
! is as follows
IT enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia
That The sections title 81 of the Code of Virginia, named
Below shall be repealed and the following sections shall pe
and the hereby enacted and substituted therefor
that is say:
IL For section four chapter 2O0 If slave plot or con
spire rebel make nsurec,en, or commit an oienct
which committed by free negro on the I'd day OF July
1850 would have hecn punished under the Code OF Virginia
with death or confinement in the peniientiary tor not les:
than three years. such slave shall be punished win death
"2 For section five chapter 200: If slave commit ar
l I'd the I'd CaS
OF July 1850 would have been punished under the Coae
Virginia. by confinement in the pcncnary or period ies
than three years. such ave shall be punished with stripes
and if having been sentenced for such an offence h
shall commit any OF said Offences ne snai
for such offence be punished with death.
3 For section six chapter 2U0: lhe court shaH IN n'
case sentence slave transportation; but when suV
shall be sentenced be punished with DEATH II shall be I'M
duty of tho court rendering such sentence 10 mak
and certify with the record in addition TO the legal evi
dence any statement OF facts or reasons wch makel pro
pe TO commute the stripes sale and transports
on if in their opinion, sucn iacts or easohs eAs uu
not to state OH the record.
SEC H. Be it further enacted That if from the record
any sentence of death against slave or from iacts oe
wise coming the knowledge of the Governor mere sun
appear sufficient for DOING but not oher~lSe
may commute punishment OF such slave 10 STRIPES
and In every such the governor shall or
der the number stripes and they shall be inflicted puoc
v in the county corporation by the Iaor or some ohe
officer before the removal Of such slave
We doubt not that Governor Johnson will faithfully ant
with hearty good WILL carry out any provision which Ut
General Assembly may think proper 70 make on 'c su'e
of these laws 1t hardly be doubted that the amend
ments proposed BY tho penentary comm.1cc' wou.a eu
der the punishment much certain and cectua
The morning session of the House Of Delegates YESTERDAY
was mainly occupied with The of Jordan Hatcher III
report and resolutions of the minority being offered as suo
s,tue for those the committee were agreed 10 ana "e
expected to come up the evening session for adoption
There will be published in this city, an edition oil IN
Reports Of Chancellor Wy,he. The work is edited oy MI
B. B. Minor formerly editor of the Southern Literary Mes
sengcr. Mr. Wythes remains lie in ST. Johns Churc
yard of this City, without slab TO mark the place
In the Whig is published very Interesting letter from Mr.
CLAW addressed MIR. Minor respecting Chancellor Wythe
1t will be read with much interest by the public now ha
it's usrous author and former pupil of the distinguished
Chancellor is passing rapidly away from the Earth Mr
Clay who acted amanuonsis to Wyhe out the re
ports which are be repub!shed with his own hand