Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-05-12
Excitement i'm Richmond.

Judging from the newspaper reports, there has
been high degree of popular excitement in Rich
mond, on account of the Communication by Governor
JOHNSON of the punishment of slave named Jor-
dan Hatcher, sentenced to death for killing W. P.
JACKSON, some time ago. JACKSON was an over
seer In Tobacco Factory in which Hatcher was
employed, and while in the act of chastising him,
receiveda blow from him which resulted in his death
twoor threedays afterwards heexecution was to
have taken place on thesame day the Pirates were
hung, but the Governor granted respite till Fri
day last, and before that day arrived, changed the
sentence to hard labor in the Penitentiary for two
years, the convict to be then transported beyond the
limits of the u States There seems to be differ
ence of opinion in reference to the proprety of the
Governors course The Republican condemns il
as an unwise and unjustiiable exercise of preroga-
tive, while correspondent of the Petersburg En
press defends 1t on the ground, that Hache's
crime was not the result of malice and premedita-
ted design. w. 81.
An indignation meeting was held at the City
Hall on Friday night, which was numerously at
tended, and the excitement against the Governor
appears to have mounted to great height. Sew
eral speeches were made On the occasion. JOSEPH
Mayo, Esq. being called out, said, 'He regretted
exceedingly the necessity for this meeting, and
hoped those present would be satisfied with the
adoption of resolution condemnatory Of the course
of the Executive. He thought the negro should
have been executed as he had been fairly tried and
condemned by an impartial Court, who had the
power to commute his punishment, and would
have done so had not the law, the evidence and
all the circumstances of the case been directly in
conflict with such course"
The following resolution was carried by 'tgreat
reclamation, and with vociferous cheering"
Resolred, That Governor JOHNSON, in COM
muting the sentence Of the slave Jordan Hatcher,
convicted of the murder of William P. jackson,
has abated the trust confded to him by the Con-
stitution, has outraged the feelings of the commu-
nifty, and has given an encouragement to insubor-
dination and crime which calls for the indignant
reprobation Of the people of Virginia.
The Dispatch says
1ltcI duJOuIlll6liI, VIC uiutloitihu q fCiJ
number Of persons proceeded from the meeting to
the Governors house, where the most rotous dem
onstrations were for some time manifested OF
the proceedings here we have not sufficient infor
nation at present to enter into particulars. If what
We hear be correct, they reflect but little credit
upon those who were the participants.
The Dispatch of Monday says the proceedings
of the mob are condemned on all hands. A very
large majority of the citizens believe that the par
doning of Jordan, was very injudicous act; but
very few attribute it to any thing but an error OF
Judgment. The insults offered were confined to
vulgar noises and insulting language.
Mr.. Mcdonald, the member of the House of
Delegates from Monongalia, says the Dispatch,
was assaulted Saturday night, as is supposed by
persons who took offence at the remarks Of Mr..
Med. in the House on Saturday, upon the mob at
the Governors house. He was on his way to the
Washington Hotel, when he was struck in the
side and breast by one or two out of some ten or
dozen persons that met and surrounded him. If
there be no mistake as to the motive, the outrage
is deeply to be deplored, and it is much to be re-
GREETED that the persons who committed the as
sault could not be detected and held to answer
in proper manner for their infamous conduct