Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-06-16

FRIENDS.
II go
The last Republican in announcing the TACT
that Gov johnson, short time since com
mated TO transportation, the sentence Of death
pronounced upon Jordon Hatcher, says -
"The wings endeavor to make the act Of the
Governor conclusive evidence Of bis aboli-
tionism Notwithstanding many Of them la
bored as strenuously to prove that be was
secessionist and ultra Southern man in bis
feelings when be was last a candidate
We here have some Democratic comments
upon this i'll advised act of the Governor
/ Mr. Bottom. Democratic member of the
Senate, from Amelia, offered a resolution in
the senate, closing with these words, latter
the most careful examination of the testimo-
ny elected at the trial Of the said slave. and
after the most deliberate consideration Of the
reasons assigned by Cor. johnson in his late
message to this House, for committing the
punishment Of the convict, the General AS
sembly of Virginia feels constrained to ex-
press its belief that this act Of executive
clemcncy was ILL., advised. and 70 utter its de-
cded disarprobation Of the reasons for the
said communication
In relation to The two messages of the Gov
ernor Mr.. Bottom said
The second message has left unrecanted and un-
explained most obnoxious doctrine proclaimed
first: that the death penalty was contrary to the
spirit OF the law and the age and to the spirit Of
| mercy and humanity. He has retracted every
/ reason assigned in the FIRST message except this.
and he was therefore warranted in the conclusion
that the doctrine that the death penalty sis against
the spirit of our laws and Of the age and contrary
| to mercy ane humanity" was the existing reason
| which Influenced the Governor to commute the sem
tence of Jordon Hatcher and that doctrine is pro-
claimed here in the hear, of slave-holding CON-
muflity--a doctrine which is calculated to engen-
der in our midst most dangerous spirit Of insu-
| bordination!
Mr. T. then went on to say that when such doc
trnes as these promulgated, lie would not
| permit party considerations to restrain him from
any course Of action he thought proper from
dscharging duty he owed to those he represent
| ed. Iiethenreferred to the fact that Hatcher was
whipped by his overseer while he had his clothes
on. II he had been whipped as slaves are general
/ ~ punished, the excitement and suffering of
which The Governor speaks would have been great
err and if the suffering" in the case of Hatcher
| was an extenuation of his crime the conclusion
irresistible tha, IL negro was to resist and kill
his overseer while being whipped on his bare tack
his 'sufferings would be regarded by the Govern
or as nm extcnua'ien of his crime to a greater ex
/ tent than in the ease in question. I've have not
attempted here to give Mr.. BIS exact language but
| have endeavored to convey his ideas)
| Mr. B. then proceeded 10 refer to the argument
| that the Democratic party tof which he was men,
! ber) should not agtate this subject He was in
terrupted by Mr.. Wallace, who inquired Of him by
whom that argument had been presented. MIR. d.
replied that several Democrats had privately urged
him not to press his resolution. as the party would
be injured BY it. In the guhernatoral campaign,
| Summers was represented to be unsound on the
questions of slavery white johnson was everything
| that was right. He tiohnson1 was promoted under
such circumstances 10 the Executive chair, and has
now thought proper to proclaim that if slave,
while under tie lash, should in moment of ex-
element and suffering turn upon and kill his mas
ter be is not guilty of murler, but Of involuntary
man-saughterl When such doctrines these are
proclaimed by the Executive, an expression of our
utter adherence of them is demanded.
At the public meeting held in Amelia
county, to which we referred last week. the
! Chairman and Secretary were both Demo.
Gratis, as were majority If those in atten.
dence So it seems the credit is not all due
| 70 Tho wI;,s AZ n maet;no of !, l,roe num.
Der OF the voters &C Ilenrico County, at the
Cont Houso ON Man6,v of last wooL tho
following resolutions were unanimously adOp-
ted:
lst Resolved, That in the late nc. of the Gov
;rh WAS ea,,;rn,en, 10 nardanl Of the slave
.tordon Hatcher, who had been regularly tried and
,a,naS for which he had been condemned to I,
death, ". have witnessed gross misconcepton
e, me iaw nreneden If not a. once sterpIy re.
Luked by the publ, voice
"a nesolSed d9as ~ ' nre ossgnns his re a.
sons r the act aforesaid, we .'"cogni'e doctrines
~, o. me relations Una. ma, te dsnrer
Gus our peace, our welfare, and our s,. ety, as
op my
;ty NJ Tho ,ooeter