Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-13

death, for the murder Of his overseer in that
city. The meeting was held. and its proceed
ings are briefly reported il the Dispatch of Sat
| urday morning:
| The IvDIGsATIos MEETIse.-The meeting last even
ing the CITY Hail. for the purpose express
sing disapprobaton ofthe act of ciemency exercised
oy the Governor, in committing the punishment OF =
slave. found guilty of murder, of the largest
meetings have witnessed in the city, he In
/ terror of the City Hail. including the galleries,
crowded almost to sutocation. and the building
surrounded by great number. who were unable TO
gain admiftance. The meeting was organized by cal
ling Mr.. William Gray to the chair and appointing
W Lewcllcn Secretary and it addressed by Me-srs
Joseph MAYO, Geo r. Psake and J. W. Spalding.
in favor of the objects Of the meeting and by MIR Will
liam Wntson. aud gentleman from Alexandria, whose
name coad not learn, in favour ut an adjourned
meeting for the purpose Of first ascertainng all the par
ticuars attending the of communication on the part
the Governor and resolution in favor Of ti't course
offered and rejected WHEN the following rrsou-
tion offered by Mr.. George R. Peake cnrred by
/ camhtian. After which, the meeting adjourned
.'Resoiuei That Governor johnson. in committing the
sentence of the .sve Jordan Hatcher convicted Of the
wil;ul murder OF VIM p. Jackson, has abused the trust
couided him by the Constitution. has outraged the
feelings ofthis community and has given encourage
rnent to characterization and crime which call. for the
indignant Reproduction OF the people of virginia
After adjournment, understand very large num-
Der Of persons proceeded from the meeting to the Gov
errors house. where the rotous demonstrations
we're for some time manifested OF the proceedings
here have not Sufficient information ut present TO
enter into particulars. If what hear be correct,
they reflect but little credit upon those who the
participants
Fuller accounts represent the conduct OF
the mob that surrounded the Governors man.
sion. to have been of the most disreputable
and beas,ly character. We are assured that
it meets. as it deserves. the indignant execra-
ton of all the respectable people of the city.
But this has nothing to do with the right or
wrongof the official act that called forth the RIO
tous proceedings. That the reader may under
stand the whole transaction. we make an ex-
tract from the Richmond Times:
The record shows that there were four persons
(slsvcs present the catastrophe The deceased
a white overscer Of the ,used md other slaves in
a tobacco Factory. The statements favora-
bic to the prisoner made by the Witnesses Heath
| and Barker. Heath says Jackson reproved Jordan
1.-THE accused) about dirty Jordan had on his
beech. Mr. Jackson attempted to whip Jordan, and
did give Jordan several blows with the cowhde when
Jordan caught hold of the cowhide Mr.. Jackson told
Jordan To let 60 the cowhdc but Jordan coula lei
CO. and NJ. Jackson kicked Jordan, and they had tus-
Jordan DNSted NJ,
the iron poker and struck Mr. Jackson blow with il
the forehead. Bankers says-"Mr Jackson looked at
Jordans STEMS and found fault with them. and asked
jordan if he had told him have dirty stems
on his bench, and said he would whip him. Jordan
said that he had told him and that he would
better if he would whip him. Mr. Jackson said he
would whip him about it first and make him do it. Mr.
Jackson did Jordan several times with the cowhide
and Jordan caught hold of the cowhide and asked Mr.
Jackson not to whip him any Mr.. J. told him
CONS ont nv he sfny nd JurIa
of the matter &c, but shortly after he heard
a sort cry &c. The blow with the poker fractured
the skull and forced portions Of the skull into the
opening and upon the brain. The accused Immediately
utter inhicting itescaped.
Now applying the law of master and apprentice to
this there attempt correction for
knowledged and repeated fault. in the usual manner
not undue nor severe-bu the master might lawfully
nflict-of which he was the judge-and which it
the duty of the slave submitthe occurrence in
the presence of other slaves subject to the same author
ty-n the bosom of "A slave holding community in which
hundreds of slaves employed in factories managed
each perhaps by two whose lives depend the
enforcement Of subordinaton and OF edence-upon this
attempt at lawful correction follows ressfanceby the
slave-a tss. in the of which the slave pushed
the master of and might have escnped-and then. in
stead of escape, the scizing and EN- loving deadly
weapon-and Death inflicted by it! This was murder;
and adudged by the constituted authority, solemnv
and upon the evidence-wi;h no appearance Of haste
~
a change Of the siare's residence
The exercise of the pardonng power, in our
judgement, is one of the most delicate functions
that come within the scope Of executive pow
err. The Governor is no high Court of Error,
Constituted to pass upon the judicial conduct
of minor tribunals, and confirm or reverse at
pleasure. The ultimate power Of dispensing
from punishment is given him, to guard against
its unjust infection in cases, when, after the cul
prt has passed out ofthe hands of the Court,
some new fact is discovered proving his nno-
cence, or disclosing corruption on the part of
the jury, or Court. The fact that the Cover
nor may entertain different opinion of the
guilt, or innocence,of the accused from the tr-
bunal before whom he was tried, affords no
proper ground for interference; because Aeis
as liable. and, from his situation, m ore liable to
be wrong than they. 1t should be such case,
as, if the Court had the privilege of second
trial, they would, with the new lights before
them, reverse their own ac,ion,or, ifcorruption
had been employed, more honest tribunal
"ouiohusC dCttO ulIcTeutiy.
1t is not pretended that this was the case
presented to Governor johnson. The wretch,
in whose behalf his interposi,ion was sought
and obtained. had gone through fair and de-
lberate trial. before an enlightened Court. and
was defended by able counsel. He was con-
demned. and his life had become forfei, for
crime. No appeal springing from the ordina-
ry impulses of pity was sufficient to weigh
down the Judgement of the Court. Nowo-
manly feeling Of mistaken humanity should
have been allowed to thwart the stern fiat Of
the law. Mercy to the murderer is crime
gainst society. The lives Of all become inse.
cure. when the homicide is sheltered from the
penalty Of his act. 1.-THE precedent be set tina,
the slave may resist the master or manager.
who. in the discharge Of his duty, and under
authority of law, attempts to chastse hin-re-
sst even to the taking of life, then there is no
longer any security for those who have con-
troll of this species of property.
But we forbear, fom Considerations Of pru-
dence, TO dwell upon this matter. The ACT Of
Governor Johnson cannot fail to make deep
impression upon the people of Virginia.
The Richmond Times. in an article on the
subject Of the Public Lands, says:
why are we declared DISQUALIFICATION in the