Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-05-20

W. 6na tho following card. addressed By Matt,
+. Ward TO the public press, in the New Orleans
D,ffa. It will be seen that he requests that he
shall not be convicted by the public, after beng
acquitted by jury. before they get an accurate
and reliable report of the whole evidence given al
the trial-eydence which he says has been very
;mperfectly and loosely given in the public pa
pers;
To The Editors of the United States :
CrSrIrurS--H felt less confidence in the
;ustice and magnanimity Of the American peo-
Mo would not now intrude myself upon your
notice. Nv position is ono which may Wen De
considered peculiar in the United States where
the laws have hitherto been respected. and where
,ba verdict of a jury has been regarded n final
- an crinal cases. Acquitted, though still accused
free. though still prosecuted, | must appeal.
,hra,gb the columns of the Delta. to your gene
ros;ty and beg suspension of opinion until the
evidence in nv case can be laid before YOU
can blame no man for feeling strong prejudice
against me- or for expressing the londest con.
demnation of that unfortunate deed, which has
Neon So darky and ingenously exaggerated by
NV enemies The public have as Yet seen but
no side of this case, and that one has been most
nnscrupulouslv misrepresented by those eager
Cor nv bload and ruin have been acquitted hy
n inry of nv peers, and in most cases TINS would
~ ,;nd;cation enough and even in my case, per
verified as il has been, my aequitta should at least
argue presumption Of my innocence strong
.snough 10 induce the most hostile to pause uii
they can examine the testimony produced al my
trial. This is all | desire, aud surely II Is not
mpch fora man TO ask who has nncomplainlngly
submitted to a. much as ! have done.
A full and impartial report OF the testimony IN
,he case has been prepared by Mr.. a. ID. Richard.
son, one of the most accomplished short hand
writer's in the West and will soon be issued from
the press of Messrs ID. Appleton x Co, New
York. Although felt the highest confidence IN
Mr.. Richardson's ability and impartalily yet
when remembered the former course Of my enc
mics. the precaution was taken 10 have the report
authenticated by several gentlemen, whose posi-
s;ons Mace them above the sneering accusations
of the Courier, p,
An that ask from you, gentlemen fthe press
Is silence unit this report can be placed before
the public, and il you do not then discover some
better reason for my ocqnittal than the eorfup
ton of the jury, am willing TO submit to your
universal condemnation. ! have made no Prev
Gus attempt TO resist the designs of my enemies
not as they would falsely insnuate- because
had no defence to make but because ] relied
with confidence on the just administration OF the
laws of my country. | break that slienc now
which the better Judgment OF friends formerly
impo sed upon me, emily because my prosecutors
seem 10 have lost all respect Tor law hnd nave
constituted themselves higher tribunal 10 re-
verse the decision of "a jury regularly smpannelled
nv the proper authorities OF the State.
Once more | appeal To the generosity OF the
press in this country, and conjnre every editor
In the name of justice and humanity To read the
report of my trial--weigh well the testimony ON
both sides and then declare 10 the world whether
have not the right to say that injustice, black
Injustice, has been done me. And II many are
convinced by the testimony that my prosecutors
have not been sustained in the case which they
made out against me. have too much confidence
in the magnanimity Of American editors 10 doubt
that they will confess that they have been mis-
led. and win expose the unjusthahle means used
To deceive them and TO injure me. lie just, be
generous, gentlemen Of the press. Read TINS
report and consider closely lis contents.
The Louisville Courier has, ] believe, propo-
sed to publish my trial in pamphlet FORM but the
gentleman who was employed by this paper Is
not a stenographer, and the report could not be
full and satisfactory in all the details of eros
examination, even if his notes were fairly pub
sished Dir. Cole would not, ] know, make AN
unfair report for any consideration; but from past
experience | should apprehend that some li'ertes
might be taken with his notes before they see
light. | make this suggestion for his sake as
well as nv own. Ii is fact worth noting, too
that whilst Mr.. Cole was preparing this report to
the Courier he wrote letters 10 his paper the Oin
cinDati Gazette, in which he expressed an opinion
that would be acquitted. which was based on the
evidence in the case. We may hereafter have an
opportunity of comparing Mr.. Oolc's opinion of
the testimony with the version the Courier may
give To IL