The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-10-04
LANCASTER H" SOUTH WEDNESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER 1854

| ou' penetrating eyes, AT once inspired him
with respect, and even veneration.
"Governor Terderheart, believe z" said
the stranger, bowing respectfully.
81 am that individual, sir" replied the
governor, bowng in return, as he rose.
and offered seat TO the stranger. MAY
take the privilege of asking your
uame2"
THAT is Of little consequence" returned
the stranger. "Our interview can be Just
as effective, and remain unknown. Nv
business is to hold brief conversation
with you in regarl to some of your official
acts, past and prospective. Can l be iu-
dulgcd in this ~ st.. .... .
80 certainly" replied the governor,
hlandly, though he was beginning To feel
uneasy, for there was somewhat in the
eye, voice, and manner of the old man.
that he did not exactly comprehend.
81 "lhavejust learned" pursued tt stran-
ger, that some persons have sent peti-
ton, to your excelIency, asking for the par
don of one Godfrey Glitner, sentenced to
ten years imprisonment Tor the crime of
manSIaughter, committed under most ag-
grayated circumstance"
| "lou have heard truly, was the reply {;
'such II petition has been received, setting
forth q new set Of facts, unknown to the
jury, which very materially modify The
character OF th, charges against him.-
And, besides, his,noll,er, AN aged woman
is the bearer Of ibis petition. 1t is hard,
sir, to withstand the pleadings, made in
tears, Of u mother for her SON"
81 cannot see what bearing mothers
Tears have unon the case" the stranger
said, somewhat slernIy.
Perhaps. IT you were in my position,
you would more clearly perceive the force
of such Arguments. 1t is no light trial,
sir. to meet the prayers and tears Of a
mother, old and worn Gown 10y sorrow, as
she pleads for her only child"
Even though that child have imbueG
his hands in the blood Of his fellow, and
robbed >ormc other mother of an only son,
the stay of her declining years"
with that, have nothing to do. The
decd is done, aud cannot be- recalled. No
punishment that can lie inflicted will avail
any hing. IL cannot restore the life that
| has fled"
I'll can, however, prevent the commits
sion Of another such horrible deed hy The
same hands. The author of i. is Justly
considered, in the eye Of the law, as an
evil beast, Whose cruel propensitics must
he es,rained 10y exclusion from society.
lie has been thus set apart, not, as hold,
angriIy and vindictively, but under sol
emm conviction that the good Of The whole
requires i to be done" r.
| cannot see ii so," replied Governor
IendrrIcart, doggedly. ....
"Canno see it so :" exclaimed the stran
! ger.
"No, sir. cannot see it so: and don't
intend to sec it so."
That is more nearly the truth" vas
the rcioinder "But I say that YOU can,
and must see itso. Don't you believe this
Godfrey Gliner to be bad man Z"
Not SO much worse than other peo-
pie"
But he has killed his fellow man"
Under proyncation." ...
"N", sir. In cold blood, and with
confirmed evil purpose"
That w"sad have been murder"
"Of course"
But even the jury did not consider it
so."
"A large portion Of hem did, but fna'. Z.
Iy yielded because there was no hope of
an unanimous verdict"
"Since that, however, new facts have
come to light, which put different face
upon the matter altogether"
"IIow do you know" !"
"Ihe petition sets them forth"
WHO are the petitioners Z"
lido no, know them; but presume, Of
course, that they are respectable men, who
set forth nothing bat what they know to
bc true"
There you are in error l know all
about ti.is petition. 1t Sas drawn up, at
the mothers instance, by lawyer, who
for \ fee, wdold advocate the cause Of Sa-
tan himself Then she prevailed upon
several persons, most Of whom were her
sons former associates, aud nearly as bad
As himself, to sign the paper, which does
nol containione word Of truth. Finally.
Tho old wa'han takesaIone aud toilsone
journey here, to try the force Of prayers