Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1854-11-16

| I-nAAASecAhS oAScis DSSeA - -. t1lC
way to soothe my feelings, and alleviate
my sufferings. / said to her. MY dear
why is your head bound up% she said
you are sick, and we must take care Of
you Call the boys to help me up ]
said. Ny wife stepped out, and soon
returned with my eldest son George,
when I asked, Where is Samuel?' She
waived an answer, and ! had not the re-
motest idea of our SamuePs death, till
the Sheriff came to apprehend me-
Then I saw that. the love of those to
whom 1 had made myself mos. unlov-
ing, had drawn veil over the sad
event, to save me from the torments
which I have since endured, and which a
hundred deaths on the gaiiows cannot
equal!"
The court and jury were much moved
by this recital, and the numerous audi
tory were bathed in tears.
"Think not that I detail these facts to
screen myself. No, your Honors and
gentlemen of the Jury, it is too late for
me to hope for anything this side of
death. But in justice to the State and
its Legislators, in justice to the execu-
tors of the Law, in justice to the mass
of the people, the source of the law and
power, in justice to others whose mis-
fortune it is to lose command of them
selves through the drinking customs of
society, yea, as a sacrifice on the altar
of truth, the last shall ever make IN
this public manner, l do affirm that the
state of mind that produced what your
laws call murder did not result in my
case from the act of drinking, but from
previous steps taken from the authority
of the State to insure that act. 1t re-
suited from the licensed hand that held
the cup to my lips. AS dying man, l
leave this my true, my faithful testimo-
ny, hoping and praying that it may lead
to more just views on this subject, and
to final withdrawal of the means of
drinking from that unhappy class to
whom it is an unfsiling incentive of
crime, and then furnishing the criminal"
This speech thrilled upon the audience
like voice from eternity. The judges
and lawyers who had pleaded earnestly
against the unconstitutionality of the
Maine Law, felt themselves in an awk-
ward position, hanging man for acting
out the insanity which the constitution
had produced within him! 1t is hard
to convince man against the course of
ideas. The court therefore represented
the unconstitutional sympathy which
they felt rising in their heart.
at does seem rather hard constitu-
tion," said one judge to another. in a
low voice.
"Yes," replied the other, "but con-
stitutions are the mere reflection of the
principles of law and liber-
ty. Whatever the constitution is, there,
l take it, would be violated, If it denied
a man the privilege to get drunk when
he pleased. And those who abuse to
purposes of crime the parental care of
the State, in providing for this by the
license law, we have only to imprison or
hang"
The court changed according to the
sentiments of the last Judge. But the
jurors said, in their quaint way of rea-
soning among themselves, that it would
be wrong to hang a man on the consti-
tuition who had been made criminal by
the constitution.
Hence they brought in verdict of
NOT GUILTY. Thus the afflicted but now
triumphant Douglas was allowed the
only boon he had to ask-the privilege
of dying in the bosom of his family!
.'i- Independent Press.