Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-11
WASHINGTON D. C. TUESDAY, JULY H. 1854 e@

DAILY EVENING STAR.
SPECIMEN OF JOHN J. CRrrTiNDENs
ELOQUENCE.
Taken from the close Of his speech, delivered
at tbs triaf of Matt. r. Ward.l ID"
:" Gentlemen, my task is done the de.
clslon Of this case-the fate of this prisoner
is In your hands. Guilty or innocent
life or death-whether the captive shall
joyfully 60 free, or be consigned to a dis.
graceful and ignominious death-all de-
pend on few words from you. Is there
anything in this world more like Omni.
potence-more like the power of the Eter.
nal than that you now possess
Yes, you are to decide and as leave
the case with you, implore you to con-
slider it well and mercifully before YOU
pronounce verdict of guilty-a verdict
which is to cut asunder the tender cords
that bind heart to heart, and to consign
this young man, in the flower of his DAYS
and In the midst of his hopes, to shame
and to death. Such verdict must often
come up in your recollections-muyt live
forever in your minds.
And in after days, when the wild voice
of clamor that now fills the air, is husbed
when memory shall review this busy
scene, should her accusing voice tell you
you have dealt hardly with brothers
life-that you have sent him to death
when you have doubt, whether it is not
your duty to restore him to life-O, what
moment that must be-how like can
Ger, will that remembrance prey upon
your hearts,, e-t
But if, on the other hand, having rem.
dered contrary verdict, you feel that
there should have been a convictim-that
sentiment will be easily satisfied; YOU
will say: eff erred, it was ON the
side of mercy; thank God, 1 incurred no
hazard by condemning man thought
innocent" How different the memory
from that which may come in any mo.
ment, by day or by night, knocking at
the door of your hearts, and reminding
you that IN case where you were doubt
full, by your verdict you sent an innocent
man to disgrace and death.
Oh, gentlemen, pronounce no such. I
beseech you, but on the most certain,
clear and solid grounds. If you err, for
your own sake, as well as his, keep on
the side of humanity, and save him from
so diShonorable q fate-preserye your-
selves from SO bitter an memory. It will
not do then, to plead to your consciences
any subtle technicalities and nice logic :
such cunning of the mind will never
satisfy the heart of an honest man. The
case must be one that speaks for itself
that requires no reasoning without
argument appeals to the understanding
and strikes conviction into the heart.
Unless it does this, you abuse yourselves
abuse your own consciences, and ire.
vocably wrong your fellew man by pro-
nouncing him guilty. 1t is life-it is
blood with which you are to deal; and
beware that you peril not your own peace.
| am no advocate, gentlemen, of any
criminal licentiousness-Id desire that So
ciety may be protected, that the laws of
my country may be obeyed or enforced.
Any other state of things I should de.
plore; but l have examined this case, I
think, carefully and calmly: see much
to regret-much that I wish had never
happened-but I see no evil intentions
and motives-no wicked malignity, and
therefore, no murder no felony.
There is another consideration of which
we should not be unmindful. We are all
conscious of the infirmities of our nature
we are all subject to them. The law
makes an allowance for such infirmities.
The AUTHOR ofour being has been pleased
to fashion us out of great and mighty ele-
ments, which make us but little lower
than the angels; but he has mingled in
our composition weakness and passions.
Will He punish us for frailties which ma
ture has stamped upon us, or for their ne
cessary results! The distinction between
these, and acts that proceed from q wick
ed and malignant heart, is founded on
eternal justice; and in the words of the
Psalmist, HE knoweth our frame-He
remembereth that we are dust" Shall
not the rule he has established, be good
enough for us to Judge byz
Gentlemen, the case is closed. Again
l ask you to consider it well, before you
pronounce verdict which shall consign
this prisoner to grave of ignominy and
dishonor. These are no idle words YOU
have heard so often. This is your fellow
citizen-a youth of promise-the rose of
his family the possessor of all kind and
virtuous and manly qualities. 1t is the
blood of Kentuckian you are called
upon to shed. The blood that flows in
his veins, has come down from those no.
ble pioneers who laid the foundations for
the greatness and glory of our State-it
is the blood of a race who have never
spared it when demanded by their coun-
try's cause. 1t is bis fate you are to de.
eide. excite no poor, unmanly SYM
pathy-I appeal to no low, grovelling
spirit. He is man-you are men-and
only want that sympathy which man
can, give to man. -qs.E
viii not detain you longer. But you
know, and it is right you should, the ter
rible suspense in which some of these
hearts must beat, during your absence
1t is proper for you to consider this, for
in such case, all the feelings of mind
and heart, should sit in council together.
Your duty is yet to be done perform it
as you are ready to answer for it; here
and hereafter. . Perform it calmly and
dispassionately, remembering that ven
geance can give no satisfaction to any
human being. But if you exercise it in
this case, it will spread black midnight
and despair over many aching hearts,
Ma, &lc-(l,J or al vnorcv he Nth NON