The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-04-04

tempt to "Gool" the voters of Ravenna.-
Why did they not come out and ask the
people to ratify their proceedings of the
night before! 1t would have saved the
trouble and ceremony Of nomination.
~
kisSane's TTiai--Ahecting speech
OF the PriSOner--Light Sentence.
Kissane, says the Leader, escaped lightly.
The Recorder remarked that it was leni-
ent sentence, but that he had erred on the
side Of mercy Kissane's speech is effective.
The Times says it was listened to with
deep attention and affected many to tears" !"
We copy it.
William Kissane being asked why judg-
ment should not be pronounced against him
according to to law, addressed the Court as
follows:
May it please the Court, shall avail N.Y.
self Of the opportunities now offered-it be-
ing the last shall possibly ever have, to
make few remarks. And ! wish it dis
tinctIy understood that what am about to
say, is in no way whatever, intended by me
as suing for mercy. On the contrary, feel
that deserve any penalty which the Court
may think proper to inflict.
My life, Sir, as some of the public prints
have set forth, has not been one continued
succession of crime. Two years ago, l
was living with my family in Ohio, in peace,
cOntentment and happiness; known and re-
spected by large circle of acquaintances
and friends, without one blot, one stain up
on my name. But in an evil hour, there
came about my dwelling those who had
blishted and blasted many home before
| shall not enter into details of the wretch
edness and desolaton they have brought a.
bout me and mine; and which, Sir, have
been the means of bringing me before you
this day; also, of sending my family penn-
less, houseless and homeless wanderers on
the face of the earth, ashamed of the very
name they bear; which name was handed to
me without bIemSh, as untarnshed as the
driven snow. May God forgive them; nev-
can.
And yet, Sir, it was my owu fault. En-
dowed with all the feelings and senses OF
manhood, should have known that to be
breathed upon by them was death; that the
very atmosphere which surrounded them was
poisonous as that which surrounds the Upas
tree. l should have Indignantly spurned
them from me, as you would, Sir, the most
loathsome reptile that crawls upon the face
of the earth. Had l paused, had pondered
| had not been here. | must have be en- in
dream, sort of spell, when | permitted
the ignuS ,fatuaS to lead me to destruction
And though stand here, charged with ani
convicted of crime, yet my heart tells me
and feel and know it to be true, that
have no sympathy with it; that | have nc
fellow-feeling or emotion in common with
the perpetration of it. Had paused, had
pondered, you, Sir, would have been spared
the disagreeable duty which devolves upon
you this day. And l can fancy no duty
which can be more irksome TO an enlight.
ened and humane Judge, than that of con.
signing fellow creature to living tomb
! Bot the edicts of the law must be fulfill.
ed; the consequences must fall on those who
come -antagonist!c to it, and cheerfully
gladly, yes joytully would 60 hence, tc
wherever you may please to consign me-
did but feel that might yet live to return
regenerated, untarnished as was; that
amongst family and friends which then
held. But alas! Sir, this cannot be, and the
overwhelming consciousness of it inficts
more wretchedness and misery upon me
than any penalty which the law can infict
There is no escape from ones feelings,
excepting through the portals of the grave.
l could escape from the rail car at the risk
of my life, as has been given in testimony,
and | could lay out in the wild woods, night
alter night, with no covering but the cano-
py o: Heaven. But there was one ever
watchful companion which l could not a.
void. 1t was the constant prompting of the
rt;-what have you been? what infamy
and disgrace have you entailed on yourself!
| could hear it in the leaves that rustled o'er
my head; could hear it in every sound that
was borne upon the breeze. The whole
world may forgive me, but cannot forgive
myself. | had hoped, sir, to have reached
some distant country unknown, where those
who have known me could know me no
more; where | could have settled amongs,
strangers, and once more be man among
men.
The ever present memories of the pas
would have been bright light to guide me
in the path of recttude in all the future, anC
would have illumined the rock upon which
was cast away. Providence has otherwise
decreed, and am here, but were l permit.
ted to depart this day, and whenever it shal
please the powers that be, to permit me tc
depart, such shall be my course, trust
wiser and better man.
The Court, after this Address, passed tht
sentence Of the law, the Judge remarking
we'll remember that when the first &C
cusation was brought against you, the pub
lie, with one accord, would not believe tina
a man holding your position-that of re-
spectacle and reputable merchant could bt
guilty of the offence with which you were
charged. Your own statements show a
any rate, that you were connected with
crime; but at the same time they breathet
repentance of the past, and, consequently
hopes for the future. You are yet young
young enough to redeem your characte el
when you are released from prison. I hat
intended to sentence you for the longest tern
that the law allows, but have changed m,
views in this respect. In what you have sta
ted there was no bravado, such as is oftel
displayed by men brought up here for sen
tence. No person, unless he possessed som
remnant of virtue, could be capable of max
| ing such remarks as you have just addresse,
to the court If err In mitigating you
punishment, have at least the satisfaction
OF knowing that err on the side of mercy
The sentence of the court is that yod b
confined ID the State prison for the term Q
! two wears and eix months.