Minnesota weekly times. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1859, 1855-01-02
THAT INDIAN,

Messrs. Editors:-I perceive by an editorial in
your issue of this morning, you deprecate the
hanging of the Indian who was convicted of MUIR
der, two years ago, and would seem to carry the
idea that you prefer his being pardoncd. You do
not advocate his immediate restoration to liberty,
but would have him confined until the excitement
has passed away, and then you remark there will
he time to deliberate as to his freedom, or longer
incarceration. You think that his already having
been confined for two years in a most dirty and
loathsome prison, should have the effect of indu-
cling this change in his condition.
The writer of this article, Messrs. Editors, does
not profess to be acquainted with ali the legal
points involved in the conviction of the Indian !;
but all who attended the trial. and are COW ersant
with the facts, know, that he has been guilty of
ruthless and unprovoked murder upon helpless
and unohending white woman; and that if ever
a man forfeited his life, this Indian has. 1t may
be true that the Indian, by the Interference of his
counsel, has caused himself to be confined in a
loathsome Jail longer than he should have been
but do not know that because Executive clemen-
cy mas extended this respite to him at his own or
counsels request, that therefore this very act of
their own procuring, should be adduced as rea-
son, why he should not suffer the penalty of the
law. Believe, Mcssrs. Editors, that l am dis
posed to be as merc;ful as most men, upon the err
rors of my fellow creatures; but do not believe
it is even mercy to spare the life of the ruthless
murderer, be he an Indian or a white man. The
Noachic precept" Who so sI,cddeh mans blood.
by man shall blood be shed' was given to Noah.
ho nd a.
that the promise was made, that While the earth
rcmaincth, scei time aad harvest, and cold and
heat, and summer and winter, and day and night,
shall not cease !" and at the same time that the
injunction was imposed ss Be fruitful and multiply
and replenish the earth; [See Gcniss 18th Chap,
Verse y; and 9th Chap, Verses and i and
as these as no one will deny are co-extensve with
the duration of the earth, so the death penalty
having been enjoined punishment for muir
der upon the progenitor of the whole human
1amiiy, and therefore upon the race land no
one can show, that the precept has ever been alb
roSated.) 1T now and ever will remain law of
the Almighty, which it would do we'll for mere.
Puny, hnite man, never to attempt to interfere
with. The expediency of the law, can he mad.
as apparent US its obligation upon society is nm.
doubtedly of Divine origin; but as the writer of
this article docs not desire to get into contro-
versy upon this question, which however he would
not shrink from, he will not say any thing more
Tor the present upon it.
he was glad to learn that the Indian, commit
ting the murder as he did, and under the crcum.
stances in which he did it, was by due course of
law to suffer the penalty which BY divine as we'll
as, human law he was doomed to suffer-D.o,h
AID he trusts that those concerned in the e,ecr.
tisn Of the law, will be found to be made of 6rms-
stuff, than to allow any mere weakness of the
flesh or misplaced sentementality, to deter them
from doing what the laws of God as we'll as of man
require of them-his execution.
Dec. q, 1854. A CITIZEN