The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-04-17

The measure OF the height OF pain"
When Valentines little family circle received
information of the verdict that laid low their last
hopes, Phedra met the misfortune with that
sad resignation which we often see In those
whom either time or sorrow has aged, and
which we are apt to think owes its calnness as
much to the exhausted energies Of the sufferer,
ss 10 any higher cause. Fannie heard the
issue Of the trial with wild grief, and day
and night of illness interviewed before she could
uo and see the condemned.
The conviction OF Valentine was imme6i-
stely followed BY the arraignment of Governor.
Tn. trial of the latter was even shorter than
that of the former had been. He was ably de-
Tended by the counsel employed by his master;
hut nothing could have saved him. And the
iury. without leaving their seats, brought in
,beir verdict of Guilty" His sentence fol-
loved Immediately. 1t was, however, pitiable
70 observe that the poor wretch did not under
stand oDe.half of what had been done or said
during the whole course of his trial. And
when he was conducted back to the prison, and
locked in with Valentine, he said to the latter,
"Well, Valley, ole marse up dere On de
bench put a black nightcap on his head, an
said somelhin' r other bout hangin'; but /
reckon ae only did it to scare me, case l saw
by his face how his heart was a sqttening all
de time"
After his condemnation to death, Valentines
trends were more devoted to him than ever.
Day and night, one or more of the brethren Of
the church was with him. And one sister,
especially, who was known by the name of
"Sister DEFY" divided her attentions between
him and his little family, who equally, or more,
needed comfort. Again the papers were filed
with descriptions of this Extraordinary boy"
IS Valentine was called. Interviews held with
him by cergymen were reported at length.
His likeness was taken in prison, and wood-cut-
ted in a pamphlet report of his trial. In a
word, the unhappy young man became for a
while local notoriety. And this was ascriba-
BE, not to the nature of the catastrophe, which
unfortunately was but too common in that Sec
ton of country but to the individuality and
character of the condemned.
And another circumstance connected with
this tragedy was SO full of strange significance,
that / must not omit to record it. A rumor
got ont that old Portiphar had betrayed Valen-
tine into the hands of the law, and that
number Of negroes in secret meeting had sworn
the death of the traitor whenever and wherever
either one of them could take him. This
matter was carefully investigated by those most
interested; but though they could obtain no
sort of satisfactory information, yet their sus-
picions, instead of being disspated, were so
strongly confirmed, that it was deemed advisa-
BE for the officers who had arrested Valentine
TO come out under oath with the declaration
that Portiphar had not by the remotest hint
pat them upon the track, but that the discovery
of the fugitive under the disguise of female ap-
parel had been entirely accidental. This dec
caraon, duly sworn to and attested, was EN-.
toded in a short address to the negroes, print
81 en- band5ills, and posted and distributed all
over the city and surrounding country.* And
Tor some little time this was supposed to be
quite sufficient TO allay excitement and insure
security. But in day or two it became evil
dent in some way, that the negroes did not be-
heVe the sworn statement of the police officers
And as it was thought best to get rid of unsafe
property, Portiphar, who had lurked in conceal
ment for some weeks, was sold by his master
70 New Orleans trader, and the neghborhood
breethed freely again.
lhe petition to the Executive for the pardon
q aientine, gotup under the auspices of Oswald
Aarng' widow, failed of success, as every one
Lad predicted that it must. And when this last
lille glimmering light of earthly hope went
doSn, Faentine seduously addressed himselfto
preparation for eternity. 1t was piteous to OBJ
serve Governor at this time. Any one, to have
seen him, must have perceived at once that he
vas no subject for capital punishment But no
one except his master and Valentine was the
ieaSt Interested in him. Alas poor wretch,
he was not even interested in himsefl When
Tie refusal of the Governor to pardon Valen-
Tine had been received, it was affecting to see
Tie Efforts Of Governor to console what he sup
posed to be the disappointment of his fellow
prisoner. Don't you mind, Valley Dey's
only dom dis to scare wei Shot, dey's no
more gwine to hang ace, nor dey's gwine to
heaVe so much money in de firei Shot, ives
100 "1tat}e, Valley! | heern de gemmen all
say what fine walable men we was-'specially
ne. Sho dere'S muscle for you'll" said Gov
tfnor, drawing himself up, jerking forward
o9Ih arms with q strong impetus, and then
-iS hdiAOo upOn uctHcE HluUS.
Sho! Ion think dey's gwine to let all dat
dere 20 to loss? Eff it were only whippin' now,
uey might do it but making all dis yere mus
,le dead? Shot, what de use O. dead niger?
what good dat do en-? Shol"
And with this strong expletive of contempt,
ToVernor sat down. Strange and sad as was
,ie TACT this poor, stupid creature was thorough
persuaded that his own and Valentines life
were perfectly safe. He knew that, Hiring, he
himself was worth at least twelve or fifteen
hundred dollars, for he had more than once
heard himself so appraised; and that, dead, he
was worth Just so much less than nothing as
Tie cost of his burial would be. And from
these facts he drew the inference that he was
iar too valuable to be executed. And he per-
sisted in looking upon the whole train of events,
comprising his arrest, Imprisonment, trial, and
condemnation, with all the pageantry of court
Ioom Judges, lawyers, juries, and officers, only
Ss a solemn show, got up to frighten him and
as iellow-prisoner. Nothing could disabuse
nm OF this illusion; for, if once any idea got
h&ed IN his poor, thick head, it was just impos-
sloe to dislodge it. In vain Valentine endeav-
Tted TO enlighten him as to his true position
look f''
Oh, shol you's scared, VALLEY! you's scar
ed! Tell mel l knows better! Dey's not
sIeh fools as to hang we! case what ,could De
0e use, yOu knotoP Sho!"
Inc Methodist preachers exhorted and pray.
gu with Governor, to as little purpose. he
could not be made to believe in the fact of his
@stapproaching death.
Oh, sho, Valley doesn't say muffin t all
SoIe dem, cause you see faint right to give
;, oaek answer to de ministers; but dey's league
,99g de oders, Valley Dey's league long
u G G odersl Can't scare dis chile wild no SIGH
5 isn you, Valley, dead niger amt no use but
him? .Sho!"