Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-01-03

1 IN mC iCsscts Dut, dS ne SdtQ, mere va
no help. For several days he was detaine,
in station-house. till large gang wa
collected, when they were marched off to
wards their southern destination. Their
was no further remonsirance, and no at
tempt at escape; till, with feet sore ane
bleeding from days. and nights of constan
iramPing upon thorny paths and burning
sands, they encamped upon the borders Of
| running stream for little rest. The
men reelined in their chains upon the
ground. and the women were strewed ia
heaps among the baggage of the wagons
The moon shone clear and bright, and
| scarcely breath of air stirred the leaves OF
| the trees above their heads, and all Were
| asleep. 1t was not night to favor crime
yet revenge burned SO hotIy in the hos ,m
of the outraged negro that he could no
longer delay, His trade had made him
familiar with iron links, and with little
application of his skill his bonds were
loosened, and he was free. But he did
not attempt to fly. He crept s,eal,hiIy to
the tent Of the trader. and with one blow
Of the axe severed his head from his body {!
then returned to his resting place and slept
soundly till morning!
The break Of day revealed the terrible
deed, and the excitement soon spread from
the negro camp TO the neighboring settle
ments, and crowds gathered in eager curl
osity to learn tile particulars of the crime.
Several were put to the torture in attempts
to make them confess, but the guilty one.
not wishing others to suffer what he had
done, came forward and gave himself up
to justice. Double manacles were placed
upon his liuhs, and he was confined TO
jail until the day Of his trial. On being
told by the judge that he would have The
benefi, Of COUNSEL and every advan,ag e
which the law could give, notwithstanding
his confession, he again discIaimed all
pretensions 10 innocence, and expressed no
desire 10 live. I" killed the man." said
he, "and did it after deliberate reflection,
aid still think his hard-h-atted cruelty
justified the act lam not sorry"
There was sort Of mock trial, at the
end Of which the verdict Of :. Guilty" was
solrmnly rendered. and the accused was
asked if he had anything to say to the
court. Wifi great dignity. and no visible
emotion. he arose and said (:
:" am grateful for FOR your kindness and
for the opportunity you gave me ofescaping
death but have no wish 10 live. / am
cruelty separated from all that was most
dear to me, and life is no longer Of any
value. ! do not wish to live. and am
not afraid to die, and I have only one
favor 10 ask Of my earthly friends. | would
like to know that the day of thy execution
is fixed on the al, Of July, which will soon
he here 1t is the day you celebrate as
the anniversary Of your emancipation from
the slavery Of foreign despotism Ii
you gran, me this request. the day will be
the anniversary Of my emancipation from
a bondage much more CALLING than was
ever inflicted uron you. From that day
shall be as free as you J"
lie who spoke was Of Ethiop blackness
but his manner was as calm as that OF the
Athenian philosopher when the hemlock
was prese nted to his lips, and his whole
demeanour a. dignifed and respectful
Among the audience there was GREATNESS
stiffness. which for long time was not
interrupted, and all departed under the in
huencs Of deep and impressive solemnty.
Neither in the prison nor on the scaffold
was there any change in the guilty man.
and nothing could wiring from him anything
like a confession that he had sinned in
taking the life of one 40 inhuman. He
had rid the earth Of monster, and was
willing to die for the deed.
His mind was in The darkness Of hes them
ism, and we leave him for God TO Judge
And we also leave him to Judge those who
keep in darkness millions Of immortal
souls, and so inbrutaIize and degrade them
that conscience is without life, and deiiber-
ate crime without horror.
But it is pleasan; to add that there were
accounts Immediately Of the Liberation Of
many who had been kept in bondage in
that region, proving that the dying words
Of negro could affect the heart.