The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-01-14

CAPT. SwfPr..-lt IL but Just IN the late Con-
ductor on the Central Railroad, that We snonld
publish the following exsenuatng expressions OF
the Board Of Directors Of the road, appended 70
Their resolutions fixing the blame OF the conf
sion upsn him, approving Of his suspension ano
discharging him from his office. The AFFAIR Is
heavy blow to Capt. S., aud he has BEEN % We
know, an intense sufferer in mind. THIS te''
mony Of the Board in behalf of bis integrity sno
bis faithfulness in Office for SO many years ID
just and proper in the strait to which ne Las
been reduced by bis recent act
'In connection with this action, the Board are
admonished, BY s sense of simple justice, 70 sac
that, IN their opinion, Capt Swift was rot eol.y o.
collision was caused by his mere Oversight and mad
vertence.
In addition they will say that his long continued
connection with this com peny during the Wnoe OF
which, up TO the date of the occurrence which i,
the of this proceeding, he performed MS du
ties il the most cautious and exemplary mannsr
makes the duty of dismissing him as Conductor
mos. painful one to this Board. And further, thai
nothing has occurred in this invest CATION to lesser
their confidence in him as gentle man OF high integ
rty; but, ON ths contrary 1t has been confirmed oJ
the entile frankness and csndor which he has mani
tested"
Ice IN The POTOMAC. The Steamer Powha
tan, which started on Saturday morning, on hel
way to Aqua Creek, was only able to proceed t.
Quanteo, where she encountered ice of such thick
ness that she was unable to make her way through
1t, and was compelled to return; and on Sunday
afternoon she passed Alexandria at 3 o'clock, OF
her way 10 Washington. Several of the passen
gers left the boat and walked ashore on the ice.-
The Boat 1t is probable, will not make another at
tempt to proceed until the present ice breaks up
--------------
MY-Washington dispatches announce that the
House Committee on Territories have resolved Il
report against the annexation of Carson Valley tt
California, but as measure Of relief to the people
of that Valley from the oppressive immoraties O.
their Mormon neighbors, have determined to re-
commend the passage of bill for the proven
ton and punishment of polygamy. The passage
; of such law and its rigorous enforcement by al
the judicial power of the government is demanded
:by the highest moral considerations.
The Committee have also resolved to repor
against the erection of a territorial government
in Arazonia, but will recommend instead the estao
ishment of new Judicial district South of the 6
la, and the organization of liberal land system.
THE MURDER MANIA murder trial has re
Gently taken place at Maidstone, England, wher'
the plea of murder monomania was set up in be
half of the prisoner. Society is deeply indebted Il
the Judge Mr.. Baron Bramwell, for the plaiL
spoken way in which, in his charge to the jury, hi
demolished this defense:
IF he understood the meaning of the term HON
icidal moBomeania,' it was that man entertained
the bad desire to kill another and could not contro
il; and he would only observe that if it were to e.
forth that any man who would kill another woult
escape the consequences if he established such
fact it would have a most dangerous effect upor
society," and it appeared to him that the object o
the law was to check such feelings and to teacl
those who were base enough to entertain then
That certain punishment would follow if they car
ried them out. The real questions they had Il
consider were whether the prisoner knew the ma.
ture of the act be was committing, and whether ht
knew it was a wrong act, and if SO it would be the
duty to say that he was guilty"
The evidence Of murder was clear and the pri
soner was convicted. A Liverpool paper, com
mentpg upon the charge of the judge, justly sayi
that "if judges would always hold this language
we should soon have heard the last Of that immo
raj and demoralising twaddle by which it is so of
ten attempted to eonfound all distinctions between
right and wrong, and to infer mans irrespousi
bility and consequent innocence from the very
euormity of his guilt"