Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-12-28

" Father L have Slnned against heaven and bpCre
thee" that with the poor publican, he snote upon hs
breast, saying: "God be mercul to me a sinner"
surely those who founded their repugnance and d.
nunciatons on his insensbility to religious impre
sions. ought now to pause in the ferocity of their
condemnation.
Were not the sinful Mary s tears
An offering worthy heaven,
When DER the faults of former years
She wept and was forgiven?
A few days before his death he was baptized and
received into the church by the Rev. W Crochan.
and one who had better opportunities of observing
him, during the last six hours of his life than any
other save the clergyman in attendance, gives as
his conscientious belief that this word-forsaken
youth died as true pehitent as the most faithful
Christian could desire
In brief interview which the sheriff had with
the condemned on the morning of the execution,
the latter expressed deep for all his transgreS
sions asked forgiveness of all whom he ever offended
as he freely forgave all who had ever offended him:
said that he felt quite happy and was fully resigned
to the death that awaited him, relying for pardon of
his sins on the infinite merits of his Lord and Saw
our Jesus Christ. In reply to question, whether
he intended to address the crowd, he said that he
had designed to make speech on the scafold but
apprehensive that he might get excited, he had IT.
quested Mr.. Croghan to speak for him whatever was
necessary. Except what occurred at this interview
there is little to record respecting his conversation
and department in his last solemn moments for all
his uttcrances were addressed to God. His heart
and sonl seemed absorbed in the intensest devotion
He prayed with subdued, but thrilling fervor In
all other respects his demeanor was singuarly tram
quill There was no affectation of composure His
mind was then elevated by the contemplation of
heavenly things far above masquerade or pretenSon
In fact, at no time from his arrest did he exhibit
the least cunning or discrimination He held in his
hand crucifix on which his eyes were constantly
fixed, and which, better than the most descriptive
hour when darkness overspread the heavens, and
the graves gave up their dead For this purpose he
used it, and had he been directed to employ the
blem OF salvation in such way as Catholics are
represented doing, there is question that with
the keen and searching intellect which he possessed
all the eloquence of the earth could not have pre-
vailed on him to conform.
The tolling of the bell gave warning that the fatal
hour was come; the drunken uproar round the Jail
rose louder and LOUDER the sheriff and officers
tered the prisoners cell, and after short delay he
went forth, his hand resting the arm of the Rev.
sonal appearance was good; and his pace to the
scaftold was without swagger or feebleness
His prayers anS deeds are all recounted.
His hours TO their last minute mounted -
Yet upon his brow there is no shadow of the coming
night He stands on the threshold of eternity with
calm a men the most Indifferent spectator;
confronting the terrors of DEATH not with the reck
less hardihood of desperado, but with the meek in
trepidity of the Christian. To his lips is pressed
the cross-the dear remembrance of his dying
Lord. The drop falls with stunning crash-poor,
suffering, repentant creature may God receive you
into his bosom!
Thus persisted in the morning of life's day, ayoung
man who under favorable circumstances, might, like
some of his ancestors have left name honorably
distinguished in the annals of the State instead of
meeting a felon's death. A gentleman who visited
him in JAIL struck with his intelligence his vigor of
thought, the almost intuitive power with which he
grasped conclusions that few could arrive at without
long process of reasoning, expressed astOnshment
at finding his mind so well disciplined. The other
stated in explanation, that to relieve the WEAKNESS
of his confinement, he had devoted himself to read
ing before that period, he could barely read and
write.
It is idle now to speculate on the effects which
thorough course of moral and mental training might
have had on such an intellect; but We know that
superior talents when unregulated often prove the
he tore into shreds manuscript containing sketch
of his le on being reminded that what he had writ
ten before his heart turned to God his judgment
would not then approve.
There are other circumstances in this connection,
which hesitate to mention. Whilst yet an infant,
John Gregory was deprived of both parents. His
father, most intelligent and upright man, was
killed in the performance of an act of humanity and
the helpless orphan was thrown on the resources OF
his connections. Too soon the boy cOnrived to be-
come MS own gulue, philosopher anu Irelui anu
behold the sad result! One act of his life deplo
rable marriage chiefly instrumental in precipi.
tating his ruin by deservedly estrangng from him all
who felt disposed to give him succor.
In a community distinguished for the highest be-
nevolence, there were few, none to lament Greg
ory's dreadful fate. This owing to the prevail.
ing impression that the young was destitute of
the common feelings of humanity. In this respect,
he was too hardly judged; but he seemed not to be
aware that the idlest words of man placed in his
awful situation are caught up and regarded as the
strongest indications of an inGurated heart-words
which, in the mouth of an ordinary person, would
not be considered to betay any depravty of charac
ter. Respecting the profane language attributed to
him. in two instances at least know that he was
grossly msrepresented.
1t is only justice to say that Sheriff Snow, than
whom worthier more humane man is not in ex-
istence, Mr.. Johnston and Mr. Russell, officers OF
the county, did all that lay in their power to soften
the rigor of the prisoners doom.
This communication not written with view
to effect any revulsen of public feeling, or to extern
uate the commission of the offence for which John
Gregory suffered; but since human justice has In.
ficted him all the penalty it could infict, let not
obloquy pursue him beyond the grave, by question
ing against all evidence the sincerity of his repent