Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1860-03-23
Mr.. Sennott before the Virginia
Legislature.

The Joint Committee on Courts OF i
Justice Of the two branches Of the Vir- I
ginia Legislature held an evening session t
in the Senate Chamber in order to give 1
Mr.. Sennott an opportunity to address {
them in behalf Of Aaron d. Stevens aud
Albert Hazleit, condemned Harpers
Ferry insurgents. The correspondent
Of the New York Herald says the Sen
ate Chamber was very much crowded
during the delivery Of the address, which
was listened TO throughout with marked
attention. Among the auditors were
Gov. Letcher and many prominent mem
bers Of the Legislature. Every avail |
able space within the Senate Chamber
and the lobby was occupied, while the
gallery was equally crowded. Mr.. Sen
MOTIFS eloquence, however, proved una
vailing. The committee unanimously
resolved that it was inexpedient 10 IN
terfere, and so Stevens and Hazlett will
be hanged at the time appointed-Friday,
the 18th Of March.
The following is the concluding por-
ton of Mr.. Sennotfs address on this oc-
casion:
81 Gentlemen: Aaron D. Stevens, for
j. whom l beg bare reprieve-only few
more days of such light and air as dun
: geon affords him-is not an alien, or a
5 domestic foe or enemy of any such sort ;
a but a young man of our own stock, hand
9 some, powerful, youthful, indeed, scarce
= ly twenty-eight years of age. / cannot
s. ask you to pardon him. ! ask you mere.
IF ly to recommend reprieve. Your bare
8 recommendation viii probably save BIZ
d, life. Do it, gentlemen, for humanity
re sake, Do it for the credit Of our owl
st common America; do it for the credit 0
~ this grand old Commonwealth, and thanl
a heaven for affording you the opportunit.
a 10 cover with everlasting confusion thos
,e, malignant philanthropists who long 70
a another death, that in every corner
IS the civilized world, they may exhau:
a the resources of human language and tir
nv out the tongue of the speaker, blunt til
am pen Of the writer and wear out the penc
all of the artist in blackening and cursin
w. the noble Virginia name. Enough bloc
I, Is has been shed to wipe out the recorde
,a, sin of ten thousand crimes like his.
Ter Just one word-one little word-me
cy, the very word which is to die uPc
your own quivering lips when you emit
with awful misgivings into the present
of Him who is to forgive US, as we 70
~ give those who trespass against US. !
we forgive them Mercy-a word viii
VI costs you only heart to utter it; and y
- is of that divine force that it will not on
- save two lives, but it will surely ira
O0 quilize nation; and be the beginning
peace on earth and good will to me-
down to the remotest generations
American mankind!
ome And mercy is a word which Shot
,tes. drop easily from Yirginia's lips. "
and Commonwealth owes its being to an
not of mercy. Your founder, like my ellie
this vas a rash, enthusiastic invader of p
lned pie who never had harmed him. L
:. to Stevens, he was taken in the very act
,h;. invasion. Like him, be was tried "
ease all the solemnities of savage law, as
tr4a- vens was under the form of a civil
rally code; and was sentenced to death,
40 II cording to the profoundest maxims
,rties those poor barbarians who knew no
ter or safer way than always 10 kill
their enemiesi But he was saved
- mercy incarnate in that sweet Int
-. maid, whose image CLOVIS through
Il, twilight Of history in all the lovelest
oor of young romance! May the par
-. not fail US here in its noblest parts
,a,ion those whose hearts proudly beat arc
H.. me with the more than regal the
-. &c er than imperial blood of Pocahont
e remember that iIlustrious ancestor
mon day! May they emulate her mer
cd, spirit May they prove their pure
eso scent by their magnanimous act
500 May they not refuse to extend vii
,oo risk to young eountryman Who'll
- their power the mercy she risked he
-. to show to a stranger, an alien, an
60, enemy
His speech was not unfrequently
plauded.
ondent
stota- TUsCANY.-For the first time In
ee-ct turtles, Protestant schools are open
i II Tuscany. The Rev. Mr.. Macdo