Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-17
Speaker Penningso1r;=+A Melting
EnCident--Meltim Told.

Our neighbors of the Spectator are not
! the only Opposition editors who seem we'll
satisfied with the'5trning shame of the cleo
ton of Hlack Republican Speaker, andta
boring to persuade the South that all ig fight,
while every day brings intelligence Of some
new outrage perpetrated by the Republican
party on our rights and the Constitution.
The papers of Tuesd " 'aTeIing announced
that the Black Republican Governor of Iowa
had refused on paltry and groundless pre-
texts, to strrende, or to arrest, on the req-
uisit;dn Of the sovereign State of Virginia,
rcne Of the fugitive murderers Of Harper's
Ferry, who had sought and obtained an a
sylcm in that State. Tie Constitution of
that reasonable faction is known by all to
contemplate the FINAL and speedy overthrow
of Southern rights yet. on Tuesday morn
ing, the ''Starnton Spectator" Southern
organ, tells moving Incident in the "new
Speakers Life, from correspondent cfthe
Cincinnati Commercial, writing from Lex
ington, Ky, concluding thus: land here,
sir, where Mr.. Clay lived, his personal friends
are rejoiced that he (Penningtonl has been
honored with the speakership." The Incl
dent related was, that during Mr.. Clay's
pecuniary embarrassln in 1853, Mr..
Pennington was the agent selected BY some
Of his fTiends in the North, to carry the
money they had subscribed for his relief, tc
Lexington, and take up his notes IN bank !;
that Mr.. Pennington performed the mission
honestly, and that Mr.. Clay wept when he
was informed that all his debts had been
paid off by unknown friends. Now, if Mr.
Clay's friends about Lexington are rejoiced
that Mr.. Pennington has, for his agency in
this matter, heen elevated to the Speaker
ship Of The Eouse Of Representatives Of the
nation, with the blot of Black Republican
ism on his soul, then we can only say that
that pure and exalted statesman, though
dead, has taken care to leave unmistakable
evidence on record, that his personal friends
abott lexington are wholly unlike himself !;
for be has said that if ever the Wing party,
to which his Fife and labor had been so ably
devoted, should become abolitonized, he
would leave it forever. While then his
generous and grateful heart Nculd still have
loved the friends who had relieved his pri-
vate necessities, that love would only have
prompted tears of bitter sorrow aud shame
for their dcgeneracy and treason to the Con-
stitution-not joy at their increased capac-
ity for mischief. The moving incident re-
lated by the Spectator only proves that at
least one Clay Wing of 1916 has degenera-
ted into a Black Republican. How many
more have travelled the same road -
How many, even in the sunny South, are at
this moment urged en- by insane hatred to
Democracy to palliate The crimes of that
reasonable organization and to contemplate
union with the enemies of their domestic
peace, and the plotters Of the overthrow of
the blessed Union Let the editors of the
Spectator pause and consider.
CoNvIoTIoN OF HAzLErT -The following
dispatch from Charleston, Friday, gives an
account Of the closing Of the trial and con-
yiction Of Hazlett:
The attendance at court was very large,
in anticipation of the close ofthe case of the
Common wealth VS.. Hazlett. The argument
of the case commenced at half-past nine o.
clock, Mr.. Harding opening for the State.
He spoke for an hour and half, with con-
siderable ability and force. He was follow
ed by lawson Bolts, Esq who spoke fer
two hours, enchanting the attention Of the
crowded courtroom. by an able and ingeni-
Gus argument in behalf of his client. He
pointed out many discrepancies in the testi-
mony of various witnesses for the State,
claiming it had not made clear case, and
charging the Jury with their duty to give
the prisoner the benefit of doubt Mr..
Bolts concluded his argument at one o'clock
when recess of half an hour was taken.
Mr. Green commenced the closing argu-
ment for the defence at half-past one and
closed at half past four, having occupied
three hours in the delivery Of bis speech
The case Of the prisoner was presented in
the best possible light, and it is the general
opinion that Mr. Green's effort was the ablest
argument made since the commencement Of
the Harper's Ferry trials
sT Mr., Hunter closed Tor the Commonwealth
speaking nearly three hours, closing after
seven O'clock. The speech of Mr.. Hunter
was listened to with much attention, and
was one of great ability. Indeed, each of
the counsel seemed to have made every pre-
paration, and all the speeches were Of a high
order Of ability.
After the concluding argument for tie
State, the jury we're directed to 60 to their
room at tbs hotel, and court was adjourned
for the day.
SATURDAY MORNING. The jury came in
tJ court at talf-pa nine o'clock, and the
clerk propouuded the question whether they
had agreed upon verdict, to which the fore
man responded they had. The prisoner was
then sent for and brought into court. The
verdict of the jury was then announced which
was guilty of.mnrder in the first degree. .
The prisoner received the verdict with tie
same Indifference that has characterized his