Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-07-07
GOVERNOR sAULsBURYs DEFENSE Ri
QUIRE8 THE ABUSE OF OTHERS.

Rev. Dr.spottswood, Sheriff Jacob Richardson,
and Andrew @ Gray, Esq, are three reputable
gentlemen of this county, who, II our informa-
tion at tho time was correct, t,pettioned Governor
Salisbury for the reprieve of the man Carpenter,
hung some months ago, at New Castle. They
were joined by numerous other citizens, whose
names do not now occur to US, but which could
readily be obtained, If 1t were necessary. These
petitioners earnestly asked of DR.. Salisbury the
interposition Of his authority as Governor.
Again, at Dover, In the case Of the man Darnell,
other leading gentlemen Of that town, among
whom we may casually nameu Hon. Joseph p
Comegys, Jas.L. walcott, ESD. ,hnd J. Alexander
Fulton, Esq, together with a large number OF
respectable citizens, asked for areprieye.
Now all these gentlemen are Democrats, and
have upheld, doubtless, tho general policy Of
their party, in opposition to the emancipation
and enfranchisement Of the colored people.
They would not go 80 far as Governor salisbury,
we trust, (and the cases quoted are proof of
IT'D in opposition to the rights Of black man,
but they have, at all times voted for men who
have resisted, inch by inch, his progress from
Bondage to full Freedom. Yet,with this position
on political questions, they did not sink the
common feelings of humanity, when the life Of
human being was at stake, and so asked for a
reprieve, petitioned for it, urged it; while Gov
ernor Salisbury, immovable in his prejudices,
deaf to petitions, did sink those feelings. He
could promptly interfere for the release Of a
white man who was undeniable guilty Of shoot
ing negro, but, where the culprit was black,
however doubtful his guilt, he would not stir one
finger of his hand even when the best men Of
his own party plead with him.
In view of these facts. what does the Gazette
mean by its coarse and violent abuse of all who
sympathized with the efforts to obtain at least
temporary respite for Darnell and Carpenter ?
In its issue of the LIST instant, it says:
"When white men can in horrible infatua-
ton damning fanaticsm; and an unholy
thirst for power; thus repudiate their own race
propositions can they appeal to the people OF this
State for support and political success'"
We laugh at this railing, but do Messrs.spotts-
wood, Gray and Comegys3 Because they saw
fit to do an act Of Christian kindness and
humanity, where the object was man of color,
are they to be tried at the bar of Governor
Saulsbury's narrow preiudices, and thus violently
assaed by his party organs2 Are they to bear
in silence the still further reference Of the
Gazette:
"Where is the man who does not turn away
in horror and disgust from this maintenance and
encouragement to negro murderers-and toorseT'
We repeat that the record Of his own action
shows that there is no mercy for black man, in
the policy Of Governor Salisbury. Acting with
most conspicuous and inappropriate-sha we
not say indecent-partiality, in the case OF the
guilty Register, he sent the unfortunate weak
minded, and probably innocent black men to their
promptdeath, though personal and party friends,
whose worth he could not bnt know, begged
otherwise. Is this Christian? Is this conduct
appropriate to the Chief Magistrate of Chris
tian community ? What an unfortunate defence
Of it are the i-tempered and coarse revilings of
his newspaper, which, to cover his moral delin-
quency finds it necessary to bitterly assail such
mon as Rev. DIR. spottswood, Ex-senator Come
gys, and the scores of other petitioners.