Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-06-22


ana cruel he still continued. Finally,
ptop-ition was started that an attemp
| should be made to raise the other hal
OF the money in the city of New Yorh
! this proposal Summerfield uItimatel,
! Welded, but with extreme reluctancc
| II was agreed in committee that snouI,
accompany him thither, and take witt
me, in nv own possession, evidences O
the sums subscribed here that proper
| appeal should be made to the leadins
| capitalists, scholars and clergymen o
that metropolis, and that, when tn,
whole amount was raised, it be paid
over to Snmmerfild and a bond take,
from him never TO divulge his awful So.
cret to anv human being.
With this he seemed to be satisfied
and left us to prepare for his going the.
next morning.
A. soon as he left the apartment, ;hr
Bishop arose, and ''dcprecated the ac.
tIon that had been taken and character
ihed 1t as childish, and absurd lie de
clarcd that no man was safe one moment
whilst that diabelical wretch" still
lived; that the only security for us ALI
was in his immediate extirpstion from
the iace OF the earth, and that no amount
OF money could seal his lips. or close
his hands. 1t would be no crime. he
said. to deprive him OF the mean, of a.
sassinating the whole human family.
and that a> for himself he was for doom
ing him to immediate death.
with nnanlmity that WAS cxtraortli-
nary. the entire committee coincided.
great many plans were proposed
discussed and rejected, having in view
the cNterminatlon OF Summerticld. In
them all there was the want of that
proper caution which would lull the an
prchenslon~ of an encinv; for should he
lor an instant suspect trcacherv we
kncw his nature we'll enough to be sat
>fcd, that he would waive all ccremo-
mes aud carry his threats into immedi-
ate execution.
II was finally resolved that the trip to
New ork -iould not be abandoned. an
parcntlv. But that we were to start
ont III accordance with the original pro-
.rhnine that during the journey, some
proper means should be re.ortnd 10 b.,
me 10 carry ont the final intention, q!
the committee, and what ever | did
would b" sanctioned BY them all. and
iull protection both in law and con-
science afford rue in lny stage Of the
proceeding.
Nothing was wanting but NV own
consent but thi, was difficult to secure.
AZ the first view. it seemed 10 be- a
most horrible aud unwarrantable crime
~ deprive a fellow being OF life, under
amy circumstances; but especially so
where. in meeting hi. fate. no opportu
ufy WAS to be afforded him for prcpara-
80 l.
bri Pr" could Il ~a~sociate, IN my mind
th' two ideas of act aud intent. M
studies had long ago made me perfectly
.aHt!thr wdh thr doctrine Of the civil
lIw. ;Aat in order 10 constitute guilt.
there must toe uuiou of action and
intention. Takiug the property Of an
otA"r u npi THEFT, unless, at the law cr-
term N. ther" j. the animus furandI.
- IN homicide, life NAV he lawfully
'''~-. =" -oine Instances, whilst the dc.I
NAV be excused in Others. The sberia
hilSN the ieion, and depriyes him nf
existence Vet ubUUus lr...... ' VI
the officer of ,"r'''ier. The soldier .lay
nl- enemy, sutl the act Is considered
herolc.tl. II does not therefore follow
that human lic j. too sacred To be taken
ava, uudcr all circumstances. The
point to Ice con iderci wa, thus narrow
81 down intn one grand inquiry, whcth-
cr ~umrlertell WAS properly to be r,.-
4arird - hortiS humani ueueri- In.
euriuN oi the human race or not. II he
should lu~tls be - considered, then il
would mot uuI, bc not crime to XIII
him, but au act worthy OF the highest
coInncudltIon. Who blamed Mckcn-
I'm spr Aangiu. ~pcnc y 10 the yardAr1n
\ ~ IN Ill ca>c, the lives of uuly a small
sup : crew Wcr" IA jeopardy W no
cru trInued Psmpev for eXtellninatiug
thr pirates from The Adriatie! Yet III
m- vst-'. only "A small portion OF the Ro-
man Republic was liable To devastation.
" Au accuses Charlotte Cordav of a.
-.t--.natiuu tor -tabbiug Marut in hi.
n.th: >tlli her arm only saved th,.
lives ol a ieW thousand OF revolutions
art frcuchneH. And to come down to
our OWN times, who heaps accusation
upon the heads Of Lincoln, Thomas o..
Sheridan, OF even Grant, though in
marching to victory over crushed rebel
lun they deemed 1t necessary to wAd,
through sea, Oi human gore Ii socie-
"a hl- the right To defend itself from
the assault, ot criminals, who at best
can only DESTROY II few of it, members.
MnN should hesitate when il was ap-
parent that lhr destiny ot the globe IL
sclt hung in the balance: Ii Summer
tclI should live and carry out hi,
threats the whole world would feel the
~Hock; liz death was the only path to
perfect safety.
asked the privilege OF meditation
tor one h.ur, at The hands oil the COM
mittee, before | would render decision
lt.t
abuyc augmentation occupied nv
thoughts. Iht time expired and |
again presented myself before them (
did not deem it requisite to state the
grounds ot my decision; | briefly sigui-
lied my assent and made instant prcpar-
alton To carry the plan into execution.
Having passed on the line OF the
Pacific Railway more than once, was
perfectly familiar with all OF its wind
ngs, gorges and precipices.
selected Cape Horn Us the best
adapted To the purpose and the
public knows the rest.
Having been fully acquitted by two
tribunals OF the law, | make this final
appeal 70 my fellow men throughout the
/ STATE, aud ask them confidently not to
reverse the Judgments already pro-
/ nounccd.
! am conscious oil no guilt; feel no
reinorse; | need no repentance. For
( me Justice has no tcrrors aud conscience
! no ,ting. Let me be Judged solely by
/ The motives which actuated me, and the
| Importance oil the end Auconplished,
and | shall pass unscathed both tempo
| raj and eternal tribunals.
I LEoNIDAs PARKER
NoTE:-
Ihi, narrative is put before the publ,
| with the claim of truth; but SO extraordi
nary are its revelations that it would b
rejected without Il moments consideration
but for the high standing OF the gentlema
to whom reference is made The stor
having been doubted, the person VIII
furnished the manuscript makes secon'
statement, which concludes as follows =
But if the veracity of that report b
questioned by any honest inquirer afte
truth, and he will pay me visit at m
Office III this city, at No. 2l Wright street
adjoining the City Hall. will engage [
exhibit TO him the positive proofs of tn
]