Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1873-10-21

and relatives. lest he should meet with
insult if not personal outrage, in his transit
from the railway station 10 bis house. The
excitement had scarcely abated when the
two cases came up for trial. In the first
Mr. Seward endeavored to procure y
postponemeut. but il was in vain. The
popular feeling would not submit to it.
With the utmost difficulty were persons
found fitted 10 make jury. The argu.
ment rested ON the insanity OF the prisoner
but it carried no weight. Within month
the convict wus tried. condemned and
executed. In this instance Mr. Seward
had performed his part in the regular
course OF professional service. But when
| the offence of the wrelched creature Free
man was about TO be submitted To the
consideration OF the court, it Immediately
appeared that uot soul OF the lu sc
! crowd present entertained the smallest
sympathy for him. lie was told that he
might have The assistance of counsel, II
he would ask Tor it. His answer indi-
Gated utter ignorance ol the meaning OF
the words. Under such circumstances,
what was to be done to comply with the
forms of law? There was 4 solemn
pause in that thronged assembly. At last
the silence was broken by the judge who
addressing the professional men before
him, asked in hopeless tone, "Will any
one defend this man."
And here again was breathless pause.
broken ut last by quiet movement OF
solitary man. as he rose in his place, who
in the face of that eager crowd briefly
replied. MAY it please the court. / will
appear rs counsel for the prisoner.
This volunteer was William Henry
Seward. the vciy man whom the excited
multitude had already warned nal TO
in,erpose 10 defend him.
know not what others may think oI
this simple picture. but in my humble
view. it presents u scene of moral sub.
lmity rarely TO be met with in the paths
OF our ordinary existence. At this junct.
urc, had William IL. Seward been found
at night anywhere alone and unprotected
by the powerful law abiding habits OF the
region about him. his body would prob
ably have been discovered in the morning
hanging from the next tree. What motive
could have impelled him 10 encounter 50
much Indignation for this act ? He had
been not all nsen ,ible to the pleasure Of
popularity in public life. Here he was
not only injuring his own interests but
those OF The party with which he was
associated In vain did it labor io dis
ayuw nl connection or sympathy with
him. The press on all sides Numbered
its dcnuncintions over his head. The
elections all went one way. The demo.
cratic party came sweepinsly into the
ascendency. And all about the lite OF
negro idiot! think 10 not exaggcratc
in EXPIRES ,ing my humble opinion that the
argument in the defence is one OF the
most eloquent ever made in the language.
have no limo TO dwell on ii further than
to quote few passages, assigning his
reason for his conduct: For William
Freeman, as a murderer, have no per-
mission TO speak. II he had silver and
gold accumulated, with the irugAlity Of
CrUsus and should pour it all at my feet,
| would not stand an hour between him
and his avenger. But tor the innocent,
it is my right it is my duty--to speak.
II this sea OF blood was iHH0ceHtly shed,
then il is my duty to stand beside him.
until his steps lose their hold upon the
scalTold
Thou shalt not KILL" is Il command
ment addressed not to him alone. but TO
me. to you, to the court and TO the whole
community. There are no exceptions
from that command. at least, in ciyi! lie,
save those of .ell defence, and capital
punishment tor crime in the due and jus:
administration OF the law. There IS not
only question, then, whether the prison
er has she'd the blood of his fellow. man,
but the question whether we shall unlaw
fully shed his blood. | should be guilty
OF murder if in my present relation, |
i'm, Tor
man, and Jailed to say, or failed to do, in
his behalf, all that my ability allowed"
and again he says: Il am arraigned
before YOU for undue manifestations of
zeal aud excitement. My answer to all
such charges shall be brief. When this
cause shall have been committed TO you,
| shall bc happy indeed if it shall appear
that my only error has been that | have
felt TOO much, thought too intensely. or
acted too faithfully" But the significant
and most eloquent passage is this: 81
plead not for murderer. / have no in.
ducement. no motive TO do 50. have
addlessed my fellow citizens in many
various relations, when reward of wealth
and fame awaited ME. | have been
cheered on other occasions by manifesto.
tions of popular appreciation and sym.
pathy and where there was no such
encouragement. | had ut least the graft
tude OF him whose cPuse | defended.
But speak now in the hearing OF people
who have prejudged the prisoner, and
condemned me for pleading in his behalf
He is a convict, II pauper, negro with
out intellect, sense or emotion Ny