Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1882-07-04
Hanging Of Gniteau.


Chas. J. Guiteau was hanged in Wash
ington on last Friday, and we believe it
was great mistake; for we believe he
was an insane man, and that such will
be the opinion not only of posterity, but
even Of the present generation, when
passion shall subside and reason resume
its sway over the minds ofthe people,
This view is not popular at this time,
but we believe it to be true, and, conse-
quently, have not hesitated so to express
ourselves; for in the expression of our
opinions we do not consult popular pref
udice, but express our honest convic.
tions, let the result be what it may. We
believe Guiteau to have been insane, and
that his execution was the result of pop
ular prejudice and public clamor, and
that the American people will yet re-
greet that their Government hanged an
insane man.
CONGRESSMAN A THIEF.-Under this
caption q few weeks since, we men
toned the fact that the Courier-Joawnal
charged Mackey, of S. G., who has re-
Gently been seated in the place of Dib-
BILE by the Republicans of Congress,
with being a thief-that whilst living
in Nebraska, before removing to s. c.,
he stole goods, and confessed his guilt
by paying for them when the theft was
charged upon him. This charge is made
boldly by the Courier-Joaural, and we
have seen no contradiction of it. If not
true, why does not Mackey or his friends
deny it? The Valley Virgi,aian of last
week, wishing to relieve Mackey of this
grave charge, does not furnish any evil
dence in denial of the charge in refer
ence to his conduct in Nebraska, but
publishes an extract from a letter of
S. G. correspondent of the Augusta (Ga.)
Chronicle and Constitattionalist. who
says that "his private character as to
money matters is good" We hope that
his conduct in s. G. is better than 1t was
Nebraska as charged by the Courier
Journal.
We certainly have no disposition to
do Mackey or 'any other man" any in.
justice, and when the Valley Virginian
or any other paper will furnish us with
satisfactory evidence that the charge of
the CoMier-J Journal is false, we will
take pleasure in publishing it. The S.
G., correspondent, quoted by the Vir-
.gi'aian, says nothing of his conduct in
Nebraska before his removal to S. c.,
and is, consequently, no denial of the
charge of theft in Nebraska. Let us
have a denial of this specific charge and
the evidence.
GUIrEAU.-The last Valley Vrginian
has two articles in reference to Guiteau
which seem to be inconsistent, as one of
them represents him as "cold- blooded
murderer" and the other as an insane
man.
In one article it says -
"The cold. blooded murderer has been
given every resource of the law to escape
the gallows, but twelve intelligent and
sworn jurors, after hearing evidence and
argument, decided that he ought to be
hanged, and the President proposes to
respect that patient verdict, and the
American people viii say, amen
In the other, it says
"Whatever may be the final determi
nation, the calm judgement of the Am
erican people has doubtless been con
WINGED of Guiteau's insanity. His ex
ecution, if it should take place, anC
there is little doubt of it now, will ap-
pease the clamor of the thoughtless, but
will not tend to inspire an increased con-
fidence in the Determinations of courts
and juries."
We think the Vrginian agrees with
us in the opinion that Guiteau is insane
and that he is victim of popular pref
udice, and that it was great mistake
to condemn him to be hanged. THAI
this will be the conclusion after thu
''sober second thought" we have nc
doubt, and we will live to regret thai
such action was taken as, in the Ian
guage ofthe Virginaam, Twill not tend tt
inspire an increased confidence in the
determinations of courts and juries.
We think it shame that Government
like ours should hang an insane man.
I" IL