The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-06-27

Inere spoke. lne man, tnaJ he coulu
not suppress, his too soft heart to ask
for conviction without the suggestion
that the Governor might pardon but
such was doubtful law. The jury
had no right to throw the responsible
ty Of pardon on the Governor, Unless
the State could convict under the law,
could establish guilt beyond reason
able doubt, including proof Of the
defendants sanity, their duty was to
acquit.
He read from Bishop that mo one
should be punished unless he deserves
punishment in pure retributive JUS
tice, unless thereby apublic good may
be done"
The speaker said he would stake all
he was, or hoped to be, on the purity
of life, on the character, of Edwin 7.
Johnson. He traced his young man
hood, his bright prospects, till all was
blighted drew picture Of his happy
home, his youth and health, till the
spoiler came and malevolent enemies
pursued him to the grave. What
volume of good words followed him
here! Dispositions from twenty-six Of
his neighbors, men like Joseph E.
Mcdonald, John G, New, Judge Ell
lott. He went over his official SER
vices in East Tennessee as agent OF
the Pension Bureau, bringing over a
million dollars into this State. Talk
Of cooling time, said the speaker, in a
case like this. You might as we'll lay
a mortal on the burning mari OF hell
for 1000 years and tell him to cooloff.
He wanted to know no man who could
ever cool off under such wrongs as
Johnson had suffered.
He read from human and divine law
to show that the seducer had always
been put to death. God always
avenged such an outrage, and what
instrument better than the husband?
His picture of the defendant home
before and after it was blighted was
strong and pathetic. The happy
homes of America we're heven's pledge
of Christianity and civilization.
Three years ago John Howard Payne
was brought from the coast of Africa
to Washington City. When his dust
was being exhumed representatives OF
every civilized land participated in
the service. England's proud flag
was there the cities of France, the
double-headed eagle of Austria, the
crescent of the Turks, and sweeter
than all the stars and stripes. The
broken coffin was raised. They gath
erred every atom Of dust they brought
to Washington City with long drawn
procession. Above it spoke the ora
tors tongue dipped in fire and they
laid John Howard Payne at last to
rest in the soil of our country, Why?
Because he wrote the one simple song
of Home, Sweet, Sweet Home
That song was sung in every circle Of
the globe. 1t started the tears in how
ell and palace in mountain and val
Hey he sang the song of home, inter
lpreting every human heart for it was
so wide OF application.
I "Be it ever SO humble there is no place like
home"
1t was mans sanctuary, and for two
hundred years, since the reign o
Charles II, no husband, father O.
brother had ever been punished TO
lslaying the vile wretch who had black
ened and blighted its portal. If JoI
| had been tormented as Johnson was
he would have cursed God and died
Jobs wife was not ruined and betray
ed. With all his Affections he wa
left his home circle pure, which h
afterwards rebuilt and restored. Re
viewing Old Testament history, whel
the man and woman were punished
and he showed that under Christ tn
punishment had only been modifie
in that it reunited the penalty to tn
woman, but never to the man.
Senator Voorhees, review of insar
lily as applied to the case at the ba
was terse and skillful, His closin
appeal to the jury and his plea 10
justice was greeted with applause i
spite OF the fact that that court ha
warned the spectators that he woul
impose heavy fine for such an o
Tense.
Later.--As we go to press we lear
that Johnson has been acquitted, tn
jury having returned a verdict OF nc
guilty.
ASlaams-COIridge Marriage.