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746 X. ‘AMERICAN STATE TRIALS.

present. The time will come when this world will be as noth-
ing to you: when its opinions, its struggles, and ite varied in-
teresta will hold no more place in your thoughts than last
year’s clouds; when memory invested with preternatural
power will array before your mental gaze every action of your
past lives, Then, gentlemen, at that awful moment, believe
me, this verdict will not be forgotten; and if you have given
it without due conviction of its justice, it will lie with the
weight of mountains upon your souls. Let me conjure you,
then, as you revere the majesty of truth; let me entreat you,
ag you venerate that Being in whose presence you must one
day stand, to come to this trial with minds ‘‘awept and gar-
nished.’’ Judge by the law and the facts before you; grant
nothing to prejudice; let no bias warp your minds. I do not
ask you to give a verdict in behalf of the prisoners, but in be-
half of truth. Such a verdict as, in the closing scenes of this
mortal existence, will inflict no convulsive spasms of remorse
upon your souls.

November 20.
MR. CHILD FOE THE PRISONERS.

Mr. Child. Gentlemen of the jury: Any question which in-
volves the life of a human being should be approached by
those who were to decide his fate, with deep feelings of re-
ligious awe. How much ought those feelings to operate on
the present occasion! The jury are called upon to decide 4
ease of ag much consequence as any ever decided by twelve
men, since the institution of this form of trial They are
placed in a situation most awfully responsible. They are
made the vicegerents of God, and the lives and destines of
twelve fellow beings, twelve of the sons of God were placed
at their disposal. By their decision these persons might be
made to suffer, not only the pangs of the parting of soul and
body, but that in a manner of all others the most revolting.
They had here before them a most extreordinary spectacle.
One of these very persons before them, now arraigned for life
or death, had once saved the livea of those who made this

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