Your earthly law
seals my lips; your black judgment-enough to make heaven frown and
earth tremble, fearing justice-crushes the man; but you cannot judge
the spirit. In fear and trembling your wrongs will travel broken
paths-give no man rest. I am guilty with you; I am innocent in
heaven. He who judgeth all things right, receives the innocent soul
into his bosom; and He will offer repentance to him who takes the
innocent life." He pauses, as his eye, with intense stare, rests
upon his honour.
"You are through?" enquires his honour, raising his eyebrows.
"In this court of justice," firmly replies the prisoner.
"Order in the court!" is echoed from several voices.
"Nicholas-Nicholas Grabguy! the offence for which you stand
convicted is one for which I might, according to the laws of the
land, pronounce a more awful sentence than the one now resolved
upon. But the advanced and enlightened spirit of the age calls for a
more humane manner of taking life and inflicting punishments. Never
before has it been my lot to pass sentence-although I have
pronounced the awful benediction on very many-on so valuable and
intelligent a slave. I regret your master's loss as much as I
sympathise with your condition; and yet I deplore the hardened and
defiant spirit you yet evince. And permit me here to say, that while
you manifest such an unyielding spirit there is no hope of pardon.
Nicholas! you have been tried before a tribunal of the land, by the
laws of your state, and found guilty by a tribunal of competent men.
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