The Rhode Island Republican

MISCELLANY
From the Albany Register
EXECUTION OF JAMES HAMILTON.

The unhappy, the unfortunate Hamilton,
has expiated his congregated iniquities by a
christian penance, and an ignominious death.
The untimely fate of the gallant Birdsall
called down deserved imprecations on the
head of his assassin, but his untoward and unprotected
situation, has extorted sympathy
from every feeling bosom. Illegitimate, old
abandoned as he was, by his natural parents,
he passed through a career of open and undisguised
vice, without an anxious Mother to
cultivate a barren mind and inculcate the
governing principles of youthful virtue, or a
watchful Father, to regulate and restrict a
heated and impetuous temper. From his
youth upwards, to the fatal act which terminated
his career, he has been involved in an
uninterrupted scene of vice; the best principles
of which, was imbibed in the city of
New-York, and progressed till finally matured
into the most hardened depravity while in
the army.

The crime which has now hurried him into
another world we are thoroughly persuaded,
notwithstanding former appearances, was
the impulse of an angry moment, and not deliberate
premeditated murder. He loaded
his rifle for the purpose of shooting a colored
man, with whom he had quarrelled, through
the legs, which he declares was his intention,
had the man not avoided him. That while
thus enraged, with his temper inflamed by
intoxication, he was called on parade in his
way, presenting himself before Major Birdsall,
who ordered him to his duty; his burning
passions baffled by the escape of the person
who enraged them, they became ungovernable,
& his revenge was insensibly wreaked
upon the innocent Birdsall. This account
he affirmed with every appearance of truth,
and with all the emphasis of christian penitence,
on the morning of his execution.

For the first few days of his confinement,
he remained in a state of complete phrensy,
without either reflecting upon the horrid
crime he had perpetrated, realizing the still
more horrid fate which awaited him, and after
recovering the use of his intellect, he fell into
a state of stupid insensibility waiting composedly
for annihilation; an irrational opinion he
had previously embraced, and for some time
after, tenaciously adhered to. The arguments
and persuasions of the Clergy who visited
him were urged in vain for many weeks.
Some weeks before his execution, a remarkable
revolution in his opinions and feelings
were discovered--he read the Bible almost
incessantly. The enormity of his crimes
were brought to his view in their most appalling
character. His anguish was bitter to the
extreme; and we are justified in saying he
drank the cup of remorse to the very dregs.
He sent for the Clergy and implored their
prayers and instructions, and we have his own
authority, that his three last days were the
happiest of his whole life.

Directly after his conviction, he sent for
his Counsel and gave a more and candid
history of his truly chequered life. - This
catalogue of crimes was put into a pamphlet,
and is before the public. His mind was never
stored with any principle of morality and he
declares no good motive ever actuated him
after--excepting a rigid respect and veneration
which he always cherished for old age.-He
was, while in the army, remarkable for cleanliness,
and even the last suit of clothes was
made to his own taste, he giving very particular
directions for each garment. The day
before the execution he spoke of the Judge,
the Jury, the Attorney General and District
Attorney, in terms of approbation, and took
an affectionate farewell of the latter gentleman,
remarking that he had done his duty
and that he (H) ought and was willing to die.

On the morning of the execution, the unfortunate
man was visited by the Revs. Stansbury,
Cumming Bradley and Chester. Mr.
Stansbury passed two hours in pious exhortation,
immediately after day light. He was
calm and possessed an unshaken hope of redemption.
Mr. Cumming administered
Christian consolation by prayer and instruction.
His cell resounded with devout supplications
and animated praises from the
dawn of day to the moment he left it for the
place of execution. The scene was irresistibly
affecting, and drew tears from every eye.
The man who had braved death in its most
appalling forms without a tremor, equally regardless
of human and heavenly laws was
now humbled to the very dust passive as
the lamb, and although on the verge of eternity,
serene, resigned, and happy beyond expression.

He dressed himself about 10 o'clock and
requested permission to visit the criminals in
other apartments with the intention of admonishing
them to shun the vices which had
brought him to an untimely end, but found
himself too much overcome to proceed, and
confided his wishes to Mr. Stansbury, who
addressed a few feeling remarks to them.
He returned and conversed without any restraint
or concern. He requested with much
earnestness that his body might have a decent
burial. He answered with much intelligence,
many important questions put by the
clergy. and gave satisfactory assurances of
having a correct view of what he relied upon
for future happiness.
About 1 o'clock he informed the Sheriff
he was ready and wished to go. At half-past
12 he left the prison, and having particularly
requested to walk, with a firm and soldierlike
precision kept exact time with the deathmarch
to his place of execution.--And here
a scene awaited him and many thousand spectators
which any attempt to portray would
but weaken. Here a trial awaited the ill fated
Hamilton which masters description, and
from which he must inevitably recoiled had
he not been buoyed up with the divine assurance
that for him "to die was gain."

Hamilton ascended the ladder to the scaffold
with the most perfect composure and resignation.
The Sheriff stood on the scaffold
on one side and Mr. Stansbury on the other.
A psalm was read and sung. Hamilton surveyed
attentively the multitude
Which surrounded him. After fervent and animated
appeal to the fountain of mercy, he requested
Mr. Stansbury to address the spectators in
his behalf, saying he was incapable of explaining
his belief, or expressing his sentiments
in proper language. Mr. S. addressed a
glowing and emphatic appeal to the spectators
in an audible and commanding voice.--
He spoke of the unhallowed crimes of the
condemned malefactor, and the ignominious
death they had brought him to, with peculiar
force and feeling. He gave an interesting
account of the state of his mind, and adverted
to the cause of the uncommon serenity and
composure which accompanied him to the
shameful death of the scaffold.--He called
their attention to a murderer, who then stood
on the brink of eternity, calm, tranquil and
inexpressibly happy, waiting with solicitude
for the last moment; asking, what but the
power and strength of the gospel could support
him in that awful situation? He concluded
by exhorting and supplicating sinners to
be what the condemned Hamilton was--
Christian penitent. Hamilton then requested
Mr. S. to warn them against the pernicious
and destructive effects of intemperance.
Another psalm was read and sung. Hamilton
then personally spoke, in substance thus :
--" My friends, I have due little to say to you.
I acknowledge the justice of the law and the
conduct of the civil officers in executing me
for the crime I have committed. I am ready
to die. I die in peace whole world. I am
perfectly happy. I cannot express my happiness,
so I bid you all farewell." His manner
while speaking, was mild and affectionate.
He took a feeling farewell of Mr. Stansbury,
Mr. Cumming, the Sheri. and some other
friends, and drew the cap, over his face.
shunning the light of earth from his view, as
he thought, forever ; but the wisdom of providence
ordered otherwise.--

The fatal rope refused its office--stranded
and let poor Hamilton to the ground ! Here
the situation of the unfortunate man was indescribable,
and here his firm and steadfast
soul looked unmoved upon a scene the most
shocking and revolting to humanity. Here
his manly fortitude and Christian resignation
called anguished sympathy from every human
heart.

He rose, examined a second rope, ascended
with the same unruffled calmness, the same
meek humble resignation, the same complacent
countenance; assisted the Sheriff in adjusting
the rope, replaced his cap, and waited
without a shadow of terror for the moment
which ushered him in an eternity !

The following was written and handed to us with
other manuscripts, with a request that they might
be published.

"TO THE PUBLIC.

" I now embrace these few moments which
are left me, so let you know that I die in
peace with all men. I harbor no antipathy
against any person on earth, and I pray any
one who I have injured will pardon me, as I
fully believe my blessed Redeemer will.

The usage I have received since I have
been in confinement, I cannot express my
gratitude for. I have been used well and
treated with humanity by the Sheriff and
Jailor. Had I been their own child I could
not have been treated with more tenderness.
They have been very attentive to my future
welfare, and have done all that laid in their
power. The Clergy have visited me by day
and by night, and instructed me in what concerns
my future state. Mr. Stansbury was
very much interested in my welfare, and
gave me good instruction and consolation, as
likewise did Mr. Chester and Mr. Cumming.
Although I thought Mr. Cummings my enemy,
I found him a great friend to me, and
very much interested in my behalf, and the
Clergy in general and the Sheriff and Jailer
and many good christian people have been
kind and attentive to me, and I James Hamilton,
do humbly and sincerely thank them all
for their prayers, and humbly pray to God
they may be heard in behalf of my guilty
soul, and I now die contented, relying upon
that blessed Jesus who died for the vilest sinners,
for salvation. Amen."
JAMES HAMILTON.
Albany Jail, Nov. 5.