Alexandria Gazette

Indignation Meeting in Richmond.

Agreeably to public notice, the citizens of Richmond assembled on Friday evening, in the City Hall, for the purpose of expressing their indignation at the recent act of the Executive in commuting the punishment of Jordan Hatcher, a slave, condemned to be executed for the murder of Mr. W. F. Jackson.

William Gray, esq., was called upon to preside, and J. W. Lewellyn, esq., appointed Secretary.

Mr. Mayo being called upon, rose and addressed the meeting, expressing his regret at the course Gov. Johnson had thought proper to adopt.

The meeting was also addressed by Messrs. W. F. Watson and McLaughlin, of Alexandria, both of whom recommended coolness, reflection, and a calm consideration of the merits of the case, before expressing an opinion.

Mr. Watson offered a resolution proposing the appointment of a committee, whose duty it should be to wait upon the Governor, obtain the papers, signatures, &c., which had been presented to him in behalf of commuting the punishment of the convict, and report to an adjourned meeting of the citizens.

This proposition was received with marked displeasure by the meeting, and upon being put to the vote was rejected, by an overwhelming majority.

Col. J. W. Stovall being called upon, then rose, and addressed the meeting, urging the citizens to the expression of an opinion condemnatory of the recent course of the Executive.

He was followed by Mr. Geo. R. Peake, who submitted a resolution for the adoption of the meeting, which asserted that in commuting the punishment of the convict, the Governor "had abused the high trust confided to him by the people of Virginia, and had given encouragement to insubordination—a course which demanded at the hands of the people of Virginia an expression of their indignant censure." This resolution was carried by acclamation, and then the meeting adjourned.—Rich. Times.