He remarked that he intended to have revised and corrected what he had written—that some things had better been omitted—that there was some things in it which would please some, and which others would be sorry to see. I replied that the essential thing was, that they should be true, and he said yes. During the whole interview he was entirely composed, except when he spoke of the little pittance that he could leave for his children, when he was considerably moved, and wished me to say to his brother to take care and not be too selfish with them. I carried away the writing without examining it or knowing its contents, till all was over with Enos G. Dudley for this world, and he had gone before that God to whose final judgment he, with so much apparent confidence appealed. The greater part of the book is made up of Mr. Dudley’s account of the trial and his comments upon the testimony—and so much is here given as appears to have been written the morning before the execution.
C. R. MORRISON.
May 23, 1849.
I am not the first innocent victim that has wrongfully been hurried from this to another world, through the prejudice of public opinion. I am only one among the many that have been thrown from existence on a charge of guess work and false supposition, and the falsehood that always attends supposition, where prejudice dethrones and becomes the master of the government. There is not much trouble in gaining victory against the innocent, however falsely charged. The charge against me has been perfectly false, falsely sustained by false testimony. Yet, although I am just about to be hurled from time to eternity, a curse forbidden both by the New and Old Testament, Deut. 17, ii, viii. &c.—yet I am innocent of the charge—innocently convicted, innocently sent into the presence of that God who knows every thought, even of the human heart, thank God, too, that there is nothing hid, and that my final sentence is not to be passed by the base rabble of false witness, nor the base conjecture of supposition.
At that bar I stand an innocent man, and I hope all who have lent their acts or voice in favor of such an achievement will not hide under the witnesses, but remember they are accountable for lending their aid or voice in favor of a course that is repugnant to the Scriptures. These are given us for our guide, and they that lend their influence in favor of a law repugnant to the Scriptures, inasmuch as they deny the requirements of the Bible, disown the truth therein contained, deny them as their rule and guide and assent to take the life they cannot give.
O, may not such think they are innocent to take the life that God has given and forbid others to take it away—though we may flee to that law that was given to the Jews, which was bounded, inside the land of Canaan, imposed on no other people but the Jews, and those that dwelt in their land, and still we fail to support a case of conjecture, Deut. ii, viii, &c. Then, when we assent to take human life in a manner forbidden in this law even, do we consent that the law is not good, and which God gave? Certainly we do—and refuse to give it place in our hearts. But I forgive all.
I hope that all will seek for pardon at the hand of mercy, and hereafter be more careful to secure the rights of the innocent, and sure to detect the false testimony, guard themselves against prejudice, give reason its throne, and let justice find its place in every heart. I am glad this morning to tell all, my faith is unshaken; I have no doubt to enjoy a home in Heaven, again to reunite in singing praise to God in a more perfect world than this. Bless the Lord. So I bid a long farewell until we meet at the bar of God.
ENOS G. DUDLEY.