Verses on Abraham Morhouse

Near Hudson's lucid stream, all on a rock alone, Columbia's genius sat, and pensive made her moan; The briny tear ran trickling down amain, Her heaving breast express'd her inward pain; The laurel wreath her sapient temples bound, With rage she tore, and dash'd it on the ground: At length I saw her raise her streaming eyes, To Heav'n, with lifted hands, the Goddess cries: I see my country's fate once happy land Where truth and justice once went hand in hand: My children's rights was guarded by good laws, Mercy give judgement—truth first tried the cause; It ne'er was known a man condemn'd to die On groundless evidence for forgery; Laws should be founded on—true equity: No life fell victim—to a Judas' tribe, Who'd sell his brother for a paltry bribe. By such base means—behold! with pitying eye, One of my sons, unhappy youth! must die. Young Morhouse, whom a Judas did betray, A murd'ring witness swore his life away: A villain, who poor Purdy's blood did shed, Branded by justice, from Nova-Scotia fled. Fly, villain fly! thou ne'er can'st have rest, Corrosive guilt lies cank'ring in thy breast; Lamented youth, adieu I mourn thy fall, May Heav'n the dreadful sentence yet recall; May justice give to each their due reward, May Morehouse live—may virtue be his guard, To use that life aright—if once bestow'd, May Ott, detested, tread the Tyburn road. This is my wish, oh Heav'n! in mercy hear, Columbia cry'd and shed the friendly tear.