THE HUNTINGDON GLOBE, A DEMOCRATIC FAMILY JOURNAL, DEVOTED TO LOCAL AND GENT ERAL NEWS, &C.
sumption of the defendant's innocence makes
the preponderance in his favor. Whether a
man is in insane or not is a matter of fact.—
What degree of insanity will relieve him
from responsibility, is a matter of law, the
jury finding the fact of the degree, too, un
der the instruction of the court. Murder can
be committed only by a sane man.
"Everybody is presumed to be sane who is
charged with a crime, but when evidence is
adduced that a prisoner is insane, and con
flicting testimony makes a question for the
jury, they are to decide it like every other
matter of fact, and if they should say or con
clude that there is uncertainty, that they can
not determine whether the defendant was or
is not so insane as to protect him, how can
they render a verdict that a sane man perpe
trated the crime, and no other can ? Nor is
this plain view of the question unsupported
by authority ? In the case of the Queen vs.
Ley, in 1840, Lewis, C. C. page 239, on a
preliminary trial to ascertain wether a de
fendant - was sufficiently sane to go before a
petit jury on an indictment, Bullock said to
the jury. "If there be a doubt as to the
prisoner's sanity, and the surgeon says it is
doubtful, you cannot say that he is in a fit
state to be put on trial."
" This opinion was approved in the case of
The People vs. Freeman, 4 Denio's Report,
page 9. This is a strong case, for the witness
did not say the prisoner was insane, but only
that it was doubtful - whether it was so or
not. The humane, and, I will add, just doc
trine, that a reasonable doubt should avail a
prisoner, belongs to a defence of insanity, as
much, in my opinion, as to any other matter
of fact." I believe, gentlemen, that that an
swers all the questions.
As the Judge delivered his decision not a
word was lost on the jury, counsel, or audi
ence. Every one in the crowded court room
seemed to drink in every word; and glances
of intelligence—now betokening satisfaction
and now dissatisfaction—passed from counte
nance to countenance as a point seemed to be
decided for or against the prisoner.
As the Judge ended, Mr. Brady stepped
from his position near the dock, and whis
pered a word in Mr. Clinton's ear. Mr. Clin
ton rose and said : If it please the court, I
rise to renew the proposition which we made
on Friday last—to submit the case to the
jury without further discussion.
The District Attorney, half rising from his
seat, we accept it.
Mr. Clinton I was going on to remark, that
I had the happiness to believe, from what
was said on that occasion, that this proposi
tion would be accepted. But I merely wish
to state to the court, that I make it with the
concurrence of all the counsel for the defence
and of course, with the entire approbation of
the prisoner. And, while with some of your
Honor's ruling we may not be entirely sat
isfied, yet we most respectfully submit. We
think that it is due to every one connected
with this trial, and more especially to the
jury to commit this case now to their hands,
that they may be relieved, as early as possi
ble, of the very onerous duty which has been
imposed upon them.
The District Attorney. On the part of the
prosecution, we concur entirely in the propo
sition just made, and on the instructions giv
en by your Honor. We submit the case now
to the consideration of the jury.
Mr. Brady. With the effect of your Hon
or's ruling I am entirely satisfied.
The District Attorney. No discussion, if
you please.
Mr. Brady (looking pleasantly at the jury.)
I would not inflict such punishment on the
jury.
The Judge. Mr. Marshal give the indict
ment to the jury.
The indictment was handed to Mr. Reason
Arnold, and the jury retired to their consul
tation rooms.
[ln this District the juror first sworn is
not the foreman. The foreman is chosen by
the jury itself, and in this case the selection
rested with reason on Mr. Arnold, one of the
oldest and most intelligent-looking men in
the body.]
THE JURY RETIRE-INCIDENTS IN TEE COURT
The retiring of the jury, at ten minutes be
fore two, was the signal for throwing off the
restraint which had, up to this time, weighed
upon every one in the court. Lawyers, offi
cers, spectators and all seemed to think them
selves at liberty to talk as much as they
pleased, and to give vent to their feelings
and impressions. All got to their feet and
indulged in conversation. Many crowded
round the dock to cheer and support Mr.
Sickles in this—
" The pregnant moment of his fate."
Among those who gathered around Mr.
Sickles, was an estimable clergyman of this
city, Rev. Dr. Sunderland, of the Fourth
Presbyterian Church, who, taking Mr. Sick
les by the hand, said :
"Sir—l came to express to you my heart
felt sympathy, and to say that if the voice of
the people of this city could speak at this
moment, your acquittal would be instanta
neous. In case, however, an adverse ver
dict should be rendered, be assured that you
have hearts around you, and mine not the
least warm of them, to sustain you in your
affliction."
Mr. Sickles was much moved by this inci
dent, and expressed his thanks as well as his
emotion would permit him.
As time wore on, the noise and confusion
grew greater, and the Judge, in a good na
tured manner, remarked, that, although un
der the present circumstances he could not
expect the audience to keep silence, he hoped
there would be a slight regard for the place
where they were.
As the minutes grew into quarters and
half hours there was sonic expression of dis
appointment on the part of many, who
thought the jury should not have retired at
all, much less spend any time in consulta
tion. It could not be said, however, that
there was any straining anxiety or appre
hension exhibited, although Mr. Clinton re
marked that if the jury remained over thirty
minutes, it would be a " hung," or disagree
ing jury. But the jury did remain in, not
thirty but seventy minutes, and did not ver
ify the prediction.
The clock struck three, and before the
sound bad passed away there was a move
ment at the door by which the jury had re
tired, indicative of their being on the point of
re-entering the court room.
TIM JURY RETURN-VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.
The doors opened. The deputy marshal
calls out to make room for the Jury. In they
come, one by one, and proceed to take their
seats in the box. There is one general move
ment in the crowded court room to get a look
at their faces. All restraint is forgotten.--
Benches, and forms, and tables are mounted
by the most excited or most venturesome,
and "Isere they come" is heard hurriedly
spoken on all sides.
ROOM
- Then there is a succession of cries of "Down
in front !" " Get off the benches I" " Sit
down !" " Silence in the court !" " Order !
Order!"
But it seemed impossible to restore order
till the Judge directed the clerk to call the
names of the jury.
The uproar instantly subsided, and as the
clerk called the jurors, and they severally
responded—one of the officers calling out
their number—when the twelfth name was
called and responded to, a pin might have
been heard to drop in the suddenly stilled
crowd.
The jury all standing.
The clerk said; Daniel E. Sickles, stand up,
and look to the jury.
Mr. Sickles stood up.
Mr. Clerk. How say you, gentlemen ?
Have you agreed to your verdict ?
Mr. Arnold. We have.
Mr. Clerk. How say you ? Do you find
the prisoner at the bar guilty or not guilty ?
Mr. Arnold. NOT GUILTY.
THE CLOSING SCENES.
As these words fell from the lips of the
foreman there was one loud, wild, thrilling,
tumultuous burry sent up by the spectators.
Cheer after cheer was responded to in the
court room, and was taken up by the multi
tude on the outside and repeated. Hats and
handkerchiefs were waved, and there was
one general rush toward the dock.
In the midst of the uproar the stentorian
voice of Mr. Stanton was heard addressing
the court in these words : " I move that Mr.
Sickles be iliocharged from custody."
Marshal Belden. Come to order, gentle
men I Come to order ! This is a place where
there should be no noise.
No one paid attention to the old Marshal.
Mr. Stanton (boiling over with excitement.)
In the name of Mr. Sickles, and of his coun
sel, I desire to return thanks to the jury.
Judge Crawford (who was the only person
in the court not excited.) Mr. Stanton, wait
till the verdict is recorded.
Mr. Stanton. Of course, your Honor.—
You must excuse excitement on this occa
sion.
The clerk to the jury. Your record is,
gentlemen, that you find Daniel E. Sickles
not guilty ?
The jury nodded affirmatively.
The clerk. And so say you all ?
Another affirmative nod from the jury.
Mr. Stanton. I now move that Mr. Sick
les be discharged from custody.
Judge Crawford. The court so orders it.
Mr. Stanton (turning round.) Now go it.
The Judge. No noise.
The prohibition was unheeded.
Mr. Sickles, amid the renewed cheers of
the audience, was taken out of the dock by
Captain Wiley and Mr. Brega. The former,
who is one of Mr. Sickles' most devoted
friends, kissed him at the moment of his de
liverance, and held fast by him as they tried
to make their way to the door. It was slow
work, for congratulations, earnest, loud, and
frankly pressed, saluted Mr. Sickles at all
points, and though strong emotion was ex
hibited in the swollen veins of his temples,
his eye was calm and steady, and the effort
which he manifestly made to retain calmness
and composure was successful. His expres
sion betrayed no feeling of joy, but was
rather that of a man who felt conscious that
he had run no risk, and that the trial through
which be had passed could have had no other
result. It was some minutes before he reach
ed the jury -box, which lay on his road to the
door. The jury evinced a desire to congrat
ulate him, and he stepped over the forms to
meet their salutations, which were heartily
tendered.
The counsel for the defence also exchanged
compliments and congratulations with the
jurors.
Finally, by dint of much crushing and
great exertion, a passage to the door was af
fected. So soon as he was recognized from
the outside, the cheers were again taken up.
Mr. Shaw, of the Yew York Herald, had
rushed down to the National Hotel as the ju
ry returned, and jumping on the driver's box,
drove up a hack to the court house. All the
hackmen on the stand, and at Brown's, fol
lowed his example, and there was nearly a
score of carriages at the City Hall, as Mr.
Sickles came out. The news ran like wild
fire through the city, and from all sides crowds
ware hurrying up to the same point. The
excitement was as intense as it was instanta
neous.
As he stepped down the stone stairs of the
City Hall, surrounded and supported by his
immediate personal friends, he was enthusi
astically cheered. Calls were made for a
speech. With considerable exertion, for he
was fast becoming faint, he was got into one
of the numerous carriages in waiting. In
the same carriage were Messrs. Graham, Wi
lay and Brown, of New York.
A movement was made by the crowd to
take the horses out of the carriage, and to
draw it themselves, but the movement was
detected in time, and prevented.
Finally, the carriage drove away, followed
by many others, and by an immense crowd.
Mr. Sickles was taken to the house of Mr.
Mcßlair, next door to his former residence.
Messrs. Brady, Meagher, Stewart, and Sav
age, were in the carriage that followed im
mediately after. In another were Leut. Mau
ry and Messrs. Stanton, Clinton and Magru
der. In another were Mr. Sickles' father,
Dr. Morehead, and Messrs. Wikoff and Bre
ga.
_
There were some dozen other carriages fol
lowing. As the cavalcade drove along at
railroad speed through the streets, it was
greeted with loud cheers. Thousands of peo
ple were gathered in front of Mr. Mcßlair's
residence, and continued to come and go
throughout the remainder of the evening.
It is said that Mr. Sickles will remain in
Washington for a week.
HOW THE VERDICT IS RECEIVED-TIIE CAUSE OF
THE DETENTION OF THE JURY.
There is a general and decidedly strong
feeling of satisfaction among all classes at
the result of the Sickles trial.
The jury would have rendered a verdict
immediately after the case was submitted to
them, but for the fact that one of the number
desired a short time for deliberation.
The court, owing to the fatigue incident on
the trial, adjourned till Monday . next, to
which time the grand and petit Juries bad
been discharged.
It is that when the jury retired one of them
withdrew into a corner, and on his knees in
voked Divine guidance. Ile then got up, en
tered into consultation, and again retired to
the corner, and finally rose with his mind
fully made up in favor of an acquittal.
MR. SICKLES' COUNSEL SERENADED.
Mr. Sickles' counsel were to-night compli
mented by a serenade.
A large crowd gathered before the Nation
al Hotel, when Messrs. Stanton, Brady, Ma
gruder and Clinton, briefly returned thanks.
The last named, requested the assemblage to
forego their intention to serenade Mr. Sickles.
It is only necessary to say, that that gentle
man wished to rest undisturbed. He was
sure this appeal would be respected.
Mr. Graham and Mr. Meagher were loud
ly called for, but were not present.
The crowd proceeded to serenade Rev. Dr.
Haley and the jurors.
THE JURY-EXPRESSION OF THEIR FRIVA_E SEN-
TIDIENTS.
Nine or ten of the jurors in the Sickles tri
al came to Mr. Brady's parlor in the "Na
tional," after all was over, and there, in the
freedom of unrestrained conversation, ex
pressed their real sentiments.
One 4;)f them, Mr. McDarmott, said :
" I want you, sir, to tell the people of
New York, that the citizens of Washington,
are not behind those of any other part of the
country in their devotion to the family alter."
And yet this juror was spoken of all through
the trial, as one who would probably dissent
from the rest.
Mr. Arnold, the foreman, after an Affec
tionate greeting with Mr. Stanton, expressed
his gratification that he had lived to render
such a verdict. The same juror, in congrat
ulating Mr. Sickles, said he hoped and be
lieved that the great God would acquit him
as the jury had done.
Mr. Hopkins, another of the jury, and the
wag and mimic among them, expressed him
self in regard to the justification of Mr. Sick
les' act, said he would not for himself have
been satisfied with a Derringer or revolver,
but would like to have brought a howitzer
to bear on the seducer.
THE EFFECT OF THE FIDDLE ON JURY
Another of the jurors, a young man, nam
ed Knight, brought with him his fiddle, with
which he had been in the habit of solacing
himself and his fellows during the long even
ings of their seclusion, and played several
airs. He, too, had been regarded with sus
picion, because of certain "Know-Nothing"
antecedents. "But," says Mr. Brady, "if
we had known that he played the fiddle, we
might have made our minds easy, for no fid
dler was ever known to find a conviction of
murder."
The foreman, Mr. Arnold, said that his
only fear had been that his health might not
last him throughout the trial ; and that he
hoped his latest posterity would honor his
memory, from his having served on this jury.
In fact, the sentiments of the jury, indi
vidually expressed in this unrestrained con
versation, were but a familiar and homely
illustration of the opinion contained in their
formal verdict of "Not guilty."
TLIE EFFECT C,F VIE VERDICT ON TUE COUNSEL
The emotions of the counsel ; when the jury
returned their verdict, were manifested in
various ways.
Mr. Brady, in spite of all his experience
as a criminal lawyer, became pale, nervous
and agitated.
Mr. Stanton, unable to repress the emo
tions of his big heart, is described as having
almost rivalled David when he danced before
the ark of the tabernacle. •
The usual stolidity of Mr. Phillips gave
way, and covering his face with his hands he
wept like a child.
Mr. Magruder, Mr. Ratcliffe and Mr. Chil
ton pressed forward and greeted their libera
ted. client, and Mr. Meagher, in the exuber
ance of his Irish heart, clapped people on the
back and asked if it was not glorious.
Mr. Graham was passive and undemonstra
tire, but was one of the first to welcome his
client back to freedom.
The very jailor wept, and could not under
stand Mr. Meagher when he condoled with
him on losing his tenant.
The District Attorney, Mr. Ould, said he
thought it would be so, and his associate, Mr.
Carlisle, avoided the scene.
A Woman and Three Children Walk
Barefooted Ninety Miles
The Cincinnati Gazette of Saturday fur
nishes the following :
Yesterday forenoon a woman apparently
about thirty years of age, accompanied by a
little boy six years old, a girl of four, and a
niece of fifteen were found walking upon the
levee, through the drenching rain, their thin
and time worn garments scarce covering their
nakedness. Mr. John Baker, the wharf mas
ter, kindly invited them into the wharf-boat,
built up a rousing fire, and made them as
comfortable as circumstances would permit.
lie then learned from the woman that she
was from Bracken county, Ky., and was on
her way to Pittsburgh, where her parents re
side, with her two children and orphan niece.
Her husband went to California some years
ago, and died there. The woman had strug
gled on in poverty, until she was at length
compelled to return to her former home in
rags.
Without shoes to cover their feet, the four
walked the entire way to Lexington, a dis
tance of ninety mires. How weary and foot
sore, and faint and hungered they became, it
is useless to describe. At Lexington they
were kindly forwarded by railroad to Louis
ville, and from that point reached this city
by boat, through the generosity of the com
mander. When found upon the wharf by
Mr. Baker, they were in search of a Pitts
burgh boat, in hopes to get passage to that
city.
The facts became known to Capt. Fisher,
who proceeded to his residence, and his lady
furnished a liberal supply of under garments
and warm wrappers for the woman and girls,
and they were soon comfortably clad in de
cent garments. The case was reported to the
Sons of Malta, who promptly responded with
their accustomed liberality. Two or three of
the members visited the woman, and after
hearing her story, took the whole party to a
store, and furnished each with a pair of shoes,
and gave the mother eight dollars in money,
after procuring a passage for the four upon a
boat to Pittsburgh, whither they will go to
day.
THE SUICIDE "DODGE."-A. man, calling
himself Lamartine, is wandering through the
West and raising funds, by pretendihg to
commit suicide. Ile takes laudanum and
sends for a doctor and clergyman. They
come to him and find a letter in his room in
the most pathetic style of suicide literature.
Ile states that his poverty is the cause of the
rash act. lie is restored with difficulty, and
sympathetic people raise a purse for him, and
ho departs. He raised $25 in this way last
week at Dayton and $4O at Sandusky, and
departed with a " free pass" on the railroad,
to commit suicide at some other place.
ter We learn that the publishers of Web
ster's Unabridged Dictionary have in press
a new edition of that work, with fifteen hun
dred pictorial illustrations ; several thous
and new words added to the vocabulary, A
table of synonyms by Prof. Goodrich, and
other new features. It is to appear, we un
derstand, at an early day, and will be looked
for with much interest.
THE GLOBE.
Circulation—the largest in the count✓.
gi3JIEVI.IEDOE, PL 1
Wednesday, May 4, 1859.
LANDS ! BLANKS ! BLANKS !
CONSTABLE'S SALES, ATTACIPT EXECUTIONS,
ATTACHMENTS, EXECUTIONS,
SUMMONS, DEEDS,
SUBPCENAS, MORTGAGES,
SCHOOL ORDERS, JUDGMENT NOTES,
LEASES FOR HOUSES, NATURALIZATION WES.,
COMMON BONDS, JUDGMENT BONDS,
ARRANTS, FEE BILLS,
NOTES, with a waiver of the $3OO Law.
JUDGMENT NOTES, with a waiver of the $3OO Law.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT, with Teachers.
MARRIAGE CERTIFICATES, for Justices of the Peace
and Ministers of the Gospel.
COMPLAINT, WARRANT, and COMMITMENT, in case
of Assault and Battery, and Affray.
SCIERE FACIAS, to recover amount of Judgment.
COLLECTORS' RECEIPTS, for State, OSunty, School,
Borough, and Township Taxes.
Printed on superior paper. and for sale at the Office of
the HUNTINGDON GLOBE.
BLANKS, of every description, printed to order, neatly,
at short notice, and on good Paper.
.READ THE NEW .A.DYEI?TISEME.YTS..
Aar. The State Committee appointed at
the last Democratic State Convention meets
at Altoona to-day. The action of the Com
mittee will be made public through the col
umns of the Globe next week.
rElr. It is amusing to us to hear the bark
ing of slaves to party right or wrong—slaves
to their office-holding power that is now crush
ing to earth the dearest rights of a free peo
ple. To advocate organization, without prin
ciple, is a submission to the will of a few dic
tators too contemptible to be thought of for
a moment. When we can be convinced that
the success of Wright and Rowe would not be
claimed as an endorsement of Buchanan's
corrupt administration, we may support them
—but not till then—the remonstrances of the
"whipped in" to the contrary notwithstand
ing.
"The Huntingdon Globe is the only Demo
cratic paper in the Juniata Valley, that refu
ses to hoist the names of Wright and Rowe."
—Hollidaysburg Democratic Standard.
Perhaps the Globe is the only Democratic
paper in the Juniata Valley that dare refuse
to hoist the names of Wright and Rowe. It
holds no office under Mr. Buchanan, or any
of his Cabinet officers. Can the Standard
and the rest of the Democratic papers in the
Juniata Valley say as much ? Perhaps, Mr.
Standard, if you did not hold the office of
mail carrier, at - a fat dollar a day, you would
be mum, as you were before you got the of
fice. We are sorry you must swallow the dose,
or lose your office.
The Next National Democratic Conven-
tion Repudiatea in the South.
The following resolutions passed at a Dem
ocratic meeting at Cahawba, Alabama, on
the 16th ultimo :
"Resolved, That we utterly repudiate Stephen A. Doug
las and his Abolition heresy, that a Territorial Legislature
may prohibit slavery by native legislation.
"Resolved, That under no circumstances will we sup
port Stephen A. Douglas for the Presidency, if nominated
by the Charleston Convention."
Of course, the above resolutions were adop
ted at an Administration meeting, composed
of men who stand upon the new platform at
tempted to be interpolated into the creed of
the Democratic party by Mr. BUCHANAN.-
The administration men in this region look
to Charleston as the Mecca of their hopes,
pledging themselves in advance to submit to
its decision, and ruling out of the Democrat
ic party all who suggest the contingency of a
refusal by that body to re-adopt and re-assert
the well-known principles of the Democratic
party; but the Administrationists of Alabama
take time by the forelock, and declare in ad
vance that they will not support Stephen A.
Douglas if nominated by the Charleston Con
vention, because of his "Abolition heresy,
that a Territorial Legislature may prohibit
slavery by native legislation." The language
of this threat is consistent with the language
of the extreme disunion papers of the South,
most of which have proclaimed the same sen
timent.
What is this "Abolition heresy," that a,
Territorial Legislature may prohibit slavery ?
If we have read the history of politics for the
last ten years, it seems to us that the Democ
racy of Alabama supported General Cass in
1848, after his Nicholson letter, in which he
enunciated this "Abolition heresy" previous
to his nomination, and which was adopted as
a cardinal principle in the Democratic plat
form, by the Baltimore Convention of that
year. This same "Abolition heresy" was in
corporated into the Compromise Measures of
1850, and adopted by the Baltimore Conven
tion, in 1852, as a fundamental article of our
faith, and was ratified by the people of Ala
bama, as well as by the people of the whole
Union, in the election of Franklin Pierce to
the Presidency. A careful review of the de
bates and votes in Congress upon the adop
tion of the Compromise Measures in 1850
will show that this "Abolition heresy" was
not incorporated into these measures by acci
dent or oversight, but was the result of ma
ture deliberation and a full and thorough dis
cussion of the whole subject, in which the
proposition was made to adopt the principle
of non-action by the Territorial Legislature,
as now advocated by the organ at Washing
ton, and, upon a direct vote, was rejected by
a large majority of the friends of those meas
ures, including both Northern and Southern
men.
The new doctrine of a Congressional slave
code for the Territories was also proposed and
advocated by Mr. Jefferson Davis, 'during
that same debate, and rejected by a decided vote
Of the Senate, upon the yeas and nays ; and
after a discussion extending from the Bth of
May, to the 31st of July, of that year, can
vassing every shade and phrase of this ques
tion, the Senate, by a vote of 33 to 18, struck
out the clause prohibiting the Legislature of
the Territory from legislating upon the sub
ject of slavery, and adopted the principle
that they might legislate upon all subjects
of rightful legislation consistent with the Con
stitution of the United States, "not excepting
slavery." Again, in 1854, when it became
necessary to organize the Territories of Kan
sas and Nebraska, taking the Compromise
Measures of 1850 as the model, this same
"Abolition heresy" was incorporated into that
bill in the precise language of the acts of 18-
50, with a clause still more emphatic, in
which it was declared to be "the true intent
and meaning of the act not to legislate sla
very into any State or Territory, nor to ex
clude it therefrom, but to leave the people
thereof perfectly free to form and regulate
their domestic institutions in their own way,
subject only to the Constitution of the United
States."
By reference to the Cincinnati platform it
will be found that the party there, by a unan
imous vote of all the delegates from each of
the States in the Union, declared their adhe
rence to the principle involved in this "Abo
lition heresy," as adopted in 1850, and said
that it was rightly applied in the Kansas-Ne
braska act of 1854. It now stands, therefore,
as a fundamental article in the Democratic
creed. Mr. Buchanan having been nomina
ted as the candidate of the party by the Cin
cinnati Convention, in his letter of acceptance
declared that he not only accepted the nomi
nation, but with it the platform of principle
adopted by the Convention ; and, referring to
the Kansas-Nebraska act, which had received
the support of every Democratic member of
both houses of Congress, and the unanimous
endorsement of the Convention, he said that—
"THIS LEGISLATION IS FOUNDED UPON PRINCIPLES AS AN
CIENT AS FREE GOVER'N3IENT ITSELF, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THEM HAS SIMPLY DECLARED THAT THE PEOPLE OF A TERRI
TORY, LIKE THOSE OF A STATE, SHALL DECIDE FOR
THEMSELVES WHETHER SLAVERY SHALL OR
SHALL NOT EXIST WITHIN THELR LIMITS."
This letter of acceptance embodies the very
essence of this "Abolition heresy," for the
support of which the Democracy of Alabama
now denounce Senator Douglas, and proclaim
their purpose to bolt the Charleston nominee
in the event of his receiving the nomination.
We desire to remind the Democracy of Al
abama that they supported James Buchan
an in 1856, standing, as he did, emphatically
and explicitly, the champion of this identi
cal "Abolition heresy."
It will be seen from the resolutions quoted
above, that the Administration men of the
South not only hold in reserve their support
of the nominees of the Charleston Covention,
but expressly declare that they will not sup
port a man who stands on the same platform
upon which Mr. Buchanan was elected.
The State-rights Democracy of Pennsylva
nia, in their righteous revolt against the des
potisms and treacheries of the Federal Ad
ministration, have done nothing more than
to insist that that Administration should
stand by the Cincinnati platform, as accepted
by the North and South—in other words, that
Mr. Buchanan's original ground stated in his
letter of acceptance, and restated in his in
augural address, should be maintaind by
himself. Yet, because we have done this,
The Constitution (alias the Union) daily at
tacks those men in Pennsylvania who refuse
to tolerate an Administration which surren
ders a great Democratic principle. Now,
that paper well knows that the language of
these Alabama resolutions is the language of
a large body of Administration men in the
South—men who have declared, publicly and
privately, that they will not support Judge
Douglas, because he stands by the principle
upon which James Buchanan was elected to
the Presidency ; and yet we have to see the
first line either in The Union, as conducted
by Mr. Wendell, or in The Constitution, as
conducted by the Court fool, General Bow
man, in condemnation or repudiation of these
men. In fact, it is now well understood that
it is the policy of the Administration to stand
by regular nominations and support regular
nominees when they represent and will carry
out their views, and to bolt and break up the
organization whenever and wherever they are
out-voted, whether it be in County, State, or
National Conventions.— The .Press.
The Democratic States Rights' Conven-
At present we will merely say, that, in our
opinion, the movement is one which will have
an important bearing on the democratic par
ty of Pennsylvania, and we solemnly believe
that the Convention which assembled on the
16th of March, is responsible for any ill ef
fects which may follow. It is all idle to talk
about the repudiation of Governor Packer be
ing a personal matter, and we are astonished
at the silliness of the Presses which attempt
to hoodwink the Anti-Lecompton democracy
with such subterfuges. We did expect to see
more manhood evinced ; we wished to hear
things called by their right names ; we desi
red to see them assume the consequences of
their own acts. The fact that Anti-Lecomp
ton democrats voted against the resolution
endorsing Gov. Preker, simply shows either
that they had•not brains enough to perceive
the insult, or were wanting in the courage to
resent it. For our part we have been from
the first for conciliation and compromise ; but
we cannot conciliate at the expense of our
manhood.
The Lecompton controversy was dead really
as to any practical bearing which it could
have on the political action of the country,
and bad the Convention of the 16th of March
desired, it could have buried it beyond the
hopes of resurrection; but that Convention
stirred up its putrid corpse, and now the gen
tlemanly noses of the delegates must not
shrink if they do occasionally get a whiff of
the effluvia which it emits. It was in the
power of that Convention to have harmonized
the conflicting elements, by doing a simple
act of justice to Gov. Packer, but it let the
golden opportunity pass by unimproved, and
now it must not be permitted to shirk the
responsibility. Charges of corruption against
Gov. Packer, come with a bad grace from the
especial defenders of the National Adminis
tration, in the face of the facts which have
been developed by the late Congressional in
vestigating committees, and the homely adage
of people living in glass houses not throwing
stones, might have been remembered with
advantage.—Ebensburg Mountaineer.
Attacks on Governor Packer
The only ground of attack which the Bu
chanan party have upon Gov. Packer, is that
he considered himself bound by a verbal as
sent to the transfer of the Delaware division,
when the law required a written one. The
written assent was, of course, given before the
transfer was complete ; but they allege that
between the times when the verbal and writ
ten assents were given, an offer of more mon
ey was made, and the Governor should have
withdrawn his verbal assent, by which more
money would have gone into the treasury._
As he did not do so, they infer corruption.—
The speech of Judge Knox, in the 13th of
April Convention, explains this so satisfacto
rily that we do not feel called upon to say
one word on the subject. The object of this
article is simply to express our astonishment
that no attack was made by these honest gen
tlemen at the time and still further that
they should feel called upon to assail Gov.
Packer so fiercely upon this solitary objection
to his Administration—a mere surmise, after
all—when they overlook entirely a fact which
is patent to them—printed and published to
the world—that the Federal Government, in
nearly all its departments, is full of corrup
tion ; that the treasury has been robbed of
tion
hundreds of thousands—perhaps of millions
of money—and all this with the knowledge
and assent of those who are the sworn guar
dians of the National weal, the President
and his Cabinet officers. This known corrup
tion they wink at, but assail Gov. Packer on
mere suspicion, although his whole life is a
guaranty that he was not benefitted one
dollar by the transfer. These facts are suffi
cient to convince any unprejudiced mind that
the objection they urge against the Governor
is a mere pretext, and that his real and only
offence, the one for which he is abused and
villified, is the expression of his anti-Leconzp
ton sentiments in his inaugural and in his
message to the last legislature.
The Governor may well feel proud that in
his whole political career, running over a pe
riod of many years, during which he has
filled some of the most important offices in
the State, suck enemies, so bitter and unscru
pulous, can pick but a single flaw, and that
an imaginary one, got up for the occasion, to
cover the true ground of attack. It is the
Democracy,. and not the corruption of the
Governor, against which these Buchanan
Federalists war.—Harrisburg State Sentinel.
Buchanan Democracy
It is more than mortifying, it is agonizing,
to true Democrats to look upon some of tho
men who now assume the leadership of what
was once the Democracy.
We have neither time nor inclination to go
over the whole list of worthies whom Bu
chanan's apostacy has thrown upon the sur
face ; but there are two of them whom we
will note.
Robert Tyler, who is now at the head of
the Buchanan Democracy, was conspicuous in
1844 as the chief counsellor of a very insig
nificant National Convention, held at Balti
more, for the purpose of awing the Demo
cratic National Convention, held there at the
same time, into the nomination of his august
father, the then accidental President of the
United States. He is a worthy leader of the
State Buchanan Democracy.
VINCENT L. BRADFORD, somewhat
conspicuous now as a leader of the Philadel
phia corruptionist branch of the party, at
tended the George Law Convention in New
York, in 1856, and made a speech at the As
tor House, the object of which was to secure
the nomination of Corn. Stockton, as the only
man who could beat Buchanan. Ile is anoth
er worthy Democratic leader.
Thus, the sturdy old Federalist, at the
head of the National Administration, is rap
idly gathering around him leaders and sub
leaders of his own stamp and character.
For thirty years he acted the hypocrite in
the Democratic party, in order to obtain a
position which would give him the power
to carry out his cherished desire to destroy
21.
lle has obtained that position ;
and having
long since let out that solitary "drop" in his
own veins, is now engaged in most bloody
surgery on the party, driving his lance into
the jugular at every thrust, shedding not
" drops," but streams of blood, until there
is scarcely a "drop" left in the whole party.
In every section he is gathering under his
banner renegades and Federalists as his lieu
tenants, and every step his Administration
advances brings it nearer and nearer to good,
old-fashioned, John Adams, black-cockade
Federalism. With what joy his heart must
beat as he contemplates his close approxima
tion to success, the cherished object of a long
life of hypocricy, the demoralization, disor
ganization, and disruption of the Democratic
party. The last scene—when all shall be
accomplished—we can compare to nothing
but the feast of Mokanna. The silver veil
will then be lifted, and the dupes who have
followed his standard will start back aghast
and horrified at the deformity which they
have worshipped as a god.—Harrisburg State
Sentinel.
TE E HARRISBURG PATRIOT &
When Governor Packer was elected, he was
regarded in the eyes of this virtuous journal,
as a model man and Democrat. Without
since having varied a single hair from the
platform upon which he was chosen ; and
without having uttered a single sentiment, or
favored a single measure, but in accordance
with his antecedents, he is turned upon and
made the target for the most unscrupulous
and groundless charges, and the bitterest
vituperation. And why ? Because one of
the proprietors was superseded in an office, at
the expiration of his term, by the proprietor
of another Democratic journal 1 While Gov.
Packer remains true to his principles, and
carries out scrupulously the programme as
originally laid down, his quondam extollers,
but present revilers, have wilfully back
slided.
Judge Knox, the Attorney-General, who
stands now, where be always stood upon
public questions, is also singled out and made
the object of the most vindictive assaults.—
To know this gentleman is an all-sufficient vin
dication of his character against these un
mitigated slanders. His remarkable faith
fulness upon the bench of our highest court
of judicature; his long-tried and well-sus
tained integrity through many years of pub
lic life in trusts of high responsibility ; to
gether with his acknowledged social position
—testify, trumpet-tongue, to the baselessness
of the assaults which mercenary newspa
pers of late directed against him. Here,
where he has resided for several years, and
where he is, perhaps, most intimately known,
his assailants are regarded with the same de
gree of contempt, that their attacks are dis
regarded by himself.--Germantown Tele
graph.
EXCITEMENT AT NEW ORLEANS.—Count Me
jan, the French consul at New Orleans, has
been arrested by Recorder Summer, of that
city, charged with assisting in the escape or
concealing a fugitive slave, named Edmond,
who claims to be a French citizen, and who
is also claimed by Capt. Riles, of the ship
" Patouk," to be his slave. The Count denies
that he concealed the slave Edmond, and,
moreover, contends that the Recorder had no
power to arrest him, because ho is a repre
sentative of France. He declares that he
will not submit to the warrant issued by the
Recorder for his arrest, unless compelled by
force. The Recorder, notwithstanding, sent
an officer to arrest the consul. He was seized
by the collar, and then went, accompanied
by counsel, to the police court, where his
lawyer filed a protest against the whole pro
ceeding. He was then discharged by Recor
der Summer, on his own recognizance. The
arrest of Mr. Mejan has drawn out a vigor
ous protest from the British, Spanish, Prus
sian and Belgian consuls at the port. The
act is regarded as an infringement of the
privileges and rights of consuls.
miff- See advertisement of Dr. Sanford's
Liver Invigorator in another column.