American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-24

Crime walks Abroad.
There has perhaps never been a time In whch
crime abounded more In our country than at
the present moment Not newspaper can be
taken up that does not contain the record Of
some new and startling deed Of violence. We
are not fond Of the horrible, and do not wan
tonly parade before our readers the records Of
these things but ut times il is necessary to
yield to the popular demand, and to recite the
horrid narratives.
We were gratifed to perceive the very gen.
eral condemnation by the press Of the late high
handed measures at San Francisco and more
recently, the tone Of the press in abiding to
the New Orleans duel told most forcibly that
the object Of the duellists ambition, the APP
plause Of men, would not be attained, but that
the popular condemnation was upon the act
Hatred and revenge are feelings too mean and
despicable to be plead in mitigation Of the yio-
lation Of both the municipal and divine law;
and the only other incentive of the duelist--
the hope Of fame-has passed away as mist be-
fore the sun.
Every effort was made at New Orleans by the
ministers Of the law to prevent the murderous
meeting, but without effect The parties cir
cumvented the legal authorities Of the country,
and achieved murder
There was a parallel case to this in Washing
ton few months ago. A meeting between
Messrs. Stanley and Clingman was by every
one expected; and as no one attends to every
body's business, the parties would have been
uninterrupted had not Walter Lenox, the Mayor
OF the city, moved by sentiments for which we
shall ever honor him, upon his own testimony
before justice Of the peace, caused the arrest
Of MIR. Stanley. We were present when this
gentleman stood before the magistrate, and the
respect we entertained for him made us regret
the eyasive character Of his conduct. He,
however, got off without being bound over, and
went to the field Of blood and made whole his
honor!
Respecting the New Orleans case, we quote
the following from letter in the Philadelphia
Ledger, from correspondent at the former
city:
"By presentment Of the Grand Jury, war
rants are out for the arrest of DIR. Hunt for
murder, the two seconds and the two assistants,
as accessories before the fact As yet, none
have been taken; as they would have to lay in |
prison till the fall, it is likely they will keep |
out Of the State.
The law against duelling, by the new con- |
sttution, is very severe. This has almost made |
it dead letter, as many duels have taken place
since its enactment; but as the several parties
were not injured, no notice was taken Of them.
This being the first resulting in death, il will
probably now be put in force, at least hope
so-for, during the last three months, not a
day has passed without murder, or an attempt
to kill, being recorded in the papers.
"Capital punishment, by public opinion has
almost become obsolete here, and have written
that way myself; but from the practical work
ing, of turning murderers loose, | am now con-
WINGED that, however brutal it may be, the
thought Of dangling in the air would be some
restraint on the desperadoes Of these parts"
This writer's logic is very peculiar. He thinks
the severity of the law against dueling makes it
a nullity, and causes duels to be tolerated but
he is convinced that the thought of dangling in
the air would be some restraint on desperadoes
The latest outrage Of which we have heard is
thus briefly given in telegraphic despatch.
VERSAILLES, KY, July 18, p. m.-0ur vii
lage to-day has been the scene Of an awful ira
gedy. St. Clair j. Buford, of this county, in n
rencontre with George w. Carter, former sheriff,
was killed, and Carter was SO injured that he is
not expected to survive. Carter was, in the
morning, horribly mutilated and beaten with
stick, and so disabled that he was taken TO his
room; and both being summoned In the after
noon at the courthouse, for trial, Buford APP
peared before the court. In the afternoon the
parties met, when Carter drew pistol and shot |
Buford dead on the spot"
1t will here be perceived (although the word
ing is ambiguous) that the parties were Of
prominent position in the community, and that
fendish revenge was paramount with them,
and its qualification no doubt believed to be i'm
PEELED by a sense of honorl
The WORK OF REFORM MUST BEGIN IN HIGH
PLACES.