New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-05-20


employed the services Of Col. w. to pro.
cure from Nh Willis any letters which b.
might have received from the lady. Now.
according to Col. Webb's philosophy, the
rationale Of Mr.. WilliS's dislike to him
lies in the knowledge which he thus &C.
CURED Of Mr.. VS. iniquity. =" | know"
says Col. Webb. in substance, bow bad
a man Mr. Willis ia, and could a. any
moment blast whatever good name be pos-
ses.es in this community. Therefore, Mr..
w. hates NE, and takes convenient on
portunity TO DO me gross public iniary.'.
There appears, to our eye, a grieyous
bitch in Col. Webo's logic hsreabouts
ard Mr.. Wilis's card. published ia Satur-
days Tribune, deepers the impressiou.-
But we have no opinion as to the merits Of
the quarrel, whatever We may think Of
the logic on either side, and We therefore
do rot mean TO express any. We wish to
saw word or two on collateral questions,
which, to the public, are Of more import
auce than anything connected with the
personal disputes Of 10 matter what in
dividuals.
In the first place, why should aq0auel
like this ever insult the public gazel We
certainly have no enmity to either of the
gentlemen implicated. They both possess
agreeable end eslimable qualities knownO
ali their friends, and are doubtless both
much better potentially than either hasyst
proved actually. But we have no hosita-
ton in say ing that the sole damage which
either party has done by his publications,
has been done 10 himself exclusively.
| Mr.. Willi,'s assault upon Col. Webb ia the
first instance. Suggested 10 no one with
whom we copversed any thing but aston.
ishment at his own faculty Of Pharissc Vi
tuperation, End disgust at the meannes'
with which it had been exercised. Wede-
cidedly liked Webb all the better for it.
! And now the lattei's counter blast, al
though he felt himself 10 doubt greatly
provoked, is yet so meanly and purely re-
vengeful es quite to shame US out of
that tender liking. Decidedly, had we
it in our power TO injure dog so
fatally as that We should prefer to leap in
the dock first. How much more where
man was in question, ard that man the hus-
band Of an innocent wife, the father Of in
nocent and dependent children Clearly
then, every man who paTades a private
complaint against another before the COM
munity, gains nothing by his motion BAT
public contempt.
In the second place, why is the fact thus!
Why do men inStinctively side, so far at
least as the assailant is concerned, with the
person assailed, even when the charges are
demonstrably founded in fact Because their
instincts ofjustce teach them, that however
evilone may be, no other mans good ought
to grow by that Circumstance. The instinct
of human unity, or humanity, is so strong
| In us, that when We see one man bringing
homo an imputation of evil TO another,
we insist that it be done with all tender
ness and fraternal reluctance. Ii it be
done with an cir Of triumph, if the party
discover any desire to enhance bis own
virtue by the contrast of his brothers
shane, we consign him at once to the
bottomless abyss of infamy. 1t is for this
reason that men have such a quick scent
of Pharisaism, and discern the int4lllDlc
carbon under the thickest wrappsges Of
custom. IL is for this reason, too, that We
loathe so bitterly the technical informsr' ia
comparison with whom cOckroaches are
clean, and pismires indebted. And out 0,
the same instinct comes the tradltionl
hatred Of hangmsn, and the complete So
cial taboo which befals their families 10
countries where the Office is hereditary.
Thus humanity-human unity-is al
ways true to itself. 1t will have iniquity
pointed out, not for the degradation Of the
offender, but only for his correction, that
he may become instinct and replete witha
msnlier life than the mere cunning Of tho
senses prompts. Above all things, IL will
rot allow it for the advantage Of the IN
| former; because, inasmuch as our common
humanity is the source and measure Of
every individuals worth, it is evident that
no member can enjoy tho fall Pertecaon
Of his nature while sny other member -
imperfect. In this divine bond, where ore
member is weak, all suffer; and, again.
each is strong with the strength Of all.