The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-13
The Nationality Of New York.

The popular sentiment in New York may be
judged of by the necessity of such an apology
as this, which we find in the journal of Com.
merce.
Mr. CoMMIssIoEER MoRroY.-The enthusiasm
of men is always admirable in a good cause, auC
sometimes so in a bad cause, where the enthusi
asst is honest and sincere, and is not led to ex
travagance, which is injurious to others. But il
is manifest that the attacks of Freesoil and Abo
lition enthusiasts made on Mr.. Morton, the very
able and excellent clerk Of the United States
district court in this city, based on alleged mis-.
conduct in the rendition of fugitive from sav.
cry to his owner partake of the nature of the
unreasonable extravaganza alluded to.
This gentleman is one Of the most popular
officers in the courts of our city, and has been
uniformly distinguished for a clear understand.
ing Of his duty, and of the law he has occasion
10 practice under, as well M for uncommon
urbanity and attention TO all persons desiring
his aid, or applying 10. him on business in his
Office.
IL is not the first case in which parties inter.
ested, have been heard loudly to abuse courts
deciding against their interests; but such per-
sons do moi al,0dys find newspapers reddl 10 make
their complaints public oithota pay.
Simply because such persons" have not suf.
ficient influence and power in the State to select
two Of their way of thinking as senators in
Congress.
But the Journal, after making an elaborate
defence for the commissioner for merely doing
his duty, presents this paralell--and no doubt
deems it a bold thing to do so
The contrast between this case and murder
case recently tried in this city, is forcibe. Ir
the latter case, Chat of Carnel.) the Judge in
structed the jury that the distinction on which
their finding the man guilty Of murder, or les,
offence, depended was thus and so. The Jury
found him guilty, and the Judge sentenced hin
TO be hung by the neck I'LL he was dead, anc
formally handed him over 10 the sheriff to b,
executed. No crowd of philanthropists called
for vengeance on the judge, no enthusiasts called
him fool o. villain, no newspapers went out owe
the whole country blazonng his name as that o
bloodthrsty wretch who had wantonly auC
most unjustly consigi ed his fellow.man TO
painful and disgraceful death, and therefore on,
to be held in universal detestation. No on
called him murderer, assassin, or any such name
A higher court pronounced his opinion errone
Gus, and stated that he had erred in telling tn
jury what constituted murder, and the paper
chronicled the decision as an item of news, AM
nothing more. The judge had done his dut
fully, and had only erred in judgment
But the commissioner in this case remand
the fugitive 10 slavery, and sends him where hi
right of appeal to the courts is good, and wher
he may, II free, establish his claim to freedom
and for so doing, the commissioner is made IN
object of assault from hundred fanatics
sources, and the error which they seek TO sho,
in bis judgment, is made the basis Of crusad
against his character. Office, and everything bC
his life.
We hope he will survive the onset