The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1854-05-04
Moral OF the ward Tragedy.

Moral OF the Ward Tragedy.
This exciting tragic event which has just
transpired, it 10 to be hoped in all its parts,
seems likely to form an epoch of no inconsid-
cradle moment in the history of social life. as
well a. in the annals of criminal jurisPru-
dence.
The names of MATT. WARD. the HARDIN
JURY and WIN. II. G.. BUTLER are now reg
is,ered upon the public mind, and associated
with considerations of the highest magnitude
that can affect the sacredness of social and
civil rights, or the safety of human life. We
need not reiterate the melancholy facts
which swell this event into the importance
which necessarily attaches to it. They are
all before the world, and the world bushes to
give them place in its history. The human
heart quails in disgust to treasure their mourn
full record in its memory. Nevertheless they
are henceforth to drape our historic page in
mourning, and be entered upon our judicial
records. The baser passions of human ma
tutC bpCut luClI Wuubou wv" s"SA' -"
offensive victim, and outraged humanity and
its laws. Still further are humanity and Its
protective edicts offended and disgraced BY
the gratuitous judicial sanction of the high
est offence known to the laws of God or man.
The trial by jury. the boosted invention of
human wisdom and progress. has been basely
prostituted, and instead offul6ling its high
mission as the conservator of peace and the
dispenser of equal justice among men, it is
made the apologist and excuser Of vice and
crime. Our neighbors in Kentucky feel the
outrage and the disgrace which it entails per.
haps more keenly than the public at large.
The great mass of the people of Kentucky
are justly indignant that SO foul a stigma
should be fastened upon their social and civil
character, by a few representatives of an
ephemera!, self-exalted circle, who view hon.
est and humble worth as their legitimate
prey, upon whom to satiate their thirst for
blood upon the least real or imaginary provo
cation. Kentucky sees clearly her unfortu-
nate position, as the late universal express
ions of indignation emphatically DECLARE
Her citizens see and know that an attrocous
murder was committed in their midst-that
one OF their most estimable citizens was slain,
and as they believe without shadow of cause.
To these facts all must assent. The II ur-
derer himself, his parents and his warmest
friends oil agree to the killing, which the law
Of the land makes MURDER foul, black and
unmitigated murder!! The people of Ken
lucky have witnessed the humiliating spec
tacle of their ablest, and by them most hon.
ored citizens and statesmen descend from
their high places in the councils Of the ma
ton. to aid with their high talents and infu-
ence to defeat the ends of justice by the sub
formation Of witnesses, bribing of jurors, and
advocating known perjury with the most SOL
smn asseverations, to screen murderer from
the just penalty which the law inAicts. Ken
tuckians exclaim at the results of such cor.
Shane to make such admission! And a
worse disgrace that the criminal code of Ken
lucky has ever been so badly administered!
The antecedents of Kentucky criminal law
are bad; and the public sentiment which toll
crates their existence and permitted them to
rule in the recent case is even more crimi-
nal! But in the case under consideration,
the law was not in fault. The case had to be
tried and adjudicated Without law, else justice
would have triumphed, and the guilty mur.
derer would have been punished naughty
"pimp" Of the fishy circle though he be.
Will not the scales fall from the eyes of
the honest yeomanry of Kentucky at such
spectacle as this case presents! In vain
will they ever look for an occasion, when
justice, truth and humanity will call louder
for vindcation than no,o. And have they
no correctives to apply! We have none to
suggest-except to caution such men as
Prof. Butler, honest, educated and christian
men though they be. to have care how they
discharge their dIty," as their existence
and all the dear relations in life may depend
upon it.
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