Washington sentinel., 1854-05-06
THE LOUISVILLE MOB.

Nothing now adays escapes the scrutiny OF
| the press; few things and few men, however
virtuous, escape the censure of some who are
connected with it. 1t is sort of inquisition
that takes cognizance Of everything 1t claims
and exercises universal jurisdiction. Not it
self legal tribunal, not possessed OF legal
functions, it yet claims a surveillance and gen.
eral supervisory power over the acts and doings
of all legal tribunals. Its proper influence is
seriously injured by journalists, who, however
loose their own ideas in law, politics, morals and
religion, and however abandoned and corrupt
in their own conduct, yet set themselves up to
regulate the conduct Of others, and to censure
the slightest errors of Judgment and the small
est deviations from the most stringent rules
when committed by others.
None value and none would more pertina.
ciously insist on the rights, privileges, and free
dom Of the press than ourselves; butnone more
disapprove and condemn the imprudence and
the officiousness of some connected with it.
We are induced to make these remarks by
the course pursued by some of the journals OF
the country in relation to the acquittal Of young
Ward, by whose hands an unfortunate man Of
the name of Butler fell. This case, as oil our
readers perhaps know, occurred in Kentucky.
The respectability and social and political prom
inence of some of the parties to it created
from the first an unusual degree of interest in
the public mind.
At length the day fixed for Wards trial ar
rived. A crowd assembled to witness it. A
jury was impannelled. The trial was conduct
ed according to the forms of law. After hear
ing the testimony and the speeches of counsel,
the jury brought in verdict Of acquittal.
We do not profess to be familiar with the
facts of the case. We do not know the ele-
ments that entered into it; but this we know
that the verdict, as soon as made known, was
condemned by some of the more prominent
freesoil and abolition presses of the north. 1t
was declared an outrage. The jury was pro-
nounced to be a perjured and infamous parcel
of men. The lawyers who defended the ac-
cused were held up to the community as the
aiders and abettors Of rufians and murderers.
The feelings of the people were sought to be
excited by passionate appeals. The wealth
(which perhaps consisted in part of slaves) Of
the accused and his family was brought to
bear on the subject. The feelings Of classes
were appealed to. Excitement spread like an
infectious pestilence. A mob, great frantic,
furious, howling, blasphemous, burning, de.
structive mob, sprang up. 1t took the case
from the court into its own hands. 1t con-
demned the court, the jury, the accused, and
his family and friends. 1t struck terror into
the hearts of the sober law-abiding citizens oi
Louisville.
According to the Louisville Journal, it then
proceeded to the elegant building occupied by
the father of Ward, which was set fire to. The
costly furniture in the building was destroyed
The building itself was only saved from com
plete destruction by the brave and persevering
efforts Of the firemen, who, it is said, were
several times fred on.
Now, we know but little about the Wards
We know but little about the merits of the
case decided on by respectable jury. Ward
may be innocent-that is, he may have killed
Butler in selfdefence. On the other hand, he
may be blood-stained murderer of the deep
est die. But, whether innocent or guilty, Q
regularly organized legal tribunal after hear
ing the testimony, on their oaths, pronounced
his acquittal. That is enough for us.
To raise bowling mob, to threaten violence
to do violence, TO burn, plunder, and shoot