New-York daily tribune., 1854-05-01

d;.leIievrg his Guilt He was acquitted through n
,,it;-o .rd direct influence Of the Ruling Clsss in
Keptucky. WLo make up that Class we have br'eny
doserted. Ii is just such class s' does lO' eA'''
ard esnrot exist in free state for It's basis slavery
Iii. the Master interest in s's'e cursed Win ser
vitu6e Its composed Of the wealth AM the ishion
and old family usmes end influences existing thFousA-
out tie State 1t is the dominant force ID common
wealth divided into Rich and Poor. Ii IS that FrFi
lered division Of society existing II orr slave >a'es
ard eyistipg nowhere else in our cOnfederacy Ana
that Clss. has dared thus openly to break ana
def, the laws ostensiby made for all. sni 10 trampIe
under foot the sacred name Of justice
Such proceeding will not go unayenged. Inc
cIsss which las committed this wrong ana ihnie'eu
tbs dishouor upon the judiciary, will pay the pena!
therefor. II is On example which will not be lost
urop tie youth of that State where II has peeh per-
petrsted. II is apparently offering to them an I'M
uun,fy in violence and crime, which VIII be aAen iui
advantage Of in the future. This trial Will bear iFu'
in Kentucky after all the actors who have taken par'
in :, sLa have gone to their graves II VIII not on!
ev ere class TO outrage but another TO resistance
and bloodshed. Its natural consequence l. 10 SCI
vnct law above legislative statutes. Such results
loosen society at its foundations If justice Is iouhd
de.hroned By her own high priests in her temples
the very idea of respecting or regarding her VIII DC
nocled Iy the many, and all institutions oi society
he mepaced by common ruin.
put The immediate effect OF 80 unbushing wrong
,,il1be,s certain a. its remoter results The ndl-
,dusls WHO lave been concerned in 1t cannot escape
their direct personal share OF the peHail! i"P0
,Tl arc men prouinent in this trsl who nave hiauo
tLemselyes accompGces after the TACT IN me niu '
p,,er such are they who have sought by their te''
iimcpy TO screen the murderer from all puniSiicH'
ard such are they who by extraordinary proceedings
s. c,unsel have contributed TO that same end. "ha'
are we 10 say Of the testimony OF the clergyman o 'nc
.ri.b to which Ward belongs, OF that OF the distn'
uisled editor summoned to the stand, OF the brow
bo..nc of one attorney and the nsoence OF anotheT
d ,Lovo All of the unusual and most extraordinary |
ourse of fhe late Attorney General Mr.. Crittehden,
in ,oJvn,,fyisg defense of the criminal The infer
crce that so pure ard distinguished a man would not
volunteer in defense Of guilty man, as was alleged
fv the friends of Ward Mr. Crittenden may not be
responsible for but he is responsible for the Tact that
he suffered that inference to go unrebuked and by his
ence cave color to its truth. In volunteering in this
.ase Mr. Crittenden has shown disposition to place the
cautsa Of notorious murderer above the demands
f impartial Justice and in doing so has inflicted stain
ron Lis own character which will adhere to the end
# his career The act is too prominent and too ila-
rant to escape present aud lasting condem-
atiOn.
OF old there was sublime virtue which caused
wen parents to sign the death warrants OF their own |
hildren in compliance with the stern and even exag-
,erated demands of the law. The guilty met his |
loom however high the station Of the cGlprit and |
,owever great the sacrifice xhe state Of society IN
modern slayeholdng community allows OF the cul- |
ure of 40 such exalted sentiment Of equality and |
ustce Its condition partakes more of that OF Old |
eudal Europe where the murder Of peasan. was !
d1nctmes made an act of wanton sport and often OF
irritation ind passion. The lord returning from his
hunt who ,Lot peasant on his own roof from mere
and whose conduct had to pass even
the ordeal OF an inquiry, may not unfty be compared
with the member OF the Ruling Glass in one OF our
slave States who in fit of temper proceeds TO shoot
down the poor school teacher and escapes even the
least punishment for his crime because OF his high po
sitiCn aud connections.
Such events as this Ward trial may well excite re-
uewod attention 10 the declining character of the
ciyilizf tion OF modern Slave States.