Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-04
WASHINGTON NEWS AID GOSSIP

Uurseu-"Mr. Herbert of California, pro-
posed to consume tho five minutes to which
general debate had been limited, remarking
that bis object in rising was to reply to charges
that had been made against him traducing
his character as an honorable man. These
charges had become common in almost every
section of the country, on the Pacific as well
as the Atlantic. So far as he was individually
concerned he felt perfect Indifference for the
allegations to which he referred, but be
deemed it q duty that he owed the House to
make an explanation with regard to them.
What were these charges? Every one of
them bore upon its face falsehood, and not
one Of them could be subs. antiated, he cared
lot whence 1t came. He claimed that he had
Character fer which he was under obliga-
tons 10 10 man lyicg-One that he had made
for himself, and which he believed would com.
pare fayorabIy with The pUrest in the land
But whence came these charges? They ema-
mated from political enemies-men who had
ever been arrayed in hostility against him.
lie rcgTetted these allegations, because many
Of them came from his own State; but from
quarter which made him feel that they were
q compliment to him rather than disgrace
When he came back to the fountain head the
origin Of the charges that had been made
against him in his Own State, be found that
they had emansted from one Of the public
prints OF the city of Washington. He would
not so far forget himself, he would not abuse
The dignity OF the House by giving detail of
the character Of the different men who as
sailed him, but he would say this that there
was not one of them whose character would
compare with his own In point of purity, honor,
and integrity. 1t was such men the pub
Usher Of the - Star"-whO had placed before
the country an eT pGrte statement of an unfor-
tunate affair in which he (Mr. H } became
involved in this city, and suffered il to 90 be-
fore the world, and, after he had been hon
orably acquitted by jury Of his own cOun-
l.oI IL,
nanimlty TO come out and say that he was in
eTrOr-it was such men as these that set up
this hue and cry against him -Ertract from
tie proceedings M tie House of Representa-
tees OSt Saturday last
Though dislking to make ourself the sub
ject OF comment in the Stars columns, the
remarks quoted above require some notice at
our hands. We have nothing to do with the
character Ct Mr.. Herbert, Of California, nor
has tie Star at any time in any way alluded
l. 1t. So We require 10 further defence from
the allegation that the charges that have been
male against him in his own State emanated
from u.s. In making the original statement
concerning the circumstances involved in the
killing Of Heating, We published an account
Obtai-ed from an eye witness, in whose tes-
tinony VIC placed confidence, and we leave it
to the public to judge whether the whole evil
dcLce, as carefully taken down at the two
trials Of Dir. Herbert for the homicide, and
published, does or does not substantiate that
account
Immediately after the jury was empanelled
FOR the second trial, it became our duty to this
community TO comment upon circumstances
connected, not with the act of Mr. Herbert,
but with the administration Of Justice in thi.
city; which, as conducted in the course Of
both trials, has inflicted stain upon the rep.
UtatiOn Cf cur courts that we are not willing
20 aid in keeping in the memory of the pub.
JIG by going into details concerning the occur
Tenees marking tie Incarceration Of Mr.. H.,
the rulings AID bearing Of the court, the en-
FaDeiiing Ct the second jury, tho occurrences
N he court room after the rendition Ct the
Ver1lct, the acts Of some of the jury, &c
&c. 1t shall never be said Of Us, if VIC can
avoid II II justice to ourself, that we so lack
discretion and respect ard regard fer the COM
uunity III which our lot is cast, as to herald
its shame Is involved in circumstances coz
ted With those trials, when nothing for this
comMunity's substantial good is to be attained
by so doing
We have 20 reply to mako 20 Mr. Herbert's
assertions with reference to ourself personally,
being quite willing that the public may &C.
cord to them the weight to which it conceiyes
them entitled without a single remark from
Us. From beginning to end we have dis
charged our duty throughout this affair with
out fear or favor, though warned By the police
that We were in danger of assassination
Since the rendition Ct the verdict another
sGch warning has cone to us from another
source, and we also find plot or plots for our
assassin alton the subject Of comment in dis.
tant newspaper. Undeterred by such circum-
stances and unproyoked by comments on our
course IKE those above quoted we shall en-
deavor simply to acquit ourself of our obIiga.
lions In this affair, to those for whose f,turo
the Star Is IN part Tesponsible-tbe citizens
OF the District Of Columbia-if necessitv for
commenting on it continues.
Inc Fress On the stste Of San Era.cisoo
&c.-"Ith very few exceptions, the press out
of California have taken ground against the
acts Of the Vigilance Committee, evidently
under the impression that the organization
either design more than they proclaim against
the authorities, or in the belief that worse men
than those originally sought to be driven out
OF the State by the Committee will control its
action, and thus bring about most disastrous
results. That these fears are sincere on the
part q most Of those who utter them, and that
they are reasonable also, We doubt not Yet
under existing circumstances we do not share
them. In the first place, VIC remember well
the hanging affair at Vicksburg, which, in
point of law, was murder, quite as foul as anv
previously perpetrated by its victims. Yet