Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-06-06
The American Celt' on the Keating Muir.
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The last number of The Amerirnn C,H.
published in New York city by Messrs.
McGee d. Mitchell, has an article upon the
base and covardly murder of Kcating by
a Democratic member of Congress, from
which we make the annexed extract.
1t Will be recollected that Heating was
shot by Herbert for refusing to disobey
the rules of the house at which Herbert
boarded. ard where Heating was employ
ed as a waiter: and when Mr.. Knowlton
of Maine proposed in tha House of Rep
resentatives that the affair be investigated
by a Committee. every Republican mcm-
ber Of the House voted for the iuvestiga-
ton. while the Democrats voted against
it, thus preventing all irquirv.
After publishing the yeas and nays up
on the vote for inquiry, the CrN saws.
Nov. in relation to that division on
Herbert's case, we have duty to per-
form. and we shall not shrink from dis
charging it. That duty is, to announce
in unmistakable terms to the adopted citi-
zcns of Irish birth throughout The country
THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN Con-
GREss. h; We shamcfllly deserted their du-
ty. deserted their own professions of i'm
partialitv between different classes of cit
lzens. and that they have. as plainly as
deeds can speak. declared the murder Of
a man of Irish birth ov one of their coll
leagues to be trihc wholly unworthy
even of inquiry. Is the democratic party
,c, al. - I
belle itself: With half dozen cxccp-
tions every man Of the majority for keat
ing S murdereris a profcsst d democrat.
What then does it mean: Or can il mean
anything but one thing-that an Irish
man born, however pcaccqble or loyal. is
only fit to be used by the Democratic par
ty. and when used. set up for a target.
and shot with impunity. This is what it
means. and to this meaning We shall hold
the entire party We hold Mr.. Pierce.
Mr.. Douglas. and Mr. buchanan, respon-
siblc for this conduct OF their confidants
and supporters. They were all in Wash
ington it was for days the topic of the
town; if their friends have taken sides
against the victim and against common
justice, they are not wholly above sus-
picion.
A few days ago the blood of Thomas
Heating was on the hands of but one
Democrat ; it has spread since then. and
it is now upon the souls of the seventy.
nine. who refused al inquiry. 1t is on
the Democratic party. and accursed be he
who helps such a party into power until
that blood is lawfully rurged away.
The Republican members of the House
from whatever motive, acted fairly and
fcarlcssly by Herbert. They demanded
inquiry; they voted for inquiry Honor
to the Republicans. for this practical as
sertion of the theory of ''equal rights. "
Honor to the men who did their best
that Justice might not be defeated Of its
ends. And shamc-etcrnal shame, on
the false Democrats. who made common
cause with the rich rutiian from the Pa
cihc. and against the humble working
man of foreign birth. whose protectors
they ought to be. if there was either hon
or OF conscience left among them.
Let them not suppose this mattor is
going to drop here. One who seldom
drops anything has it now in hand. and
he distinctly warns the Democratic Rep
resentatives at Washington, that if ius-
ticc is not done on the murderer Her
bert, they will be held accountable. as
the party who interposcd to screen and
protect him from the penalty of his
guilt
REMOVAL OF THE SEAT OF GovERv-
MEST.-The question of removing the
seat of government from Washington is
one of the topics Of discussion forced into
prominence by the late acts of violence
committed in that place. Its situation
between two slavehoding s:ates-Vir-
ginia, the great mother of many slavehold-
ing communities, on the one side. and
Maryland on the other-is ,lnfavorablc to
the free discussion of the questions that
now agitatc the public mind A bad
overhangs the spot. n me-
phitic influence which unncrves and un-
mans those representatives of the North
who are not strong either in virtue or
very same influence which
III lic Si'' { otdtcS SltcllCc all VINO lament.
as numbers Of them do. the destiny which
entailed the curse Of slavery upon their
fair region.
1t is quite time that the seat of govern
mcnt for this republic, so boastful of its
free institutions, should be fixed where
the crack of the slave drivers lash is not
heard, where the slave-driver is not in
the ascendant, in short beyond the con-
troll of the great oligarchical class of the
south, and within the sphere of proper
democratic influences. At Washington
the slave-driver feels that he is on his own
peculiar ground, and is made insolcnt by
it.
Moreover. as long as the seat Of govern
ment is fixed amidst slavcholling COM
munity. certain degree Of plausibility
is given to the doctrine that slavery is
a national institution. and that freedom
is the local exception. The time has ar.
rived when all adv.ntitious support
should be withdrawn from this false and
mischievous position, now so vehemently
on in certain quarters.
When the seat of the. federal govern