The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1856-07-30
n. Ae,aistal Of Herbert.

The acquittal Of Herbert for the murder
of Heating has surprised no one who was
prepared for the event by having read the
charge Of Judge Crawford. There
was not even any attempt At preserving
decent regard for Appearances, BY the infiic-
ton of the least measure Of punishme Mt,
but the red-handed murderer was allowed
to 60 entirely unscathed. No sane man for
a moment thinks that il the cases had been
reversed, if Heating had boon the murderer
instead of the murdered, that he would have
remained unpublished. But we expected to
have this shameful acquitsal as another il
lustration Of the manner in which Grim
inal justice is administered at Washington
City.
This scquittal was produced by the in
iuence Of both caste and politics. Heating
WAS hotel servant, and the Southerners
regard one in his humble condition as even
below their own slaves. They consider
that il was criminal insolence in him to re-
sent even by words whatever treatment a
ssntleman like Herbert may have conde-
seconded to infict. To have suffered Her
bert to be punished for killing servant
would have been dangerous invasion OF
their privileges as an aristOcratic order
Such an example was not to be allowed
and hence they successfully exerted their
influence to prevent it. Herbert Jared even
better than il he had killed slave. Then,
he would have been fined at least as much
| as the value Of the slave, but Is his yich n
was only an Irishman, he has not been
made to respond in even pecuniary damages.
This is necessary result OF the way IN
which poor white men are regarded by the
slave oligarchy, and 1t Is unblushlngiy
ayowed by the leading organs OF the slave
holders. And this murderer has been thus
shielded, from social and political consider
atoms, BY men claiming the prostituted
name of Democrats, by men who are the
Jealous and particular supporters OF Buchan-
an.-snd doubtless there will still be Irish
men who will continue to hurrah for this
bogus democracy and James Buchanan.
But the acquittal Of Herbert is also due
to the earnest labors of the Democrats. In
their intense anxiety to retain his vote as
member of the House, they have disregard
ed every consideration of justice, and, tor
party purposes, have banded together to
protect the murderer of an innocent man
from the deserved penalty Of the law. Her
bert was always an inscriptions supporter
of every party messure,-a pure Buchanan
Democrat. His acquittal was a matter OF
prime necessity in the event Of the pro-sla-
very cabal at Washington being successful
in throwing the election of President into
the House of Representatives. Ii he had
been convicted, of course he would have
ceased to be member, and as the two
members from California were elected BY
general ticket, contrary to the law which
was obeyed by all the other States, it is
highly probable that the seats of both mem.
bers would have been declared vacant by
the House. Had such been the fact, il is
still more probable that in the present CON-
plexisn of things in California, tao Repub-
| lican members would have been returned.
Il is almost certain that if Herbert had
been either hung or expelled, he would
have been succeeded by Republican, and
in that event the vote of California would
4 L. Nathan al fhasa n.
/ gencies could for moment be thought of
by the pro-slavery and Buchanan members
of the House and Senate, and hence the
successful zeal with which they have labor
ed for the escape of the murderer, and the
triumphant demonstrations with which he
was escorted to his hotel. Such are the
dangerous and disgraceful expedients to
which the Buchanan leaders at the capitol
are reduced. Such are the high-handed
! measures deliberately adopted by the OIL
garchists at Washington City, Such is the
proceeding of the leaders of party which
has been accustomed to vaunt the doctrine
of .'equal and exact justice to all men,
We cannot think that these alarming and
disgraceful facts will fail Of their proper in
fiuence upon the minds Of the people. They
must still further strengthen the convic-
tions of all patriotic and intelligent men,
that total change Of men and measures is
absolutely essential to the preservation Of
the country from the speedy occurrence o.
In