The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-18
CORRUPTION AND CRIME.

= . tu,.r ss,-iF1a r. s.- =:
ing tone, because we published an account OF
the brutal prize fight between Morrissey and
Heenan, and said not a word in condemnation.
The account appeared in our " General Sum
mary" and was about three or four inches long,
stating the bare, revolving facts That was
enough. Where we record a swindle, robbery,
or murder, we do it in the briefest way, as an
item of news, revolving but still proper to be
published, as going to make up the picture of
the world as it is. But, we do not think it worth
while to make every special rascality the text
for sermon. Some of our New York cotem-
poraries might probably satisfy our correspond
ent. They devote whole pages to the details of
prize-fg ht-frst, telegraphc dispatches, then,
deliberate reports. The actors are described
with brilliant particularity-their deeds dwet
upon with Homeric eloquence Morrissey and
Heenan figure as the heroes of the day, until
some "boy murderer" steps upon the stage,
when the scene changes, and we are entertained
with the form and feature of the new hero, the
hour when, the manner wherein, the Ratchet with
which he inflicted his blows then the victims
then come the arrest the trial, the witnesses,
the bearing of the prisoner, the black cap, the
sentence, the scaffold the dying speech, the
halter, the hanging for days, the newspapers
are plethorc with horrors.
So, criminals are exalted, and beginners in
crime are fired with an Internal ambition to
plunge into depths of wickedness not vet
sounded.
Meantime, turn to the editorial pages, and
you will find the editor discOursng at great
length, with an unctuous piety, upon the brutal
ity of prize fights or the fearful prevalence of
crime and disorder. Just as if some staid guard
ian should take his ward to all the "hels" and
brothels in town, make him an eyewitness to
their orgies and passions, and then, rolling up
his eyes with sanity sanctity, should say, My
son, such things are very naughty-go not thou
in the way of bad men!"
We desire subscribers to understand that
that is not our way of intoxicating moral lessons.
Prize fights, murders, and other atrocities, they
may find recorded in the Era, but the bald,
loathsome facts will be given, very briefly, and
never so as to make gods out of brutes, or to re-
quire word of editorial comment to counter
act the poison of the sensation report
MINNEsOTA.-A correspondent of the New
York Tribune, writing from Minneapolis, Nov.
| lst, says:
"The official returns from the late election
are all in, and the result shows the Senate to
stand l9 Republicans to l9 Democrats, and the
Lower House 40 Republicans to % Democrats,
giving the Republicans majority on Joint bal
lot of 20. Last year, the Democrats had a ma
jOrity of 10 on joint ballot. OF the Democratic
Senators, two are of the most ultra kind of anti
| Administration men,"
Mr.. SUMNER" Mr.. Sumner writes by the
last steamer of much improved health He
says that the physicians at AK will probably
attribute his improvement to the baths DR.
Brown-Sequard will think it is the result of the
mora, and his friends at home NAV suppose
that relaxation from labor is the cause: but OF
the fact that he is much improved in health
there is no doubt. He was about leaving AK
for Paris when last heard FROM"
Every man of correct feelings will rejoice al
the above intelligence. We are gratified to add
that it is his purpose to return to this country
the latter part of the present month, and that
he will resume his post in the Senate at the
opening of the session of Congress.