Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-23

is venture their fortunes in the abolitie boat
Of Douglas and, further, why it is that chronic
seeker after public plumber, who claim afili-
alton with the South more or less distinct, and
whose obsequious and sinister advances to the |
present National Administration have been
repnlSed with contemptuous indignation, are |
seeking TO strengthen the abolition cause of |
Douglas. We can understand why all such |
parties seem disposed to aid, abet and defend |
Douglas, his course and cause. But for the life
of us, we cannot comprehend how and why it
is that such journal rs the Richmond South,
fails to perceive that there turks thousand
fold more danger to the future of the South in
the Union, and therefore to the future exist
ence of the Union itself, in the triumph Of
Douglas and his doctrine that Congress and its
agents territorial legislatures) may lawfully
abstain from legislating to assure to slave
holders due protection of their property in
United States Territories -cwithout which any
pretence that on coming to form State con-.
stitutiOn people may, at will, legalize slavery
among them, is a mere insulting mockery,) than
the election Of any avowed Republican-party
man in his stead.
The CONVICT BARRETr-Much feeling is
manifested by the thoughtful portion of this
community who have substantial interest in
the preservation of its peace and order, at the
persistent interference of parties residing else
where to prevent the due execution of tina
criminal law here, by and through whch
| only, the spirit of rowdy rufianism in eur
| midst can be held in check. That this sSnti-
| ment on their part is a natural and proper
| one, all whose lives and property were not
long since at the mercy Of organized bands Of
murderers and despoilers will at once under
| stand The key to the manifestation of this
feeling at this time, is the fact Of efforts being
made by persons at distance to prevent the
| execution of the sentence Of Charles Barrett,
condemned to death for the murder of Reeve
Lewis; deliberate and unprovoked assassina-
ton, the atrocity of which was never exceeded
in any age or CLINE. These parties unidenti-
| fed with this community, are also assisted BY
parties belonging to the District of Colunbis,
impellsd by various motives, doubtless. 4
While the immediate relatives Of ths coz
demned man have our sympathy for their mis-
fortune Of being in any way identified with
| him, we cannot fail to commend the President
for declining to pardon the criminal or DOM
mute his sentence, as he has been so pertina-
ciously urged to do, upon promise to furnish
| proof of the injustice of his sentence. This
| alleged "proOf" is represented to us as being
| the evidence of some alleged third party en-
| gagged in the murder Of Mr. Lewis who, tnow
that Williams has escaped the punishment of
death, is said to be ready to testify that he fred
| all the shots that were fred in the affair; and,
IoIo tel e., Al r
liams, that Barrett, though aiding and abetting
him in the murder, did not fire a shot-Wil-
liams, it will be recollected, not being amen able
| now to the laws extreme penalty, which he
escaped in the rendition of the verdict Our
belief is, that if those engaged in endeavoring
to defeat the due execution of the laws sem
| tence in this case adduce no more reliable tes-
timony or no stronger reasons, they will obtain
nothing more for the condemned man than
President Buchanan has already accorded
two weeks respite of the execution.
1t is extremely painful to us to feel it to be
our duty to stand up firmly for the enforce
ment Of the law in any such case yet that it
is our duty, all will comprehend who realize
how much this community have already suf-
fered from the rule of rowdy ruffians hero, and
unless the law be rigidly enforced, except
where there can be no possible question of the
fact that its sentence is unjust-which was not
limited to the public in this case until on the
eve Of the appointed time for the execution of
this condemned criminal.
ITALIAN OPERA.-It will be seen by the an
nOuncem-nt in another column that Managers
Ford and Tayleure have determined to CON-
pensate the disappointment of our music lovers
| Occasioned by the delinquency Of Max Maret-
eek, with an attraction which makes our pub
lie largely the gamer by the change Of pro-
gramme An engagement has been effected
for three evenings with the brilliant and large
italian Opera Company of Strakosch-by far
tho most effective and accomplished operate
organization ever in one city-comprising in
all eighty performers, among whom are the
beautiful and gifted Madame Colson, who ere.
ated so marked a sensation in Boston and New
York; the ever-popular and brilliant Parodi:
Madame Cora DE Wilhorst, fresh from Paris.
where she elected general praises; pleasing
Madame Strakoseh, and Messrs Amodio, La
bocetta, Junca, Brignoli, and others of dis
tinction in the lyric world The sale of sub
scribers' seats, at five dollars for the thr.e
evenings, will be opened at Metzerott's at o
o'clock on Monday morning; the general sale
of seats commencing at o'clock on the same
day. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings
of next week will comprise the operate season.
The operas presented will probably be Trova-
tore, II Puritani, and Traviati.
RoBBED BY A U. s. MAIL AGENT The Mis-
souri, river steamer Emma was robbed a short
time since on her trip from Jefferson CITY to ST
Joseph of SO 600 by the U. s. mail agent on board