New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-04
From Tie Iaeyeadeat tcormesstlonall.tl.

From The Iacsgeadeat (Corgr satlonaistl.
The elements Of wick edneps that are gathered and
con bined in the City Of Washington during the Win
ter and that are allowed Tree 10, anu operation
within whatever csJs Itself society" there, are,
undoubtedly, unparalleled on ths continent elsewhere
great plumber OF men, from different parts oil the
country, mOst Of them with no strong or controlling
OF moral oblgs religious responsibilities,
without the ordinary social and family tes which
elsewhere QuId them 10 put restraint upon their
conduct while there, convened eech sessOn by the
meeting of Congress-. With them come also great
numbers Of men who live by their wits, - political
mar sgers, Spectators inteT stet in Govern nent
conTact, as lobby agents, petitioners for Congress.
ODal ayOrs, Nc.sbO Ind " for their interest, rs It
is in addition Tor the qualification OF their own de-
PRAYED app ses 10 Minister to the passions and last,
Ut tnOee by whose faysr they 1--we. Meantime there
is pa amount and permanent public sentiment to
put ts stTsin upon the action Of any oee Sach
thing is indeed an impossioty 10 city whose popu-
sou Is aggre gated so loosely, and held together FOR
81 sh )r q time; ard therefore as long as men keep
within the pspebe lms Of the law; do no. grossly
AMI ouiIagsousy oyersep ttese, they may 90 pretty
H. och what they will.
Gaublir :. h0Uses, drinking ssoons, and manifold
tty fashionable resorts OF llccntous indulgence,
are therefore universally understood and admitted ~
exist Of Washington. TIE hotels are lTeqnented the
Winter through by male and female adyenturers and
shsrpers from all psIts Of the country; and more
absolute ni1rg mp Of madeny women and courtezans,
o! decent men and pTohgete sc4mps OF every degree,
ana under every outward disguise, can hardly DO una
gifed, than is presented on almost aDy Day n the
dining or supper.Tooms Of one Of those great and
crowded cernyaEserds. The very atmosphere, too,
full Of political excitement, Of perty ntrigues, Of
schsmes for plumber, Of InGLeuyeTing ami diplomacy
in which The Sc swbms Of people iivethe that
starting around them all the time Of this that
successful stroke On the part OF sOule Presidential
pratt OF this or that combination stratagem which
Is destined TO affect the rent elections most seriOusy
ali ths absorption and stimulation OF the mind by
political insTests and by successful Or ssfu
management and cbicane, tnds directly and power
fuly Cofeness OF morals The socia state Of town
carLO, but be- excessively unhealthy where commerce
usefu adustry hardly exists ~ least among the in
tusntisl clssses and where at fashionable sOrse
4" reception, young BRIDE fresh from the country
m9y cit mex, q woman blazing with jewels, who mas
the reputation Of having been the Aspasis 10 more
than one popular Pericss; or where man Of tastes
Jet uLtUtOred ia yckedLeEs-at least n its grocer
and mole defiant forms-is engirt by circle Of gen.
tee scoundre, GONE OF them in Congress and more OF
them out Of IT, who know hOE 10 utter the yest cen
tnen's in forms the most sBgsry and who 10 The very
vlest cesds with easy sparkle ADD dash of
that makes them look Like ioDoceut recreation.
II Is not at ell surprising th., amid such social
state as this, constituted characterized, even
inch en- outrage ss that committed by Brooks upon
Sunuer, for example, should have passed compsra-
lively without Reproductions and Il is not In tae least
degree surprising that such tragedies as tia, which 10
tfthy ChroIiced Ia our columns this sstk-and OF
WI ch readers all doubtless have read elsewhere
more detailed eceourts-shond occ isnnelly occur.
Similar siOrs 10 that which brought about the
EucdeI aid bloody death Ct Key, Do undoubtedly not
unfr, queItly arse and though in the large ,iprity
Of stes thore who specially touched by there for
The cake Of al Tie Interests involved, Of family, repu-
talon pride the failure, seek other more eat forms
o. rtdre5s there viii be when OILY the utter and
instant ucon CT ths If VI tie betrayer viii sst-
fy the furious tbr.t for gsance. We DO not tfy
Mr.. Siekles 10 ne act II vas SGplya summary,
culinary r.entts strectmurder nnnit,ed OF eourse
urder the greatest possible provoeaton. He hss msds
hin self obnoxious 10 tie laws Of the country 10 the
Judgment of his couLtrymsu 10 the searching and ter
Illc Iqulston OF bis coEsclence, which can never
slske of or really wipe oat tbs stan OF blood above
al TO God, whore j1ds nert draws CHER every hour
IL his own e has been, ss il freely intims.e an i'm
pure enc, his shoud AID viii veigh heavily against
him IN TIE opLion and feeling Of az jest men, whether
u does 20 N CoTts OF not. And the punishment that
cones bon Tus1sd bone, from bRgh.ed career, !