The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1859-04-14

From the London Tines
We published yesterday q very strange
and . very sad story from Washington.
With the recollection Of Sir Cre~well Cress.
wells clients before our eyes. We are not
about 10 fly into paroxysms Of vrtuous in
dgDstion because 10 the United States, ~
elsewhere woman Ia sometimes frail, and
generally vindictive. Such things are Of
all ages and Of all countries, and this Wash
ington story about Mr.. and Mrs. Sickles
and Mr.. Koy might at any season find its
counterpart 10 the scandalous chronicles
Of any Of the European capitals lOndon
included. II is true, indeed. that the hus-
bands vengeance was swift, savage and Sc
we're. Such IL not the way in which such
injuries ere resented In Englacd but, ac-
cording 10 the civilization OF u country, 80
IL the fashion Of It's revenge. One nation
uses a stiletto, another revolver, another
an old nintgun, fourth barristcr. We
employ the fourth weapon in tho United
States the second comes more Familiarity to
tho hand Of an outraged husband. The re-
msrkabc part Of tho occurrence, then, as
far a. We are concerned, ia the form which
the husbands vengeance assumed. Had
such q story as this happened IN England,
and had the husband 10 due course put bis
case into the hands Of tho family solicitor,
and had that useful parsonage, still 10 due
course. feed counsel and brough, it before
the Judge Ordinary, We should scarcely
have given the report second glance.
Deny II who may, tho truth In that habit
renders oil persons but tho Immediate fami-
ly, friends and acquaintance OF the parties
TO such suits, profoundly Indifferent TO the
matter. We can hardly say II equal apathy
exists on the other side Of. the Atlantic.
when injuries Of this class are avenged In
the terrible fashion OF this washington
tragedy, At first sight the fact that an
injured husband at once rushes to the con-
clusion that nothing but the blood OF the
adulterer can DO accepted as an expiation
for his wrong, would seem 10 argue q higher
conception OF the marriage bond than tho
one which obtains among ourselves. We
cannot, however, at the same time, forget
that American hands are swift to shed blood
Tor Injuries OF . far Inferior class to those
Of which We are speaking.
The form, then, OF Mr.. Sickles' revenge
was according TO tho fashion Of his age and
bis country. We think Il probable that
had no been an Englishman, living In Lon
don. he would have acted otherwise, Take
II, however, as you may, the story is most
lamentabo one. Ia England much interest
will be felt in II rom the fact that the un-
fortunate young wiic---and surely she IL most
unfortunate was known in the social cir
cles OF London. When Mr.. Buchanan was
Minister over here, her husband. Mr..
Sickes, was the Secretary OF Legation.
lie was accompanied by his wife, child In
years, and still more child in appearance.
Shc excited interest IN every one who met
her in those days, and many an English
friend will grievc at the termination ot her
brief career.
The facts Of tho case may be known In q
very few words--Indscd, we had rather
make ms short story Of IT AZ possible. for il
Is not one upon which the mind can rest
without the most painful feelings MIR.
slckrs was Secretary of Legation here in
London, but On the election Of Mr.. Bnchan
W" '" wv 'nh'u''' Wv '''u'HVu w huc
United states and obtained the Democratic
nomination for Congress from one Of the
metropolitan districts Of New York. la
due course he went to Washington. taking
with him his wife. Now, there was a Ger
tain Mr.. Phillip Barton hey, the nephew
Of the Chief Justice Of the United States.
who was the United States Attorney for
the District OF Columbia. In the discharge
OF his duties he also was at Washington. and
thus an intimacy arose between him and
Mrs. Sickles, which seems soon to have
assumed a criminal character. Whether it
vas that her husband became distnsteful To
her. or that he neg glected hcr, or that Mr..
X ey possessed attractions which extinguish
ed in her mind all sentiments Of her positior,
all feeling of duty. /, must. VIZ tear. bc nal
mi,ted that the Young wife became what she
wu no, when she was known and admired
here in London. Suspicion soon Jopred
tho steps Of the Young wife and her para.
mour. As is usual in such eases. the hus.
band was the last person to hear the history