The commonwealth. (Wilmington, Del.) 1858-18??, 1859-03-12
From the Independent Congregation
dha,)


Gambling houses, drinking saloons, man
fold Hlthy er fashionable resorts Of licon-
tious Indulgence, are therefore universally
understood aud admitted to exist at Wash
ington The hotels are frequented, the
winter through, by male aud female ad-
veuturers aod sharpers, from all parts Of
the country and more absolute mixing
up of maidenly women ADD courtezaus, OF
deceut men and prohigate scamps Of every
degree, aud under every outward disguise,
can ardly be imagined, than is present
ed on almost any day in the dining or
supper rooms of one of those great and
crowded caravanserais. The atmosphere,
too, filled with political excitement, or
party iutrigues, Of schemes for plumber, Of
mar oeuvering and diplomacy, in which
these swarms of people live-the rumors
that are starting around them all the time
of this or that successful stroke on the part
of some Presidential aspirant, OF of this or
that combination or stratagem, which is
destined to affect the next elections most
seriously--all this absorption and stimu-
latou Of the mind by mere political inter
ests, and by successful or unsuccessful
management aud chicane, tends directly
and powerfully to looseness Of morals
The social state Of town cannot but be
excessively unhealthy where commerce or
useful industry hardly exists, at least
among the influential CLASSES; and where,
at a fashionable 'soiree' or reception a
young bride fresh from the country may
sit next woman blazing with jewels, who
has the reputation of having been the As
pasta to more than one p ,pular SPericles !
or where man OF tastes as yet untutored
in wickedness-at least IN its grosser aod
more defiant forms-is engirt by circle
of geateel scoupdrels, some of them il
Congress and more of them out of it, who
know how to utter the vilest sentiments il
forms the most sqgaFy, and who do the
very vilest deeds with an easy sparkle and
dash of manner that makes them look like
! innocent recreation.
1t il not at all surprising that amid sucl
social state as this, SO constituted ant
! characterized, even such an outrage a
, that committed by Brooks upon Sumner
tor example, should have passed compar
atiyely without Feprohation and it is no
:, 10 the least degree surprising that suol
}. tragedies as that which is briefly chronicles
in our COLUMNS this week--and of whicl
:. cur readers will doubtless have read else
e whore more detailed accounts--should oc
= casionally occur. Similar occasions t
that which brought about tue sudden an
|, bloody death of Key, do undoubtedly nc
L INDEPENDENTLY aFise and though in tb
D. large majority Of cases those who are es
: pecially touched by these, for Che sake c
u all the interests involved, Of family, repu
= tatioH, pride, the fptqre, seek other NOR
n silent f9rms Of redress, thore will be case
IN when enly the utter ald instant deslrpt
Ig ton of the life Of the betrayer will sasisf
the furious thirst for vengeance. We d
lie not justify Mr.. Sickles in bis act 1t We
IS simply summary, sanguiuary, relentlei
b. street.murder, c0nmitted Of course pnde
10 the greatest provocation. He has mad
at himself obnox Gus to the laws Of the couI
% try, to the judgment Of big counirymen,
Id the searching and terrific inqui.ition
y bis conscience, which oan uever shake c
ID or readily wipe ont this stain Of blood
above ali, to Gcd, whose judgment dra'
b. higher every hour. If his own life b
y been, as is fssaidc'aaiatinsted, an impu
u against him in the opiGjIli1 iils hGG 2
Ssi ell just men, whether sias q ~ 3 ''ss'7.
es or not