The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-31
4 WILD MORALITY.

Mr. Jonathan Wild the Great, whose glory
ha- been ceebfated in the inimitable biogra-
phy Of him written by Fielding, has many
conversation wath the Count La Ruse, Mr.. Bag
shot. and other cut-throats and swindlers, ON
the great disadvantage and disgrace which
their calIings suffer in public estimation in con-
eiuente OF the inveterate preudiees Of human
nature. Those illustrious persons were unani-
mousiy Of opinion that prigging, cheating, muir
dcr, aud other iniractions of the law, were not
inconsistent with the honor of gentlemen, pro-
glded they were committed with certain frank
and manly badness.
Nh. G. l.. \. Lamar and his friends of Geor-
ga seem to Dc very nearly of the same opinion :;
tucy think piracy a creditable performance
under circuln stances: they think the violent
abduction OF human beings from their homes,
tLcir transfer TO distant regions, and their sale
as property q mercful process they think a
concerted resistance to or evasion of the laws
Il their country not incompatible with good cit
leuship; and they think the knocking of men
down who happen TO thwart their schemes, the
evidence of manly spirit and gentlemanly bear
ne.
lIr Lamar is the owner of the yacht Wan
ter,r, which misused the flag Of an association
OF g5ntlemei-the Boat Club-into which he
had been introduced, in order to disguise his
scheme for engaging in the slave trade. He
pros,itued that flag and his connection with the
lab 10 a felonious purpose, and was by that
means enabled to evade suspicion and pursuit,
All 20 succeed in the preparation Of an offence
which the laws of the world, as well as all hui
name and manly instincts, denounce as piracy.
lis vessel was conliscated, and condemned to
,e sold, and the following scene occurred at
u sale-Fe copy from the Providence jour
aH.
We haze seen private letter from gentle
man Who was present when the yacht Wanderer,
condemned SLAYER, was sold at Savannah,
~ order |ot the United States Court. The
"n'cr SAYS that, when the auctioneer com
henceu' Pr. Lamar stepped up, and said:
Gentlemen: This vessel belongs to me in every
stase Of he word. She has been taken from
iae 10y tie high hand of the law. The United
e'a,es claim her, but | say she is mine and
nan moi. expect any one TO bid against me.
ana I'D one dollar for her, Mr.. Van Horn
Pc against him, and the price was run up to
;hgvo, q which the vessel was knocked down
. Mr. Lamar. The successful bidder then
armed 70 Mr.. Van Horn, and, with words too
EIolane anu indecent 10 be repeated, knocked
nm m Gown. The fallen man rose to defend him
>eli' nut the sympathy of the company was SO
iaan!iesdy with the assailant, and the indica-
IONS Of violence and bloodshed so plain, that
rs inends took him away, some of Lamar's
naeEers calling out, Charley, kill him which
QUO have been promptly done, had any resist
anee been made"
now morning contemporary having charac-
e'i%ed these various proceedings, very proper
IL seems to us, as the deeds of kidnapper,
land bully, is taken to task by a cor
'e>F'nient for OBTAINING the honorable reputa-
u0h OF the author. Nj. Lamar says the cor
...c9Ponaent has his own opinions upon the
abstract question" of the slave trade-Mr.
lamar agrees in his opinions with those " gen
ei@,'y entertained in Great Britain and Ameri-
=" nalf century ago; in short, Mr.. Lamar is
~ Sl-mlnded, honorable, frank, and fearless
seH'einan; and searching the country through,
u lis Fhole length and breadth, "you cannot
hAd one who stands higher in the estimation of
.lose who know him.! y We are sorry to hear
y we had better opinion of the amiable peo.
:e q Savannah; and we learn, for the first
S :n'e, that their sympathies are so strongly en-
'Ny e. IN fraud, felony, and brutal violence.
" e have no desire, however, to interfere in
question which belongs to another journal.
Sla We refer to the facts only TO show how
s'oS%y mistaken the Washington Union and