Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-04-27

into with Paraguay
Senior Mata, the Mexican Minister, arrived
here this morning, and is stopping at the Ma
tional Hotel.
NORFOLK, Va, April 26-Mr. Letcher is quite
i'll, and utterly unable to meet his appointments
for discussion, preparatory to the approaching
Gubernatorial election.
IN consequence of the wires being down, as
we announced at the time, on Saturday night
and Sunday last, we did not get our usual in
stallments of Geographic news concerning the
Siekles and all other cases. We find in our
mails however full accounts. We have a copy
of Mr.. Stanton's summing up speech for the
defense before US. We clip the following from
his remarks upon the history of the common
Jaw PrUVIsrU'. ~~------ino adultery. and the ex.
tent to which it ought to be ndta;..-., -
country:
The age of Charles was nm age of adultery
and gross corruDtion; the palace was filed with
harlOts and thronged with adulterers and adul-
tereSses; the judges were the panderers, parta-
kers, and protectors of tho corruptons of the
age and the same Court which Judged the hus-
band to be felon for Staying an adulterer on
his bed, fined and sent jurors to prison for
refusing to find verdicts in accordance with its
instructions; it was the same Court which hum
ted Quakers, Catholics, and NoncOnformsts 10
death; the same Court which prosecuted John
Howe and Richard Baxter, and which sent to
the pillory and prison John Bunyan for preach
ing the Gospel TO the poor. Counsel referred
for the history of those times to the first volume
oil, Nacauley, page l40. This was the state of the
laws and social life Mt the time the principle
was introduced into the common law of Eng
land that to kill the adulterer in the act is
crime; and when society in this District is re-
duced to the same conditions, and when the gov
eminent offices are filed by open and avowed
adulterers, when the professions oflaw and med
icine shall be thronged with libertincs, when the
wife's purity and family chastity shall become
a Jest, then it will be time to Introduce here n
principle of common law never before heard
from the Judgment seat; then it will be ueces.
sary for the Court to extend the shield of law
over its attorneys to save their lives from the
hands of the husbands whose wives shey have
violated, whose homes they have destroyed, and
whose families they have made desolatc |
claim, then, on this proposition, that the ex-
preston or rule of the Common law in rcgare to
the consent of the wife, had its origin in state
Of manners and Of social life that do not exist
in this country, and that that rule is not appi.
cable here. 1t is founded on the principle that
the wifes consent can qualify Ihe degree of the
adulterer's guilt, aud determine the husband to
be criminal In american society thare is a
freedom from restraint and supervision that ex-
lists nowhere else. and this results from various
causes; husbands, fathers and brothers devote
a large snare oil time TO the cares OF life, and TO
the duties of providing for the family, during
which time the female portion of the family are
left To themselves without protection. The FIRE
quent changes Of habitation, and the equality Of
our social condition. lean to frankness of inter
course which requires, for the sanctity of the
home and the security Of the marriage bed,
rigorous personal responsibility, to the DEATH
The peculiar condition of society in this Dis
trict are also to be noted before any pIinci-
pie like that OF social law can be introduced
Families come hither from all parts Of the Union
to remain for a shorter or a longer period of
time. To enjoy any social life here, the inter
course must be frank, without suspicion. The
time which, in long established communities,
may enable individuals 10 choose and pick out
those with whom they may associate, is not had
here; besides, il has been the custom here for
officers Of the government, and those in the
public employment, TO throw open their doors
with wide hospitality that exists nowhere else.
This forms a peculiar feature and attraction in
Washington society, and by the population that
1t attracts here and the stimulus thus given 10
business, tho wealth and prosperity of the city
and District are promoted. But if these social
occasions are to be made the means BY which the
adulterer pursues his lust, then the doors Of
families must be swiftly closed No man would
be willing TO have his hospitality made the
means Of an assignation, or the social occasions,
when he desires to give his friends and neigh.
bors pleasure, converted into opportunities for
eOrruPting the Innocent wife OF his friend
INSTRUCTIONS TO TnE JuHY IN rnR SIcELrs CAsE.
Mr.. Carlisle-I would state that the District
Attorney left the room shortly after the adjourn.
ment oil the Court, and your Honor knows his
residence IS IN Georgetown. therefore had no